A lush, beautiful state park located off I-84 near Rowena. After passing by more times than I can…read morecount, I decided to venture off the highway to check it out. Was so surprised and delighted by the incredible views of the basalt cliffs across the way, and of course, close up views of the magnificent Columbia River. There is an area under the trees with picnic tables, a perfect spot to gather for a meal after a nice walk or hike. Plenty of parking, great views, peaceful and serene - a gem.

We pulled off recently to check out Mayer. In our camper van, it was a lovely, quiet spot to enjoy…read morea stretch and a meal. It seemed to be more like a county park in feel, with plenty of parking, some picnic tables, and toilets. They had a recycle bin alongside the trash cans...loved to see that. Albeit a cold December day, we only saw a couple of cars come and go while we were there. From signage it appears to be a good windsurfing area at other times of the year, so I'm sure it gets much busier. Nice little stop-off along the gorge for a view, a stretch, or a picnic.

A simple yet beautiful trail that is fully paved and meanders down towards the river providing…read morevast, expansive views of the magnificent Columbia River. If you visit during wildflower season, it's even more beautiful with colorful wildflowers covering the fields. This trail is one of the few ADA accessible, which I really appreciate. While I do not use a wheelchair, I do have a disability and my legs can not handle the dirt and rock trails that are uneven. So having a paved path means that I can enjoy the gorgeous nature in this area. Wildflower season ranges from end of March to June, but every year is different based on the weather. This year (2022) was a very cold and rainy spring which delayed and prolonged the season. In April the hills were covered in yellow balsomroot and then blue lupine. End of May and heading into June, the next wave of flowers brings shades of blue from the delicate cornflowers with California poppies providing vibrant pops of orange Along the way. It's stunning! Wildflower season is my favorite season! Along the path there are many benches for those wanting to just relax and chill; some in the shade, some in the sun. There are also placards providing info on the area, the wildflowers, and the importance of pollination. The Catherine Creek paved trail is south of the parking area, which is a gravel section along Highway 8. Cross the street, the access is just past the porta potty. If you want the Catherine Creek Arch trail, it is on the same side as the parking, just head up the hill on the dirt trail. It's an easy 1.5 mile paved path that does have some declines and inclines as you make your way down, around, and then back up. If you head clockwise, you can see the creek to your left. If you decide to go off the paved path down to the creek, know there is a lot of poison oak and ticks. I stayed on the path, which is clear and well maintained. Note for wheelchair users - the path is wide and paved, but there are some areas where it slopes down and then makes it way back up. Another great thing about Catherine Creek Trail and Catherine Creek Arch Loop is that parking is free, no day pass required. The parking area is on the smaller side and on weekends, especially during wildflower time, it does get crowded. I went midweek and there was plenty of parking and I only came across two people on the path. Great for people of all ages and skills. For expert hikers, do the Catherine Arch first then finish with Catherine Creek.

The trailhead was pretty busy Saturday afternoon, but there's a decent amount of parking along Old…read moreHwy 8 at the head. There are trails on both sides of the Hwy...according to the trail map only two above 8 and one below within Catherine Creek, but another trail leads towards Coyote Wall. We only took one uphill loop this day. The trails are quite narrow and the footing mostly uneven and rocky. The views are stunning throughout, and the flowers are emerging. As the trails wind mostly through the open ridge there is almost no shade...sunblock sunblock! It's an enjoyable spot for a hike for sure, although for me not quite AS pretty as the nearby Labyrinth Trail. We will definitely return to complete the other trails...good times.

Rowland Lake, formally named DeBois Lake, is so beautiful ! This little lake is so picturesque,…read moreespecially in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom and growing along the slopes, framing the water. If you have driven along SR-14 four miles east of Bingen, then you have driven through Rowland Lake, literally, since the SR-14 and the train track cut through the lake! It makes for some pretty spectacular photo snaps! When you turn onto Old Highway 8 there is a small parking lot and a few areas where you can pull over to take in the scene. Further up the hill on Old Highway 8 is a pull off area for even better views from above. If you are heading to Catherine Creek area or Syncline Wines, you will pass Rowland Lake. It's worth pulling over for a few minutes to take in the beauty. The north lake is stocked with trout, both rainbow and broodstock. There are two fishing openers: the first is from the last Saturday in April through the Sunday before Thanksgiving.; the second is the Friday after Thanksgiving through February. People have also caught bluegill, crappie and largemouth bass. Check their website for details. There is a small boat launch area; electronic boats only. WA access pass is required if you are spending time here other than just pulling over for a few quick pics. I walked around, took pics, then headed to Catherine Creek.

Best rafting day on the White Salmon River with Wet Planet! We went as a family and it was the…read moreperfect mix of fun, adventure, and beautiful scenery. Big shoutout to Bobby--an incredible guide. Calm, confident, and super knowledgeable, he made us feel comfortable on every rapid. You can tell he loves what he does. If you're looking for a true PNW adventure, this is it. Can't wait to come back!

Chloe was so awesome! we loved having her as our guide. The trip was perfect for my family and Wet…read morePlanet makes rafting the upper White Salmon feel exhilarating and safe.

A short, but pretty cool trail in BZ Corner along the White Salmon to a waterfall…read more We noticed this falls mentioned in an online article. Since we were hiking nearby, we decided to drop by and check it out. Clearly a popular drop-in site for rafters and kayakers, the day-use site has plenty of parking, as well as toilets. From the lot the trail starts off with a rail system to assist in sliding crafts down to the water. Pretty cool setup, I'd actually never seen this type of system. Once you reach the base of the cliffs, the hiking trail takes off to the left while the rails continue to the right and down to the water. The trail is an out and back about a 1/2 mile with various types of footing...planks, a boardwalk, rocks, and dirt...all fairly muddy right now. We also had to hopscotch through running water a couple times, nothing huge though. The trail runs between the cliffs and the river all the way, and with the waters running fast right now the sound was fabulous. It comes to an end on a platform overlooking a small falls in the river, as well as one coming over the cliff...the latter of which was pretty hidden in the brush and trees currently, but you can get a peek of it. There's actually a gate on the platform that allows you a bit more access to get a closer view of the falls. We got a bit muddy last weekend, but to be expected this time of year. The trail is quite pretty, with one exception at the end. Unfortunately someone has dumped a couple old tires over the cliff that settled just below the partially hidden falls off to the left of the viewing platform. Such a shame... Overall it's a short and easy hike for most any ability in a pretty river setting. Not too shabby... besides those tires. Grrrr.

Moderately challenging, the "non-launch" trail is a neat walk. A good view of the power of the…read moreriver, the trail was dry on this spring day. It's less groomed though so shoes with decent grip would be well-advised.

Wide paved trail, gorgeous scenery, beautiful vistas. I wish for a continuous trail from The…read moreDalles to Portland.

Sweeping views of the majestic Columbia River and basalt cliffs lead you to the Mosier Twin…read moreTunnels, a stunning piece of engineering that has been restored. Located on the original Scenic Highway, which is now the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and is a car free zone, the trail offers those walking, jogging or cycling stunning views of the Columbia River, beautiful in every season. The trail is 4.5 miles and connects Mosier in the east to Hood River in the west with parking lots on both ends. A State Parks Pass ( $5 ) is required and the views are more than worth it! A payment box and envelopes are provided, but make sure you have a pen to fill in the info. There are restrooms and they are the open toilet type, so this is not the time to drop your cellphone! If you start in Mosier, park in Mark O. Hatfield Trailhead Lot East which is actually past the start of the trailhead. After paying for the pass, head right out of the lot and just a short distance down the hill on the left is the entrance. You will pass through an area filled with granite and lava rocks and many trees damaged by the fires - then you will continue up and the path will run high above and parallel to the river. Parts of the trail have the classic white fence railing and some parts have the original stone railings with arches giving glimpses of the view below. Continue on the trail for approximately one mile and you will arrive at the tunnels. The first tunnel has an incredible wooden structure entry, it's magnificent! As you walk through, it becomes rock and very cavernous. There are a few side passages that lead to windows with views to 18 Mile Island and the river. You will then come to a rock catchment structure, added during restoration in the 1990s, and then the second tunnel. Beyond the tunnels the trail continues west for another 3.4 miles. At the Mark O. Hatfield Parking West, where there is an interpretive center that provides more detail on the tunnels and the Historic Highway. I was in awe of the views and couldn't stop taking pictures along the way! Since it's the end of March, the trees were not yet bloomed so the views of the river were mostly unobstructed. Wildflowers like the grass widow and dessert parsley were just starting to bloom. I'll be back in a few weeks when the trail will be filled with glorious flowers! Ponderosa pines are everywhere as are pinecones! There is a viewpoint right before the East entry to the tunnels. It will only set you back 1/10 of a mile and it's totally worth walking to for a full 180 degree vantage point. There is even a picnic table nearby for resting or a lunch break. These tunnels are a marvel! Built in 1921, the tunnels were created to get through a high rock point. The design was inspired by the Axenstrasse on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. Although beautiful and a highlight for those driving this route, rockfalls were common and accidents frequent so the original Scenic Highway was abandoned in 1954 and a new Scenic Highway built at water level. By the 1990s, the tunnels were completely filled with rock rubble; in the mid 90s work began to restore the tunnels. It was a massive undertaking and now the tunnels and road has been transformed for everyone to enjoy. The Mosier Tunnels are a must see! The trail is easy since it's paved - which is a requirement for me and my knees - so it's family friendly and a doable hike for most anyone. There is a gradual elevation to 430 feet if you start on the east side. There is one handicapped parking spot right at the trailhead entry. Dogs on leashes are allowed. Bicycles and e-bikes but no motorized skateboards. If you are walking, be aware of the cyclists as they go fast when heading downhill to the east end. After exploring the Mosier Twin Tunnels, drive down to the quaint town of Mosier and have a delicious tamale, taco or burrito at either of the two taco trucks. Stellar coffee and scones are a must at Randonnee Coffee. Casual dinner at MoCo (Mosier Company) at the outdoor picnic tables and fire pits is always a good choice. And take the short drive up to Rowena Crest for more iconic views!

TLDR: Mostly great trail except it passes directly by the dump and has terrible signage…read more I had read somewhere that there was a 7.5 mile trail from Riverfront Park to The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. From Downtown The Dalles, I had an easy time finding the trail, and finding my way to Riverfront Park. According to the map, the dam is only an additional 2.5 miles east of the park. But, the unpaved section of trail about a mile past the park had a lot of glass and other debris in it, so I decided to turn around. Heading west of Riverfront Park, I had a hard time figuring out where to pick up the trail. There is little to no signage. I kept riding past the dump, thinking, "This can't be right," and turning around. Turns out that the trail is just past this. So, ride until it smells really, really bad. Ride until it smells like death, and then turn right when the road runs into the Google data center. This is where a small aux trail runs from the wide paved Industry trail to the real Riverfront trail. The section from Google to the Gorge Discovery Center is by far the best section of trail. If I only had an hour or two to do this trail and knew everything I know now, I would park at the Discovery Center, and ride from there. Between Google and the river, there is a mini bike park with tables for snacking and stretching, a water bottle refill station, and a bike repair station. There were a lot of older couples and children walking along the trail, so this is not necessarily a great trail for riding fast, but it is very pretty. The views of the volcanic bluffs and basalt deposits along the river are unique and distinct from the rest of the Gorge. Due to the recent fires, a lot of the trees and shrubs on the east side of the trail are currently missing. Even though that's obviously sad, it's resulted in amazing views of the river from the trail. The very last section of trail climbing up to the Discovery Center is a kind of brutal switchback. Coming back down the other way, I got hit by a strong gust of wind that I swear almost blew me straight into the river. I would be very cautious about riding with small children in this area. From the bike trail, you can see so many things that you can't see from the road. There are lots of little inlets full of moss and birds that you would never notice from the freeway. Overall a very pretty trail except for the ride by the dump.

Located in the Columbia River's edge, the Riverfront Trail in The Dalles offers expansive views of…read morethe Columbia River, the basalt cliffs along the Washington side, and The Dalles Bridge and powerful dam with lots of wildlife to see along the way! The ten mile trail goes from The Discovery Center to The Dalles Dam Visitor center winding along the southern bank of the Columbia River. The path is paved, which is why I like it, and it's about 10 feet wide. Plenty of room for those walking, biking, pushing strollers or walking with pets. There are often eagles soaring above, especially from November through January when migrating eagles stay here to feast on the fish and critters. If you go at dusk, there are 50+ nesting in the trees in front of the dam. During the summer, there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans. They are fascinating to watch, their fishing skills just incredible. They stay together in their flock and when they are hunting, it's a sea of these big white birds diving in and out of the river. Winds can be fierce in this area, which means the current on the river is equally fierce so be aware! And careful. There are also deer in this area which means ticks so wear socks, long pants and stay in the trail. Make sure to check yourself and your dogs after walking especially if you are your pets wander through the grasses. Located off exit 85 on I-8, it's easy access while driving through this area or staying in The Dalles. It's part of Riverplace Park so there are shaded areas with picnic tables, public restrooms and plenty of parking.

One of the most beautiful spring landscapes in the PNW, the open slopes of the Dalles Mountain…read moreRanch section of the Columbia Hills Historic State Park turn yellow from the millions of arrow balsam root flowers that bloom. It is truly an incredible sight and the flowers cover thousands of acres. The balsam root are the first to appear followed by blue lupin. The next wave brings delicate blue bachelor buttons and bright orange California poppies. Since wildflower season is my favorite season, I visit often from March through June to watch the symphony of color that adorns the hills. The Dalles Mountain Ranch, was purchased from rancher Pat Bleakney in 1993. The 3,338 ranch includes Horsethief Lake and the many historic pictographs across SR-14 along the Columbia River. The open slopes of the old ranch attracts hikers in all seasons with a developed trail system with several loop options. The sweeping views of the Columbia River and Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams on a clear day are incredible! This area is so peaceful and serene. There is a dedicated parking area about 3.5 miles up the gravel drive past the old ranch and barn with vault toilets making it very convenient. Day pass is required and there is a kiosk in the parking area. This is the Gorge so it can get very windy! I've been there in the wind and have had days with no wind at all. Just be prepared for either end of the spectrum! No real shade so wear a hat and sunscreen. The trails are dirt and rock so I always brink walking sticks because I need the support. And yes, there are signs warning about rattlesnakes, part of the high dessert ecosystem so pay attention.

There are only 5 previous reviews and mine was one. Guess cuz everybody enjoys the showy wildflower…read morehike - too busy looking at all the incredible photos to post on Yelp. I'll be short. Go to "wildflowersoregon.org" and find out when and where flowers are blooming in the Columbia River Gorge. We started the trail at Dalles Mountain Ranch and hiked 5.5 miles (elevation gain 800 feet) on a figure 8 loop carpeted with Balsamroot and lupine over the hills after hills as far as you can see. Showy wildflower display! The huge pedal Balsamroot are a bit past prime but the lupine are stellar now along with Phlox, Tretelia, Buckwheat and more. Put on a good pair of hiking shoes. Bring a smart phone or digital camera for breath-taking views. Whew! With the clouds yesterday - 5 stars *****