Best Places to See Wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge
Wildflowers are starting to bloom in the Pacific Northwest, so hit the road for a spring Joyride. This month we will be offering a series of suggested Joyrides following the progress of the blooms across the state.
Photo credit: Jamie Pilgrim
To help track the progress of the blooms, I am using the Northwest Wildflowers map published by Adam Schneider. He has built a spreadsheet with the normal peak bloom range for each location, which he updates to show actual conditions as the season progresses. In 2023, he notes that early blooming locations are running 3-4 weeks behind their usual schedule.
This Joyride starts in the town of Stevenson on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge as this is one of the best places to view early season flowers. Stop by the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center to learn about the natural and cultural history of the gorge, including an exhibit on Clahclehlah and the Corridor of Commerce that looks at the Lewis and Clark Expedition from the perspective of both the explorers and of the people they visited, focusing on a single village that was a stop on the journey in both 1805 and 1806.
Image credit: Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
Image credit: Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
From the Center, head through the town of Stevenson. If you want information, they have a helpful visitor center, and there are a number of good places to get a coffee or a bite in town. The next stop on the trip is the Dog Mountain Trail. This trail, which offers spectacular panoramas, is often cited as one of the best places to view wildflowers in the gorge, but as a result, it can be very crowded, particularly on spring weekends. Crowds get so bad in late spring, that the National Park Service requires visitors to book an advanced parking permit or take the Columbia Area Transit Dog Mountain Shuttle for weekend/holiday visits between April 29th and June 19th. More information here. You will need a Northwest Forest Pass to park at the trailhead, but there is a payment kiosk for your convenience.
Everybody’s Brewing in White Salmon
If you want a bite or a brew after hiking the Dog Mountain Trail, consider driving into the charming town of White Salmon where you can enjoy good food and good beer indoors or on their rooftop terrace.
Dog Mountain is not the only area to view wildflowers on the Washington side of the gorge. For a less crowded but no less satisfying trek, consider the Coyote Wall/Catherine Creek Trail systems between Bingen and Lyle, just east of Dog Mountain, or head farther east to the Klickitat State Park Trail and Columbia Hills State Park for sweeping vistas, spectacular wildflowers and fewer crowds. As you head east up the gorge, you move into a drier climate dominated by grasses and shrubs, perfect for flowers and stunning views.
The Coyote Wall Trailhead and Catherine Creek Trailhead are part of the USFS Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, but do not require a pass. Klickitat State Park and the Columbia Hills State Park require a Discover Pass.
Wildflowers in Columbia Hills State Park. Photo credit: kanonsky
Continuing east, if you want another break, there are several good wineries you can stop at, including the Maryhill Winery with an indoor tasting room and outdoor patio where you can enjoy the view and sample their wine and food offerings. Drop down to the Columbia River and cross onto the Oregon side on US-97, then head west on I-84. There are a number of good places to see the wildflowers on this drive; check the Northwest Wildflowers Page for the best Oregon destinations. If you want to get another perspective on the history and culture of the region, you can stop at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center.
To finish the loop, continue west to the town of Cascade Locks where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the Columbia on the Bridge of the Gods. Before you cross back into Washington, you can refresh yourself at the Thunder Island Brewing Company, which features a large outdoor patio and indoor dining areas, good food and beer, with dogs and kids both welcome (dogs have to stay on the outdoor patio). This brewpub is popular with hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail: if you come in the summer, you will see piles of packs by the door, and there is a place to donate money for a beer for a thru-hiker.
Use the Northwest Portal’s Taste NW web map or app for Apple and Android to navigate this adventure, or check out our other recreation maps and apps oriented to different activities and interests on our Adventure Portal.
View up the gorge from just west of Vista house. Photo credit: Nick Witgen