<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhile different types of wildflowers grow across the entire Pacific Northwest, the best wildflower hikes are located in the Columbia River Gorge<\/strong>. On both sides, Oregon and Washington, yellow balsamroot and purple lupines dominate the steep hills between April and June<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSteep hills full of yellow balsamroot at Columbia River Gorge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe area between Portland, Hood River, and The Dalles is home to easy, and challenging hikes that take you up mountain summits, to waterfalls, and magnificent views<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Best wildflower hike Oregon<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n#1 Tom McCall Point<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nTom McCall Point is one of the most popular wildflower hikes in Oregon<\/strong> and there is a good reason. The in-and-out trail with moderate elevation gain takes you through endless meadows of yellow balsamroot and purple lupines <\/strong>dotted with red paintbrush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDistance<\/strong>: 4.8 miles \/ 7,3 km<\/li>\n\n\n\nElevation:<\/strong> 1,309 ft \/ 400 m<\/li>\n\n\n\nTrail type:<\/strong> out & back<\/li>\n\n\n\nDifficulty:<\/strong> moderate<\/li>\n\n\n\nFeatures:<\/strong> wildflower meadows, views of Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood & Mt Adams<\/li>\n\n\n\nLocation:<\/strong> Mayer State Park \/ Rowena Crest Viewpoint<\/li>\n\n\n\nParking pass\/fee:<\/strong> no parking fee or pass required<\/li>\n\n\n\nPets:<\/strong> No dogs allowed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nBalsamroot: Oregon’s sunflower<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe further you get uphill the denser the wildflower carpet and the better the views: <\/strong>As you ascend two snowy peaks come into view: Mt. Hood opens up in front <\/strong>and you probably don\u2019t want to turn your head away. But make sure to take a look across the Columbia River on your right side as Mt. Adams becomes visible in the distance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMt. Adams frames by balsamroot and lupines in spring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe trail partly leads through a shady forest, which gives you a nice break from the sun on your way uphill. From the summit, you have 360 views of the Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Rowena Plateau<\/strong>. You can even continue your trail to a viewpoint by following the narrow path on your right for some higher elevated views.<\/p>\n\n\n\nView of Mt. Hood from Tom McCall Point in summer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Wildflower hikes in the Columbia River Gorge (Oregon)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n#2 Rowena Plateau Trail<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nRowena Plateau Trail is a great alternative to Tom McCall Point<\/strong>. Both trails share the same parking lot<\/strong>, they just start in opposite directions. While Tom McCall Point leads you uphill, Rowena Plateau Trail is fairly flat and only half the length<\/strong>. This makes it an easy hike, doable for families with kids. Even though it\u2019s shorter and less steep, the trail doesn\u2019t lack Gorge(ous) views<\/strong> over the Columbia River and meadows full of balsamroot and lupines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDistance:<\/strong> 2 miles \/ 3,2 km<\/li>\n\n\n\nElevation:<\/strong> 278 ft \/ 84,7 m<\/li>\n\n\n\nTrail type:<\/strong> loop trail<\/li>\n\n\n\nDifficulty:<\/strong> easy<\/li>\n\n\n\nFeatures:<\/strong> balsamroot, lupines, views of Columbia River Gorge<\/li>\n\n\n\nLocation:<\/strong> Mayer State Park \/ Rowena Crest Viewpoint<\/li>\n\n\n\nParking pass\/fee:<\/strong> no parking fee or pass required<\/li>\n\n\n\nPets:<\/strong> No dogs allowed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nView of Rowena Plateau, Columbia River and Mt. Adams in the distance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNo matter if you are hiking Tom McCall Point or Rowena Plateau, don\u2019t miss to take a look from Rowena Crest Viewpoint<\/strong>, the famous horseshoe bend of the Historic Columbia Highway.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRowena Crest Viewpoint – Oregon’s famous horseshoe bend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n#3 Memaloose Hills<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nWhile this hike is on public land (Mt. Hood National Forest), the trail is unofficial and starts at Memaloose Overlook<\/strong>. Memaloose Rest Area off I-84 is no longer allowed for hiker\u2019s parking. Be respectful of private properties and don\u2019t block the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDistance:<\/strong> 2.8 miles \/ 4,5 km<\/li>\n\n\n\nElevation:<\/strong> 600 ft \/ 183 m<\/li>\n\n\n\nTrail type:<\/strong> loop trail<\/li>\n\n\n\nDifficulty:<\/strong> moderate<\/li>\n\n\n\nFeatures:<\/strong> balsamroot + lupines, views of Mount Hood + Mount Adams<\/li>\n\n\n\nLocation:<\/strong> Memaloose State Park (Memaloose Overlook) \/ Mt. Hood National Forest<\/li>\n\n\n\nParking\/fee:<\/strong> no parking fee or pass required, but limited parking<\/li>\n\n\n\nPets:<\/strong> dogs allowed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n#4 Mosier Plateau<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nThis trail located in Mosier crosses Mosier Creek<\/strong> and starts with Mosier Creek Falls<\/strong> before leading you uphill to the plateau\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDistance:<\/strong> 2.7 miles \/ 4,3 km<\/li>\n\n\n\nElevation:<\/strong> 728 ft \/ 222 m<\/li>\n\n\n\nTrail type:<\/strong> out & back<\/li>\n\n\n\nDifficulty:<\/strong> moderate<\/li>\n\n\n\nFeatures:<\/strong> waterfall and wildflowers<\/li>\n\n\n\nLocation:<\/strong> Mosier Plateau Preserve<\/li>\n\n\n\nParking\/fee:<\/strong> no parking fee or pass required<\/li>\n\n\n\nPets: <\/strong>Dogs on a leash are welcome<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Wildflower hikes on the Oregon Coast<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile the yellow and purple fields of balsamroot and lupines can only be found in the Columbia River Gorge, it doesn\u2019t mean other parts of Oregon don\u2019t offer great wildflower hikes. These Oregon Coast hikes are worth a visit, in or off wildflower season:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n#5 Cascade Head<\/strong> \u2013 This Oregon Coast trail needs to be on this list of best wildflower hikes in Oregon as Cascade Head Preserve is home to very rare wildflowers like hairy checkermallow and the Cascade Head catchfly (which can only be found here)<\/li>\n\n\n\n#6 Saddle Mountain (currently closed)<\/strong> \u2013 home to endemic wildflowers<\/li>\n\n\n\n#7 Mary\u2019s Peak<\/strong> – highest point in Oregon\u2019s Coast Range 4,097 ft \/ 1.249 m<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nGlacier lilies, Indian paintbrush, and more wildflowers can be found in late spring + summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Wildflower hikes near Portland<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n#8 Tryon Creek State Natural Area<\/strong> \u2013 popular for Trilliums, typically blooming in April + May<\/li>\n\n\n\n#9 Iron Mountain<\/strong> – 300 types of wildflowers & popular with hummingbirds<\/li>\n\n\n\n#10 Powel Butte Nature Park<\/strong> \u2013 with great views of Mt. Hood & Mt. Saint Helens<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Best Wildflower hike Washington<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n#11 Dog Mountain Trail<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nDog Mountain is by far the most beautiful wildflower hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge<\/strong>. It\u2019s steep, long<\/strong>, and will definitely kick your ass, but the challenging hike is so worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDistance:<\/strong> 7.6 miles \/ 12 km<\/li>\n\n\n\nElevation:<\/strong> 2,988 ft \/ 911 m<\/li>\n\n\n\nTrail type:<\/strong> loop trail or out & back (depending on what your you choose)<\/li>\n\n\n\nDifficulty:<\/strong> challenging<\/li>\n\n\n\nFeatures:<\/strong> meadows of wildflowers on steep hills, Gorge(ous views) from the summit<\/li>\n\n\n\nLocation:<\/strong> Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near Carson<\/li>\n\n\n\nParking pass\/fee:<\/strong> NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass and permits on weekends between April and June<\/li>\n\n\n\nPets: <\/strong>Dogs on a leash are welcome<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nView over steep hills full of wildflowers with Columbia River in the backdrop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe first part of the trail takes you through lush forest. An endless carpet of yellow balsamroot is waiting for you at the top<\/strong>. The last mile of the trail already is stunning and from the summit<\/strong>, you\u2019ll have panorama views of the Columbia River Gorge<\/strong>. Even the top of Mt. Hood sneaks through the as you face East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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