It’s not always clear which trail is the official trail, but try your best to avoid any areas that have been blocked off for restoration. There are also great views of Mount Hood peeking over the foothills in the distance. In late May through April there are stunning displays of wildflowers along large portions of the trail – Balsamroot and Lupin are particularly prevalent. Coyote Wall is another beautiful hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge. But don’t despair! There are some great low-lying trails like Coyote Wall where you can get your wildflower fix much earlier in the season. Unfortunately, in Washington, you often have to wait until well into July to get any flowers in the mountains. There are few things I love more than wildflowers. Best Spring Hikes In Washington – Coyote Wall Although given the popularity of this hike, if you can avoid doing it on a weekend I definitely would! I turned this hike into a loop hike by going up the Dog Mountain trail and then down the Augspurger Trail, so that’s a good option as well. In fact, there is a fork in the trail about halfway up that offers two different options: “Difficult” and “More Difficult,” but I think any reasonably fit person could make it to the top!įor a mellow walk with a similarly impressive display of flowers try Memaloose Hills from the Memaloose Overlook on the Historic Columbia River Highway.ĭistance: 6-7.5 miles (conflicting information at trail head and online)įYI: Permits are required for use of the Dog Mountain trail system on Saturdays and Sundays between April 20 and June 16.
Plus, you get to enjoy panoramic views of the Columbia River far down below. Dog Mountain is one of the more popular hikes in the Washington Gorge – and it’s easy to understand why! Between April and June, the bright yellow flowers along the ridge at the top of Dog Mountain are almost impossible to beat elsewhere in the state. You can hike trails in The Gorge year-round, but unparalleled wildflowers and huge waterfalls make it particularly appealing in the spring. The Columbia River Gorge is one of the first areas that spring pops in Washington State. View of the trail to the top of Dog Mountain.
For more information please visit The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. And I personally don’t believe they should be used to arbitrarily exclude certain individuals from our public lands. Leave No Trace is built on seven core principles that outline the best available minimum impact guidance for enjoying the outdoors responsibly. These guidelines are not black or white, right or wrong. Part of our responsibility as stewards is to always practice “Leave No Trace” principles. I believe that we all have the capacity to act as stewards for the environment now, and well into the future. It is my deepest hope that by sharing these beautiful places, I can help engender a type of ownership and concern for our wild places. For that reason, I have chosen to share some of my favorite spring hikes in Washington. That being said, I personally believe that without a connection to nature, people are much less likely to stand up for, and protect our world’s remaining natural spaces. There is little question that social media plays a role in exposing various outdoor locations, and in some cases, this has led to significant resource and social impacts. Of course, the scenery isn’t too bad either! LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced. If those reasons alone don’t convince you to embrace spring hiking, keep in mind that summer hiking is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to prepare than to hit the trails now! Below you’ll find a list of six of the best Washington State trails to get you into hiking shape this spring. Spring in Washington offers stunning displays of lowland wildflowers, raging waterfalls, and enough green to make anyone feel lucky. Why You Should Try A Spring Hike In Washington
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