Rowena Plateau Trail in Tom McCall

 Rowena Plateau Trail in Tom McCall Preserve

The Rowena Plateau Trail is an easy, 2-mile out-and-back hike located inside the gorgeous Tom McCall Preserve along the Historic Columbia River Highway in Oregon. Perched directly above the Columbia River Gorge, this flat clifftop route offers expansive panoramic views of the river and basalt cliffs.

Trail Facts

Ø  Distance & Difficulty: 2 miles total; rated as Easy with roughly 240 feet of elevation change.

Ø  Location: Starts at the famous Rowena Crest Overlook (Highway 30 between Mosier and The Dalles, Oregon).

Ø  Seasonal Schedule: The trail is open March 1 through October 31 and completely closes during winter to prevent erosion.

Ø  Strict Rules: No dogs or pets allowed. Drones, paragliding, and bicycles are also completely banned. You must stay on the designated paths.

Ø  Spring bloom is typically strongest from late March through May, with some flowers appearing into early summer.

Ø  There are trail and wildlife cautions, including narrow trails, wind, ticks, rattlesnakes, poison oak, and seasonal wildfire concerns.

How To Reach : The Rowena Crest viewpoint is on Scenic Highway 30 east of Hood River, Oregon. From Hood River take I-84 east to exit 69 in Mosier, Oregon. Follow Highway 30 for 7 miles east to the Rowena Crest lot. The trail head is at the beginning of the parking lot.

Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena

Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena - Nature Conservancy preserve

The Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena is a 231-acre protected area managed by The Nature Conservancy, celebrated for its spectacular spring wildflower displays and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge. Named after the former Oregon Governor Tom McCall. 

Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena is a Nature Conservancy preserve in the Columbia River Gorge, known for its spring wildflower displays and plateau views over the Columbia River. It is open to the public seasonally, and visitors are asked to stay on marked trails. 

The preserve protects a rare mix of habitats and more than 300 plant species, including wildflowers like balsamroot, lupine, shooting stars, and Indian paintbrush. It’s also managed cooperatively with nearby public lands, which helps preserve the landscape and the species that depend on it

Ø  It sits in a transition zone between the wetter Cascades and drier eastern grasslands, which helps explain its unusually rich plant life.

Ø  Spring bloom is typically strongest from late March through May, with some flowers appearing into early summer.

Ø  There are trail and wildlife cautions, including narrow trails, wind, ticks, rattlesnakes, poison oak, and seasonal wildfire concerns.

 

Key Hiking Trails 

1.       Rowena Plateau Trail: A gentle 1-to-2-mile loop crossing a flat clifftop plateau. It offers panoramic views, vernal pools, and sheer basalt drops.

2.      Tom McCall Point Trail: A moderate 3.4-mile out-and-back trail climbing 1,030 feet. It delivers 270-degree views of Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and the river below. 

Ecosystem and Wildlife

Wildflower Superblooms: Peaks between April and May. The hillsides erupt with vibrant yellow arrowleaf balsamroot and purple lupine.

Endemic Flora: Hosts over 300 plant species. Look for rare plants unique to the Gorge, like the Hood River milkvetch.

Mima Mounds: Features puzzling earthen mounds rising 3 to 10 feet high across the landscape.

Avian Diversity: Attracts birds like the Lewis's woodpecker, meadowlarks, and nesting peregrine falcons.

Rowena Crest Viewpoint Oregon

Rowena Crest Overlook near Portland

The Rowena Crest Viewpoint is a spectacular overlook on the Historic Columbia River Highway in Oregon, known for its breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge. 

This Iconic viewpoint offers incredible view of the winding horseshoe curves of the highway below, with the Columbia River and the cliffs of the gorge forming a dramatic backdrop. The Rowena Crest viewpoint is part of the Tom McCall Preserve, a nature reserve with hiking trails. The McCall PointTrail is a popular option that leads to even more panoramic views of Mt hood and Mt Adams. 

Best time of year to go: During spring (typically late April to early May), the hillsides are covered with colorful wildflowers, including balsamroot and lupine, making it an especially popular time to enjoy the bluff views with wildflowers. 

How to Reach:

Location: Rowena Crest Viewpoint is located between Hood River and The Dalles, Oregon.

Driving: From Portland, it's about a 1.5-hour drive east on I-84. Take exit 69 for Rowena Crest and follow the road uphill to the parking area.

Tom McCall Point Trail

 McCall Point Trail Near Portland

McCall Point Trail, also known as Tom McCall Point Trail, is a scenic hike located in the Columbia River Gorge near Mosier, Oregon. It’s part of the Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena, managed by The Nature Conservancy to protect sensitive wildlife and habitats.

🌼 Trail Highlights

• Distance: Around 4.5 Miles
• Elevation Gain: Around 1000 Ft
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Route Type: Out-and-back
• Trailhead: Rowena Crest Viewpoint (parking is free)
• Season: Open March 1 – October 31 (closed in wet season to prevent erosion)
• Features:
• Stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge, Clear day we can see the Mt hood.
• Spring wildflowers like balsamroot and penstemon
• Wildlife sightings (watch for ticks, rattlesnakes, and poison oak)

 

Best hike to view Wildflowers: The hike is especially famous for its phenomenal display of wildflowers in the spring, typically peaking from late April to early May. Expect to see vibrant balsamroot, lupine, and other colorful blooms.

How To Reach: The trailhead for the McCall Point Trail is at the Rowena Crest Viewpoint on the Historic Columbia River Highway, a popular scenic overlook near Mosier, Oregon.

Portland Rose Garden

Portland International Rose Test Garden

 The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park in Portland, Oregon, United States. There are over 10,000 rose bushes of approximately 650 varieties. The roses bloom from April through October with the peak coming in June, depending on the weather. Due to this garden Portland's got the nickname as, "City of Roses" .

The garden is terraced into the hillside, on clear days it providing scenic views of downtown Portland, views of Portland’s skyline and Mount Hood.

 

International Rose Test Garden Fun Facts :

It is founded in 1917, this is the oldest public rose test garden in the United States and features over 10,000 rose bushes.

Address : 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205.

Area : It covers around 4.5 Acres.

Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Admission is Free to visit.

Best time to visit: The garden is most beautiful when the roses are in full bloom, typically around May - June.

 

Other closet attractions to visit nearby:

·         The Portland Japanese Garden

·         Oregon Zoo

·         World Forestry Center

·         Peninsula Park

Siouxon Creek Hike Washington

 Siouxon Creek Hike in Gifford Pinchot National Forest

The Siouxon Creek Trail is a moderate-to-difficult hike in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, known for its lush forests and waterfalls. Hikers should be aware of conditions left by recent wildfires and be prepared for unbridged creek crossings.

There are several hikes in the Siouxon Creek Trail, offering different experiences and difficulty levels. 

Trail #130 Siouxon : This 12-mile trail runs along and crosses on rustic log bridges or fords many creeks. It offers views of spectacular waterfalls including Horseshoe Falls. The trail connects with Huffman Peak Trail #129, Horseshoe Ridge Trail # 140, Chinook Creek Trail #130A and Wildcat Trail # 156.

In the Siouxon Trail offers many waterfalls, clear water creeks, and colorful pools.

Siouxon Falls

Chinook Falls

Horseshoe Falls

Wildcat Falls

 

Directions to Siouxon Creek Trail:  Take SR 503 to the town of Chelatchie and turn east onto NE Healy Road. Follow this road, which becomes FSR 54 after a couple miles, for 9 miles and bear left (uphill) on FSR 57 (54 turns to gravel at this point while 57 remains paved). Just over one mile further turn left onto FSR 5701 (still paved) and follow it to its end 3 3/4 miles further at the Siouxon Creek Trailhead

Wildcat Falls Washington

 Wildcat Falls Gifford Pinchot National Forest

Wildcat Falls is a waterfall in Washington that drops over 200 feet in three tiers. It is the highest waterfall in the Siouxon drainage. The trail to Wildcat Falls passes by two other waterfalls, Lower Wildcat Falls and a 25-foot slide falls. The trail is located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest and is about 12 mile long. The area was also partially burned by the 2020 Big Hollow Fire. 

Hike description: The Wildcat Trail (Trail #156) is a steep incline that climbs a ridge from the Siouxon Creek valley. The full loop trail that includes Wildcat Falls is a strenuous, approximately 12-mile hike with significant elevation gain.

The Wildcat Falls area can be combined with a longer hike that includes other notable waterfalls on the Siouxon Creek trail system, such as Siouxon Falls and Chinook Falls. This popular backpacking route is known for its moss-covered forests, clear water, and colorful pools.

 

Other Major waterfalls on the Siouxon Trail loop

Siouxon Falls

Chinook Falls

Horseshoe Falls

How to Reach: To reach Wildcat Falls in Washington, we must drive to the Siouxon Trailhead in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, east of Chelatchie, and then hike few miles in the Siouxon Trail loop.

Location: Gifford Pinchot National Forest, accessed via Forest Service Road 5071 near the town of Chelatchie.