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.