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.