Updated 05/04/2025

Winter’s rains are followed by spring wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest. These hikes showcase everything from open meadows filled with flowers to woodland wildflowers next to rivers and streams.

Hike Difficulty Ratings

• Easy: Up to 6 miles round trip, and up to 1,000 ft. gain
• Moderate: Up to 8 miles round trip, with 1,000-2,000 ft. gain
• Strenuous: Up to 10 miles round trip, with 2,000-3,000 ft. gain

When visiting these wildflower locations, please practice leave no trace – don’t pick the flowers, and stay on trail. Going off trail damages the wildflowers and creates new “user trails” that shouldn’t be there. While you may not see the difference while taking a few steps off trail, most of these areas are extremely popular and see a lot of people trampling the flowers to take photos – and over time much damage is done. Consider your impact and take all photos from the trail, and leave everything as you found it. Everyone who visits these places in the future thanks you, as do the wildflowers!

Featured Hikes

• Catherine Creek & Rowland Basin Loop
• Catherine Creek & Tracy Hill Loop
• Coyote Wall Loop
• Gales Creek
• Lyle Cherry Orchard Loop
• Surveyors Ridge Rim Rock Trail
• Salmon River Canyon
• Tom McCall Point

Catherine Creek & Rowland Basin Loop – Columbia River Gorge

distance: 5.4 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,055 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best time for wildflowers: March – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Catherine Creek & Rowland Basin Hike (spring)

When spring wildflowers are blooming, the Catherine Creek and Coyote Wall areas in the eastern Columbia River Gorge are popular with hikers. To avoid crowds, consider this loop hike located between these two areas.

Catherine Creek & Tracy Hill Loop – Columbia River Gorge

distance: 5 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,250 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best time for wildflowers: March – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Catherine Creek & Tracy Hill Hike

The Catherine Creek area is known for spring wildflowers, but it also features panoramic views of the Columbia River from Tracy Hill on this scenic loop hike.

Coyote Wall Loop – Columbia River Gorge

distance: 7 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,420 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best time for wildflowers: March – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Labyrinth & Coyote Wall Hike

Located east of the Cascade Crest, the Coyote Wall area is known for spring wildflowers. This loop hike features scenic vistas of the Columbia River, several waterfalls, and outstanding rocky prominences.

Gales Creek – Oregon Coast Range

distance: 6 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 820 ft.
difficulty: easy
best time for wildflowers: April – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Gales Creek Hike (spring)

In the spring, bright green new growth on alders and shrubs mix with woodland wildflowers lining the trail at Gales Creek.

Lyle Cherry Orchard Loop – Columbia River Gorge

distance: 6 miles (loop)
elevation gain: 1,150 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best time for wildflowers: March – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Lyle Cherry Orchard Hike

A popular hike in the spring when wildflowers are blooming, the Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail has big views of the Columbia River, with balsamroot and lupines covering the slopes.

Surveyors Ridge Rim Rock Trail – Mount Hood

distance: 6.3 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 810 ft.
difficulty: easy
best time for wildflowers: May – June
I Heart PNW trip report: Surveyors Ridge Rim Rock Hike

This section of trail along Surveyors Ridge east of Mount Hood is popular with mountain bikers but it’s also a great trail for hikers, with wildflowers along the open ridges and interesting rock formations throughout.

Salmon River Canyon – Mount Hood

distance: 7.8 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 950 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best time for wildflowers: late April – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Salmon River Canyon Hike (spring)

Hike beside the Salmon River through a mossy forest with old-growth cedar and fir, primitive campsites, and spring wildflowers to a canyon viewpoint above the river. Wildflowers typically bloom here in late April and early May. Varieties that are commonly seen here include fairyslipper orchids, avalanche lilies, checkered lilies, paintbrush, and larkspur (among many others). Spring is also when the mosses and ferns fill the forest with many shades of green.

Tom McCall Point – Columbia River Gorge

distance: 3.4 miles (out and back)
elevation gain: 1,070 ft.
difficulty: moderate
best time for wildflowers: April – May
I Heart PNW trip report: Tom McCall Point Hike

Each spring, the meadows and hillsides surrounding Tom McCall Point are transformed by wildflowers, with vistas of the Columbia River Gorge dominated by yellow balsamroot, blue lupines, and red paintbrush.

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