The Wind Mountain Trail is steep, but also quite short so it’s over before you know it, and the views of the Columbia River Gorge from the top are amazing. It’s also the site of tribal spirit quest spaces at the top.
Archer Mountain is located on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, west of Hamilton Mountain. The trail is steep with a couple of sketchy sections near the Quiver Point and Arrow Point and viewpoints.
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.
At Beacon Rock State Park, several former logging roads have been gated and turned into trails for hikers and equestrians. Beacon Rock and Hamilton Mountain are the more popular destinations here, while Hardy Ridge is far less crowded.
This loop in Beacon Rock State Park combines multiple trails for a quiet hike in the forest next to Hardy Creek.
Cape Horn is located on the Columbia River near the town of Washougal – and offers outstanding views of the Columbia River from the trails.
The hike up to the summit of Hamilton Mountain offers many rewards: waterfalls and streams, interesting rock formations, and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge.
In the spring when it’s still cloudy and rainy in Portland, head east to the sunny and drier environment of the Eastern Columbia River Gorge, an area that looks much like the wild west of old movies.
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