The Best Places in the Pacific Northwest to See Wildflowers in the Spring.

Springtime in the Pacific Northwest is truly a sight to behold! Due to all the rainy weather throughout the winter and early spring months, there is an abundance of greenery and wildflowers to be seen around every corner. The Columbia River Gorge on both the Washington and Oregon sides, are highly popular areas to view the wildflowers alongside epic views of the Columbia River down below. From sunny yellow balsamroot to vibrant violet lupine, there is a wide variety of wildflowers found here. Some others include prairie star, paintbrush, blanket flower and white fairypoppy.

Wildflower Etiquette

Before we get to the good stuff, it’s especially important to go over some wildflower etiquette before we get started. It is essential to follow these guidelines to protect the fragile ecosystem, and to ensure that the wildflowers continue to bloom for years to come.

• Take only pictures and memories with you, and never pick the flowers. Some flowers are actually illegal to pick, so you could also get fined for doing this.
• Do not walk onto, sit or lay on top of the flowers. There are ways to angle your photos using your foreground and different focal lengths if you wish to appear within the flower beds.
• Stay on designated trails when possible. If you do leave the trail, take special care to walk around the blooms and not trample them.
• Drone usage is usually banned in nature preserves where most of the flowers are located.
• Follow Leave No Trace principles. Leave it better than you found it.
• Watch for wildlife. There are reports of ticks and rattlesnakes in the areas these flowers are located.

Where to Go and How to Get There: Oregon

Spot 1: Rowena Crest and Tom McCall Nature Preserve:

• Starting on the Oregon Side of the Columbia River Gorge the first stop of our wildflower tour is located in the small rural town of Mosier. Located off of the Historic Columbia River Highway, it is roughly 1-1.5 hours east of Portland. It is free to visit and open from March 1 to October 31st. You can follow the Tom McCall Trail all the way up to McCall Point for a view of Mount Hood. No pets are allowed here. Make sure to also check out the Rowena Plateau Trail.

Spot 2: Memaloose Hills

• This next location is located in the Dalles, and is an easy to moderate 2.8 mile trail, with 600 feet of elevation gain. There is a small parking lot located at the Memaloose Overlook, with the trail located across the road going uphill. This trail is located on private property, so be mindful to stay on trail here. Dogs are welcome here on leash. There are also reports of poison oak here.

Spot 3: Mosier Plateau

• Near Mosier, this next spot is another easy to moderate 2.7 mile long loop, with about 730 feet of elevation gain. Dogs are welcome on this trail on a leash.

Where to Go and How to Get There: Washington

Spot 1: Dog Mountain

• Located off of WA-14 East of Vancouver, is the Dog Mountain trail. The closest nearby town is Carson Washington. This trail is rated difficult/strenuous and is 6.5 miles long with almost 3,000 feet of elevation gain. There are many viewpoints that one can stop along the way to view the wildflowers, including Puppydog Point. Due to its popularity, it does require a permit to hike here on weekends during peak season. Permits can be purchased here beforehand, and are per vehicle.

Spot 2: Columbia Hills Vista Loop

• Located near the town of Lyle is the Columbia Hills trailhead, a moderately difficult loop of 6.5 miles and 951 feet of elevation gain. Along this hike you can spot stunning views of Mount Hood in the distance and the Columbia River. You need a WA Discover Pass for this location, which can be purchased here.

Spot 3: Dalles Mountain Ranch

• Located less than a mile down the road from the Columbia Hills trail, is the Dalles Mountain Ranch and this old photogenic abandoned car, setting a perfect backdrop for your wildflower pictures! A short five minutes from the road, you will cross through 2 metal gates to get here. Discover Pass is also required for this hike.

I hope you get the chance to get out there and view the Columbia River Gorge wildflower bloom this year. Due to all the heavy rain and snow this past winter and extended cooler temperatures in the Gorge, there is a super bloom going on right now, which is a rare occurrence that only happens every few years. The peak months to best view the wildflowers are mid- April to early May.

Happy Wandering!