Crawford Oaks Trail at Columbia Hills State Park, WA 26 April 2014

A running injury meant I had to skip hiking last week!  Just when the flowers are beckoning me.  Leg seemed better so we headed out to the Columbia Hills State Park after BSF Leader's Meeting on Sat.  It is a long drive, but the spectacular hillsides covered in flowers are worth the effort.  This is a new trail so it is rough in spots and we lost it at one point, but because it is new, there are not that many hikers yet.  It will be popular though, because it is easy and beautiful.  We felt like Dorothy in the fields of poppies in the Wizard of OZ!

About 7 miles?  and not much elevation change, maybe 500 ft?

Columbia Hills

Balsamroot

phlox

looking to the Columbia River - west

east

gnarly oaks

tiny water lilies

Dalles Mountain Ranch

Eagle Creek to Twister Falls 11 April 2014

We started out on a brisk morning that we knew would get sunnier and warmer as the day went on and we were not disappointed.  It actually grew quite warm especially after hiking 13-15 miles (depending who you referenced).  The water was flowing and the flowers were blooming on this classic Oregon Gorge hike.
Twister Falls was a treat - had not been that far before.  Perfect for lunch and only a little past Tunnel Falls.

Punch Bowl falls was around the bend in the creek

standing on High bridge

salmonberry

reflections

Tunnel Falls

garter snake

basalt cliffs

moss covered rocks

glacier lilies at Twister falls

Twister falls

Tunnell Falls

Chocolate Lily

Horsetail shoots

lady slipper

slopes of yellow

larkspur and chocolate lily

shooting star

Coyote Wall 4 April 2014

Rain was in the forecast but it looked like Coyote Wall near Hood River would be okay.  I had planned to hike about 8 miles 1200 ft gain.  I headed past the Coyote Wall TH to the Labyrinth Trail instead.  Followed that through and around interesting basalt rock outcroppings, falls, streams, meadows, oak forests with views of the gorge popping out right and left.  It was beautiful!  I connected to Atwood Road and followed that until I arrived at the intersection with the Jeep trail.  Followed the Jeep trail a couple miles until I came to a fence in a wide open area.  There were side trails to go look over the wall, so I did that.  I headed down the Jeep trail but decided to take the Maui Falls trail instead of staying on the wall on the way down.  Lots of water, rocks, meadows - so beautiful!  I didn't want to leave so I headed back up the Jeep trail when I came to it then turned on to the Cry Baby trail and did a little off trail investigation before heading down. Wonderful day!  Not too crowded either.  Only a few bikers.  Mostly hikers.  Flowers were beautiful too.

looking up at Coyote Wall

Shooting star

Labyrinth Trail

camas

Labyrinth Falls

lunch spot

looking over the wall

Maui Falls trail

Maui Falls

this is why they moved the Hwy