READY to HIKE? Make It Fun
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ON THE TRAIL READY TO HIKE? Make it fun. Make it safe. CATHERINE CREEK TRAIL EASY: Level to gently rolling terrain and incline. GET READY HIKING LEVELS GUIDE Requires limited skill and has minimal physical challenges. Avoid crowds by following these tips. MODERATE: Hiking that involves an increase 1. Go Early – before 10 a.m. GET SET in mileage and elevation gain. 2. Go East – beyond Waterfall Alley Play it safe by taking these steps. MORE DIFFICULT: Vigorous hiking with 3. Go North – discover Washington 1. Choose trails that meet your group’s moderate hills and slopes. 4. Go Midweek – Tuesday-Thursday comfort and fitness level. NOTE: Changing weather conditions can affect 2. Check road, weather and trail conditions hiking levels for trails. Refer to map on page 46 before you leave. to assist you in the location of the trailheads. 10 WAYS TO LOVE THE GORGE 3. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be home. CAUTION: BE AWARE THERE ARE RATTLESNAKES, 1. Protect vital habitat by using authorized TICKS AND POISON OAK THAT CAN BE A HAZARD TO trails, campsites and boat launches. 4. Research recreation use fees and bring BOTH DOGS AND PEOPLE ALONG MANY OF THE 2. Leave no trace by packing out your trash cash to pay them. TRAILS. THERE ARE ALSO CREEK CROSSINGS, SO USE and picking up litter you find. 5. Pack the 10 Essentials. CAUTION ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRING MONTHS. 3. Stop the spread of invasive species by using a boot brush, available at many trailheads. 10 ESSENTIALS FOR EVERY HIKE 4. Protect wildlife by keeping dogs on leash 1. Appropriate footwear: boots or tennis shoes. 5. Rain gear and extra clothing: avoid cotton. and picking up their waste. 2. Map and compass or fully-charged phone 6. Firestarter, headlamp and a whistle. 5. Be courteous. Don’t block parking spots with GPS. 7. First aid kit. or private driveways. 3. Extra water and iodine tablets for 8. Knife or multi-purpose tool. purifying water. 6. Reduce carbon emissions and congestion 9. Sunscreen and sunglasses. by carpooling, taking a shuttle or biking. 4. Extra food. 10. Backpack. 7. Respect local cultures, practices and resources. 8. Help businesses prosper by shopping IMPORTANT HIKING INFO UPDATE locally. 9. Donate time and skills to local nonprofits - - - 2020 CORNONAVIRUS - - - and agencies. 10. Support maintenance and conservation NOTE: Home to world-class hiking, efforts by paying recreation fees. At press time all trails were closed due to biking, kiteboarding and waterfalls, the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. Skamania County, Washington is Find more hiking tips at ReadySetGorge.com the perfect place to experience By the time you are reading this, it is our all that the Columbia River Gorge has to offer! hope that hiking trails are open again and DON’T FORGET: A Northwest Forest Pass, After your adventures, grab a pint of award- you can enjoy this beautiful place we Washington Discover Permit and Oregon winning craft beer, sip and savor outstanding call home. wines or feast on local fare from our any of State Parks Pass is required at many of the our popular restaurants. Skamania County is trailheads. You may purchase a season pass PLEASE check with local chambers before a world of adventure, less than an hour from Portland, Oregon. or day use permit on site. See specific details you head out to access trails or state parks. www.skamania.org on page 89. WASHINGTON :: GORGE BEACON ROCK TRAIL STACKER BUTTE TRAIL Dog Mountain Beacon Rock Wind Mountain ! wildflowers! view ! view ! view » Level: More difficult » Level: Easy to moderate » View Level: Moderate - Difficult 7 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 2,948 ft 2 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 600 ft 2.7 miles round trip | Elevation gain 1,900 ft A very popular trail, particularly from mid-April Beacon Rock is the core of an ancient Wind Mountain is a relatively short but through early June, when the hills are filled with volcano and is a well known landmark that is moderately challenging hike. The summit offers blooming wildflowers. Hikers will see impressive recommended for the first time visitor to the remarkable views of the Columbia River, Beacon views of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Columbia River Gorge. The plug is 848 feet high Rock and Cascade Mountains. There are some Hood. The trail is somewhat challenging as it with handrails lining most of the ascent. The trail spots on the trail that are rocky, so be cautious, gains 2,948 feet and is 3.5 miles to the top. Plan is 4,500 feet long with a 15 percent grade and and there can be rattlesnakes and poison oak four hours to hike this one and take water and takes 45 minutes to an hour to make the round along the trail. food for the break on top. trip. Once on top of the rock, the view of the Getting there: Travel 6 miles east of Stevenson, DOG MOUNTAIN PARKING NOTE: Due to Columbia River Gorge is breathtaking. WA on Hwy 14 and turn left on Wind Mountain safety concerns, please note No Parking signs Getting there: Drive west on Hwy 14, 10 miles Road (1/2 mile past the Home Valley Store). in the parking lot. Parking on the highway is not from Stevenson, WA. You can’t miss the rock on Travel just under 1.5 miles and take a right on allowed and violators will be towed. your left at MP 35. Girl Scout Road. Just after the paved road NOTE: Permits will be required for each Note: Washington State Discover Pass required gives way to gravel, you will see the parking individual hiker on Saturdays and Sundays area. Walk down the gravel road 200 yards to from April 17 to June 14. Stacker Butte/ the trailhead. If parking at the trailhead, you will need to have Dalles Mountain Ranch Notes: No pass required both a per-person trail system permit and a ! wildflowers! view per-car recreation day-use or annual pass. » Level: Moderate Hikers can reserve a permit through the 5.4 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft recreation.gov online reservation system at a The best time for this hike is mid-April through cost of $1 per permit. The number available will May for the wildflower show! A gravel road be limited to match parking capacity. amongst the wide open field of wildflowers Getting there: To reach the trail, travel on Hwy will take you to the top where you will see Mt. 14 to MP 53. Dog Mountain is halfway between Adams, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens Stevenson and Bingen. Look for a large parking and Mt. Jefferson. Stunning! lot on the north side of the highway. Getting there: From Bingen, WA travel 24 miles Note: NW Forest Parking & Trail Pass Permit east to milepost 84.5. Turn left onto gravel required Dalles Mountain Road. Proceed 3.4 miles on Dalles Mountain Road and turn left just before an old ranch and barn. Pass interpretive displays and continue on this rough dirt road for 1.4 miles to a gate. Note: Washington State Discover Pass required WASHINGTON :: GORGE CATHERINE CREEK Lower Falls Creek Cape Horn Trail Hardy & Rodney Falls ! waterfall ! wildflowers! view (Pool of Winds) » Level: Easy to moderate » Level: More difficult ! waterfalls 4.4 miles round trip | Elevation Gain: 800 ft 7 miles round trip » Level: Easy to moderate Elevation Gain: 1,300 ft This waterfall is well worth the hike! Not only do 2.5 miles round trip you see a spectacular waterfall but you also are This hike features gorgeous views, rocky crags, Elevation Gain: 440 ft hiking in a beautiful old growth forest. Start the streams and two waterfalls. The full trail loop This hike takes you up a steep, but beautifully hike by crossing the cable suspension bridge provides fantastic views of the Columbia River forested, climb to three tiers of waterfalls. Start which spans a rock gorge providing spectacular Gorge, an intimate look at Cape Horn Falls at the Hamilton Mountain Trailhead and climb views of the white water of Falls Creek. The trail and a challenging workout as it climbs and up to Hardy Creek. You'll come to a side trail ends at the waterfall so this is an out and back descends the rocky slopes of Cape Horn. leading downhill to a viewpoint of the lowest hike. Note: Trailhead is closed December 1 to Note: The lower trail is closed from February 1st tier, known as Hardy Falls. Next, after a short March 31. to July 15th to protect peregrine falcon nesting distance past Hardy Falls, you'll see a signed Getting there: Take State Hwy 14 to Carson, areas. Parts of the trail are narrow, which can spur heading up to the left leading to Rodney Washington. Drive 15 miles north on Wind River be unsafe during heavy snow and ice conditions. Falls and Pool of the Winds. At Pool of the Road (#30) to its junction with FS Road 3062, Getting there: Follow State Hwy 14 west Winds, Hardy Creek is channeled into a turn right and proceed 1.5 miles to Lower Falls from Stevenson about 18 miles, pass Beacon funnel-like chamber in the cliff face. From the Creek Trail 152A. Rock State Park, continue to the intersection Pool of the Winds junction, the main trail switchbacks down to a bridge over Hardy Note: NW Forest Pass required with Salmon Falls Road, near MP 26. Turn right on Salmon Falls Road, parking area is on Creek, just at the base of the middle falls of Catherine Creek Arch Loop your right.