The time has come!
After surviving the extra-long winter this year, we deserve a vibrant wildflower season. Start planning your summer hiking now so you don't miss any of the peak blooms.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Dog Mountain
Columbia River Gorge | Google Maps
You don't have to be a knowledgeable hiker to know that Dog Mountain is one of the most popular spring and summer destinations due to the beautiful views of the Columbia Gorge and vibrant wildflowers. Yellow balsamroot is most prevalent at Dog Mountain, but you can find white phantom orchids, Indian paintbrush, and purple lupine. Prepare yourself for this one, it gets strenuous!
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Bald Butte
Mount Hood National Forest | Google Maps
The meadows atop Bald Butte come alive in the spring. Since we're having a late season change this year, summer is likely when you'll find balsamroot, Columbia desert parsley, and Oregon anemone. Follow the Oak Ridge Trail to pass through the pines, oaks, and Douglas firs to find the blooming flowers.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Coyote Wall Trail
White Salmon, WA | Google Maps
Known around the Gorge as the "Syncline," the Coyote Wall Trailhead is one of the most recognizable features of the many nearby hikes. Bikers, runners, and hikers walk over 30 miles of trail, and if lucky, may come across clusters of yellow bells. The trumpet-shaped yellow flowers are among just one of the wildflowers spotted in the area.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Cone Peak Trail
Cascadia, OR | Google Maps
Within the Willamette National Forest, the Cone Peak Trail is part of a circuit of trails like Iron Mountain and Tombstone Pass Trails. If you combine them all, you can easily spend hours admiring the wildflower-filled meadows adorned with bright colors of red, purple, and yellow.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Mosier Plateau
Columbia River Gorge | Google Maps
Mosier Plateau, created in 2013, is part of the Gorge Towns to Trails initiative. Eventually, this trail system will link Gorge communities, vineyards, and orchards with nearby nature areas to create a 200-mile hiking loop. Find 30 different wildflowers on this 3.5-mile loop.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Memaloose Hills
The Dalles, OR | Google Maps
Chatfield Hill and Marsh Hill make up the Memaloose Hills near The Dalles. Start your hike at the lookout with sightings of the Rowena Gap and Memaloose Island, which acted as a native Chinook mausoleum for centuries. Find balsamroot, paintbrush, lupine, and poet's shooting star wildflowers along the meadow.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Iron Mountain Trail
Willamette National Forest | Google Maps
Sister trails with Cone Peak, Iron Mountain provides habitat for over 300 flowering plant species including the stunning Washington lily. The 2.4-mile, out-and-back loop has a 650 feet elevation gain, so remember your emotional support water bottle.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Zumwalt Prairie
Wallowa County, OR | Google Maps
Zumwalt Prairie Preserve is a sprawling 33,000-acre protected natural area in the Northeast corner of Oregon. Asters, snapdragons, roses, carnations, lilies, and hundreds of other flowering plant species grow harmoniously in the grassland meadows.
photo: MATT MCDONALD
Camassia Preserve
West Linn | Google Maps
Want something closer to home? Head down to West Linn's Camassia Preserve for a 22-acre natural area. The beautiful purple camas flower pictured above is so prevalent, the preserve borrowed its namesake.
