Our first hike along the Columbia Gorge was up to Mitchell Point off of exit #58 on I-84 in Oregon at the Mitchell Point Trailhead. This is a 2.2 mile round trip hike with 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
View of Mitchell Point from the parking area.
The trail goes consistanly up. Most of the first 0.9 miles is in the forest. There were a couple of open meadows filled with wildflowers.
We saw 30-40 Calypso Orchids in bloom along the trail today!
Several switchbacks crossed an open scree field. Be careful on the loose rocks.
A view of the Columbia River and Drano Lake through the trees.
Balsamroot was in bloom at the saddle.
The last 0.2 miles goes up a steep ridge, which gets more narrow the further up you go. There were many loose rocks on this portion of the trail.
View of the Columbia River to the west, as we continued to ascend Mitchell Point.
Almost to the top, the ridge continues beyond what you can see here.
Pano of the Columbia River looking north (from almost the very top). We could see the very top of Mt Adams over the closer peaks of Dog, Auspurger, Underworld, Green and Bald Mtns.
I think it took me longer to go down this ridge then to hike up as I was worried about slipping on the loose rocks and dry dirt.
Wide angle view of the Columbia River from the overlook at the parking area by the trailhead.
Some of the other wildflowers we saw along the trail today:
Several switchbacks crossed an open scree field. Be careful on the loose rocks.
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