After hiking at Columbia Hills State Park this morning, I decided to head about 10 miles west, to hike another trail in the eastern Columbia Gorge, the Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail, 5 miles round trip with 1,050 ft of gain. There were so many lupine in bloom, the air was fragrant with their scent, so lovely.
After hiking up 1/4 mile, the signs for this trail were posted.
There was so much poison oak along this trail, I had to be very careful in choosing a spot to step aside and let other hikers pass.
On reaching the bench, the trail opened up out of the woods and went across lovely meadows. Here cucumber in bloom along with many death camus.
More lupins and death camus
Lot of balsam root adding color to the hillside.
Switchbacks through the balsamroot 
balsamroot in abundance
Looking west and down towards the bench and the Columbia River below
Up on the hillside, the trail continued with a more gentle up and down through the cherry orchard, there was abundant buttercup and other wildflowers in bloom here.
Along the eastern side of the loop trail were some tall pine trees.
View to the east from the far end of the loopLizard on the trail
Viewpoint near the western end of the loop, I took a lunchbreak here. Although this was a busy trail, I had the loop and this viewpoint all to myself.
Enjoyed the views as I returned back down the trail, looking east along the Columbia River when I was back down on the bench.
some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:
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