Shasta Loop Trail

We drove to Rowena Crest, between the Dalles and Hood River, to hike the short Shasta Loop Trail (one mile). It was very windy making it difficult to get good photos of the wildflowers. Beautiful area! Views along the trail

some of the wildflowers we saw today

Catherine Creek Loop

We drove to Catherine Creek to hike the lower loop trail. We went clockwise around the loop. Lots of wildflowers and views of the Columbia River. Views as we hiked around the trail including a waterfall on Catherine Creek .

some of the wildflowers we saw along the trail today

Hood River Mountain

Today we drove east of Hood River OR to the "trailhead" that goes up to the middle of Hood River Mounain to hike along the ridge. This trail is in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It was chilly, cloudy, windy and beautiful! From the side trail up to the ridge line, we first hiked south to the viewpoint overlooking the Columbia River, then returned and hiked north until the trail was going to descend steeply down to the road further away. We then returned back the way we came, not seeing any other hikers until we were almost back to the trailhead.

views along our route:

From the viewpoint to the north overlooking the Columbia River below and a cloud covered Mt Adams across the river (zoom of a cloud covered Mt Adams below)

near the south end of the trail, we turned around where the trail re entered the woods going steeply down.

near the end of our hike, Mt Hood came out from the clouds! zoom below

some of the wildflowrs seen along the trail this morning: