Crawford Oaks Loop at Columbia Hills State Park

I drove to the Crawford Oaks Trailhead at Columbia Hills State Park to hike the Vista Loop Trail and over to the Dalles Mountain Ranch, 7.5 miles with 960 ft of overall gain. The wildflowers are not yet in full bloom, but there was a good amount in bloom. The first mile is up a closed access road to the Vista Loop Trail. There are basalt columns and views of the Columbia River at the beginning of the trail.

Balsamroot is in bloom.

I hiked the Vista Loop clockwise. Phlox and balsamroot in the meadow, Dalles Mountain Ranch in the far distance.

The trail meanders among the hills.

Lupine in bloom along with balsamroot.

Views of the meandering trail

Near the top of the loop, I took the spur trail up to Dalles Mountain Ranch.

Some of the buildings at Dalles Mountain Ranc

Balsamroot and lupine near the fence line

The old abandoned car in the meadow

Pond at Dalles Mountain Ranch as I returned to the Vista Loop Trail.

Despite the warning sign, I was glad not to see any rattlesnakes today.

Oak trees along the Vista Loop Trail

Balsamroot and a view to the Columbia River to the southwest

Columbia Hills to the north

Great views of the Columbia River near the south end of the loop: looking southeast,

view to the southwest, occasionally I could see the top of Mt Hood through the clouds.

zoom of the very top of Mt Hood peeking through the clouds

Largeheaded clover in the meadow

some of the wildflowers along the trail today:

  

 

  

 

 

Columbia Hills State Park and Dalles Mountain Ranch hike

Headed east along the Columbia River for sun and wildflowers galore! Started at the bottom Crawford Oaks Trailhead to hike up to Dalles Mountain Ranch and a ways further uphill. Came back to explore the ranch and returned via the Ranch Route and Vista Loop. Overall 10+ miles and 1,800 ft of elevation gain.

This reminded us to watch out for rattlesnakes and ticks. We didn't see any today.

The trail starts down near the Columbia River off of Hwy 14 and goes by some rocky cliffs.

 The entry road is closed to motor vehicles and lasts about 1 mile. There are some gorgeous trees along the way.






I choose to go up the Eightmile Creek trail. There were fields and fields of balsamroot and lupine in bloom. Columbia River is in view below.











The trail crosses Eightmile Creek

Looking up towards Columbia Hills

A nice day for a leisurely stroll among the blooms. Dalles Mountain Ranch is the distance.

The trail junctions on the lower loops are well marked.

We walked passed the pond and Dalles Mountain Ranch on our way up the hillside.

It is possible to drive up to Dalles Mountain Ranch and also to the Stacker Butte trailhead, but we decided to hike up and enjoy our time among the fields of flowers.

We returned to Dalles Mountain Ranch and do a little exploring.

There are abandoned rusty machinery,

and some old out buildings.

There is a working ranch, so be careful to obey the signage on where it is okay to wander.

 An abandoned old rusty car in the field.














The flowers are beautiful against the barbed wire fence.












We took the Ranch Route down the hillside below the ranch.













Gorgeous day for a leisurely hike.













The Vista Loop provided views of the Columbia River and more fields of flowers.













Pano of the Colulmbia River from the bottom segment of the Vistal Loop trail:
Some of the flowers and blossoms we saw today along the trail: