It's also a great spot for some night pictures of the mountain, where you can spot Timberline Lodge's lights flickering. From the south shore of the lake, near the parking lot, you'll get sweeping views of the mountain. Trillium Lake is a mountain lake, surrounded by forest land and Mt. Hood for this stunning lake loop! My recommendation is to do some tent camping at the Trillium Lake Campground, but if you can't be sure to still visit this quick and easy loop. I've done this hike, albeit at a quick pace, in 2 hours while still being able to enjoy the views.ĭo note, this is a very popular hike, so get to the trailhead early if you want a parking spot. It's not that hard and it's a quick there and back. The answer being you can do it easily in half a day. Sure, you may be wondering why I classified this as a "short hike". Those trees stand now among plentiful new life, making for an unforgettable scene. You'll notice burned trees, where a fire blew through many years ago. Start out at the trailhead, near Multnomah Falls, and head upwards! Yes, it's a climb all the way, but it's gradual, so it's really not that bad.Īs you get about halfway up the hill, the trees start opening to display views of the gorge! Then, the views become panoramic when you hit the top. Next Adventure, 426 SE Grand Ave.Distance: 4.5 miles round trip (out-and-back)Īngels Rest is one of the more popular short hikes in Oregon, but it's that way for a reason! Coming up, we’ve got a Wildflower Identification presentation on Tuesday, April 22, a Hiking with Dogs presentation on May 8, and an Map and Compass Clinic on Tuesday, May 13. Next Adventure also offers free classes, clinics and presentations. Next Adventure Outdoor School has many more Day Hikes and Overnight Backpacking Trips offered this summer. It was a great hike to kick off the Spring Hiking Season. Then we were back down into the woods with the wildflowers.Īll too soon we were back at the trailhead, so we drove the Historic Highway to check out more waterfalls and the view from Crown Point’s Vista House. The clouds thinned and we had great views west along the Columbia River toward Portland. We scrambled down the rocks to the trail and the rain stopped almost as soon as we were on the backside of the ridge. We could see clouds swirling and forming in the cliff-face – amazing natural forces at work. The wind picked up and we were pelted by rain. We sat on the rounded rocks of the Angel’s Rest summit to eat our lunches, took in the views of the river, and saw darker clouds rolling in. Rain pants and rain jackets came out of our packs and we were able to comfortably enjoy our stroll through the refreshing mist. But no problem, as everyone had properly prepared. We were well on our way to the summit when it started raining. The trail led past several views of Coopey Falls, and after crossing the creek on a footbridge, we switch-backed up to rocky viewpoints of the Columbia Gorge. We stated off in deep woods under towering Douglas-fir trees. Blue larkspur, neon red-flowering currant, and butter-yellow Oregon grape were some of the showier blooms along the trail. Next Adventure Outdoor School’s first hike of the season saw some of the best of what nature can dish out this time of year.Ī rainforest green background of moss, lichen and budding leaves was punctuated by vibrant wildflower patches. You know what they say about April showers, but you don’t have to wait until May to see a colorful wildflower display in the Columbia River Gorge. The Columbia River was flat and calm when we started our hike, but the river’s surface was roiled and grey by the time we reached cliff-top viewpoint of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia Gorge. April Showers and Wildflowers in the Columbia Gorge –
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