Updated 11/14/2022
In spring, a succession of wildflowers flows through the Columbia River Gorge in the same direction as the river, beginning on the sunnier east side and moving steadily westward. There are innumerable wildflower species in the gorge, but if you have limited time, a hallmark sight is the balsamroot flower, a sunflower relative that turns entire hillsides golden. Visiting the open meadows covered in yellow balsamroot flowers is a must-do in the wildflower season.
In today’s post, I’ll share everything you need to know to visit one of the top balsamroot hotspots in the Columbia River Gorge: the Coyote Wall loop trail.
Getting to the Coyote Wall Trailhead
The Coyote Wall loop trail is on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, about an hour and ten minutes’ drive east of Portland. The drive travels through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, a world of bizarrely fast landscape shifts. The billboard vistas of Portland suburbs quickly give way to sheer moss-covered cliffs with waterfalls plunging from their heights. The Columbia River shimmers at the bottom of this green, rain-washed canyon. Our car seems impossibly small, like an insect on a Manhattan sidewalk.
Over the span of an hour, the green moss-world transforms yet again. The maple-and-fir forest slowly shrinks into the canyon walls, revealing open grasslands and scabby stone outcrops. It’s here in this open country that the “Coyote Wall” materializes. The Coyote Wall itself is a row of giant basalt cliffs that looms right above the Coyote Wall trailhead.
Coyote Wall Loop Trail
Unusually for the gorge, no fees or passes are required to park at the Coyote Wall trailhead. There are a lot of hike variations that begin here, but a favorite loop is the Labyrinth to Coyote Wall Loop. It’s 6.7 miles and features waterfalls, views, and of course a vivid display of spring wildflowers. For a video preview before diving into the details, check out our video below.
Our video of the Coyote Wall loop trail
This Coyote Wall loop trail begins on an abandoned road, Highway 8. A heap of boulders in the road that were clearly once part of the adjoining cliff is an ominous reminder of the power of nature. Fuzzy yellow wildflowers blossom from the base of the cliff. A waterfall soon materializes. Since I spend more time on the rainy west side of the gorge, I do a double-take, surprised to see a waterfall here in this open country, without the usual shroud of moss and ferns. Yet this waterfall is mesmerizing in its own right, glimmering in the sunlight and tumbling down the chunky cliffside with its smattering of yellow flowers.
The hike soon leaves the road, climbing up into the hills through a world of bizarre rock formations. Small streams meander through green meadows and occasionally tumble down waterfalls. It’s like a giant carved up great sections of earth with a fork, leaving chunky cliffs exposed, and then planted meadows atop the mottled landscape.
As you climb, the views behind you grow, until the whole Columbia River Gorge appears before you. Looking across the river to Oregon reveals a patchwork of neat agricultural fields, each field a different shade and texture. On the higher ground, the fields give way to scattered trees and meadows that recede toward low, snow-laced mountains beyond. If you watch long enough, you might see a train snaking along far below, looking like a miniature train set from these high meadows.
Scraggly oak trees stand out as scattered sentinels across the high meadows. When we last visited in mid-April, their leaves were just beginning to unfurl for the spring. There is an extraordinary amount of low-growing poison oak, so take care not to touch it!
In the spring, the weather can be taciturn here on the Coyote Wall loop trail. Check the weather report or come prepared for sun, rain, hail, and even snow! For us, a deceptively sunny day gave way to dark storm clouds as we crested the hillside. As we approached the Coyote Wall, the storm broke, and hail rained all around us and a persistent wind tugged at our hats. We had rain jackets and gloves, so it wasn’t a big deal, though we didn’t linger quite as long in the high meadows as we might have. Since the views from the high country stretch for miles, we could see dramatic shadows alternating with sun patches cast on the far hills. A sight to see!
Some of the best balsamroot meadows are right on top of the Coyote Wall cliffs, adding a bright yellow glow to the green mesa above the wall. Take care at the cliffs here.
After the balsamroot meadows, the Coyote Wall loop trail descends back to the trailhead.
What is the Best Time for Wildflowers on the Coyote Wall Hike?
To catch the wildflowers in bloom, I’d recommend using the Northwest Wildflowers Bloom Map. When the map circle for Coyote Wall is green, the wildflowers are likely blooming. When you get a green light from the bloom map, I’d recommend checking recent trip reports on AllTrails, WTA, or Oregon Hikers to verify conditions.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
If you enjoy the balsamroot wildflowers at Coyote Wall, you may also enjoy exploring other regional wildflower hotspots. Top examples are the trilliums at Tryon Creek State Natural Area, the camas lily meadows at Lacamas Park, the alpine wildflower meadows of Paradise Park, and the balsamroot fields at Dog Mountain.
For more travel ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!
Leave a Reply