Wildflowers, waterfalls, and panoramic views—what more could you ask for? Plus 3 springtime travel ideas not to miss!
Balsamroot blooms at the top of Mosier Plateau.
Occupying the sunbathed hillsides above the eponymous eastern Gorge burg, the Mosier Plateau Trail is a virtual garden bed of spring wildflowers. In fact, with more than 30 varieties of blooms—including yellow balsamroots, lupines, purple bachelor buttons, and pink corydalis—cropping up here, flower species may outnumber hikers. Officially opened in 2013, this scenic ramble is still too new to feature in many guidebooks, making it a crowd-free alternative to well-trodden wildflower beacons like Dog Mountain or Rowena Crest.
Begin from the south side of the bridge in Mosier, where a bench marks the trailhead. The path winds past a small pioneer cemetery before overlookingMosier Creek Falls, a hidden, multitiered gem cascading above thin plunge pools. Continue climbing the backside of the plateau via a series of steep switchbacks and stair steps. Atop the rise, a wide overlook, complete with stone benches, commands a panorama of flower-adorned hillsides tumbling down to the Columbia River. And make your plans to return in July and August, when Mosier Creek provides an ideal swimming hole for the dog days of summer.
Post-Hike Watering Hole: Sharing space with 10 Speed Coffee, Dirty Fingers Bicycle Repair is a Hood River locals’ secret for happy-hour brews. Look for a rotating selection of IPAs and local pints for $3 from 5 to 6 p.m. daily. dirtyfingersbikes.com
Mosier Creek Falls and wildflowers blanket the plateau’s flanks.
Isler Northwest LLC is a firm of certified public accountants and business advisors based in Portland, Oregon. Our local, regional, and global resources, our expertise, and our emphasis on innovative solutions and continuity create value for our clients. Our service goal at Isler NW is to earn our clients’ trust in us as their primary business and financial advisors.
Isler Northwest
1300 SW 5th Avenue
Suite 2900
Portland, Oregon 97201
