Rowena Crest Overlook

Rowena Crest Overlook is a paved roadside viewpoint on the Historic Columbia River Highway, high on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. From the overlook, the river and Mayer State Park lie below, with the famous Rowena Loops winding up the bluff in a tight series of horseshoe bends. You get the signature view right from the arrival area, so there is no hike between the car and the reason to stop. If you are driving the historic highway between Mosier and The Dalles, this is one of the best places to pause and see how the river, cliffs and road fit together.

The loops are part of the experience, not just a way to reach the viewpoint. Built in 1919, the curves carry the old highway up the slope and make a strong foreground for the river and the long Gorge beyond. The viewpoint itself was given by Mark Mayer in 1924. From the paved overlook, follow the road with your eyes: the sequence of bends explains why this stretch became one of the highway’s best-known views. For a photo, frame the loops below with the river behind them; in spring, wildflowers on the open slopes can add a bright foreground without leaving the overlook.

The overlook is also the starting point for trails into the adjacent Tom McCall Nature Preserve. The shorter plateau route crosses open grassland and passes a permanent pond, while a longer climb reaches McCall Point, where the Gorge opens toward Mount Hood and Mount Adams. Trail descriptions differ on the exact distances, so check current route information before setting out. The landscape is more than a spring flower field: lava flows, volcanic ash and catastrophic floods shaped its rolling mound-and-swale ground, whose precise origin still puzzles experts. In April and May, yellow balsamroot and purple lupine bring the slopes into bloom, but this is also when the preserve can be very busy. The trails are seasonally open from March 1 through October 31. On preserve trails, dogs and picnicking are not allowed. The nearest picnic area is at Mayer State Park by the I-84 Rowena exit.

From I-84, Oregon State Parks directs drivers to take exit 69 at Mosier and travel east about seven miles on Highway 30, or take exit 76 at Rowena and head west up the curves. Parking is at the overlook. There are no restrooms at Rowena Crest; Oregon State Parks directs visitors to Lower Mayer for public facilities. The quick roadside stop takes little time, while the open preserve trails make this a longer, more exposed outing. If you just want the classic Gorge panorama, stay at the overlook; if you want to explore the plateau, plan around the seasonal trail dates and spring crowds.