Parking
Use the BZ Launch Site parking area on WA-141 near milepost 12.5. Follow the boat-access road downhill; BZ Trail branches left at the base of the cliffs.
Overview
About BZ Trail
Why go
- A close waterfall viewpoint for little hiking effort
- A good place to watch kayakers and rafts run BZ Falls
Heads up
- The half-mile figure excludes the short walk from parking down to the trail
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation638–665 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- CautionMotorized boats prohibited on portions of the White Salmon RiverMentions White Salmon River, referenced in this guideDo not use motorized or electrically powered boats, watercraft, vehicles, or other devices on the designated portion of the White Salmon Wild and Scenic River.Official details
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to BZ Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
- 217 audio storiesacross Columbia River Gorge’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Black Bear, American Pika, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 111 trails, 78 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking BZ Trail
A quick walk to BZ FallsBZ Trail is an easy, 0.
BZ Trail is an easy, 0.5-mile out-and-back from the BZ Launch Site to a small canyon viewpoint over a waterfall on the White Salmon River. The half-mile covers the trail itself, from the base of the cliffs and back; add a short approach down from the parking area. Allow about 30 minutes for the walk and a stop at the falls. Kayakers and rafters use the launch site, and the riverside route gives you a close place to watch boats run BZ Falls.
Follow the riverFrom the launch area, follow the boat-access road downhill.
From the launch area, follow the boat-access road downhill. At the base of the cliffs, turn left onto BZ Trail and stay beside the river for about a quarter-mile to the viewpoint. The path ends looking over the falls in a small canyon; it is a direct out-and-back, not a loop. Turn around at the viewpoint for the named trail; continuing past the falls adds distance beyond the 0.5-mile round trip.
Parking and facilitiesUse the BZ Launch Site parking area on WA-141 near milepost 12.5.
Use the BZ Launch Site parking area on WA-141 near milepost 12.5. Walk down the boat-access road to the river; the trail branches left at the base of the cliffs. A vault toilet is available year-round. Accessible flush restrooms, changing facilities and sinks are seasonal, roughly May through September. There is no potable water at the site.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Columbia River Gorge
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
