Parking
Drive the paved park road to its end at Lower Deschutes Trailhead by the group camping area. Walk across the field toward Blackberry Trail.
Overview
About Ferry Springs Loop
Why go
- Rattlesnake Bend and two-river views
- Wildflowers in spring grasslands
Heads up
- Exposed slopes get extremely hot in summer
Ferry Springs Loop is about 4.5 miles from Lower Deschutes Trailhead, linking a shady riverside tread to open canyon slopes above where the Columbia and Deschutes meet. It is a moderate half-day walk for people who want river views and spring flowers in one circuit. Expect about 580 feet of climbing and roughly three hours with stops; exposed grassland gets extremely hot in summer.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy this loop worksMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation161–712 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Columbia River Gorge alerts
- ClosureEagle Creek Fire area closureDo not enter Oneonta Gorge or the specified trail sections because hazards remain following the Eagle Creek Fire.Official details
- CautionAircraft and drone restrictions at developed recreation sitesAircraft and drone landings, drop-offs, and pickups are prohibited at six high-use developed recreation sites to protect visitor safety.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Your drive to Ferry Springs Loop, 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.
Recorded for this trailhead
Deschutes River Recreation Area0:00 / 0:28
“Up ahead is Deschutes River State Recreation Area, where the Deschutes meets the Columbia.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Meadowlark’s Hidden Trick
- The Whistle from the Rocks
- When the Wind Makes Power
- The Railroad Race Up the Deschutes
- 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 Ferry Springs Loop
Follow the loopWalk south across the field to Blackberry Trail.
Walk south across the field to Blackberry Trail. At the signed junction, climb to the bench and follow Riverview toward the rocky outcrop above Rattlesnake Bend. Drop to the old railbed, then take the short connector into Ferry Springs Canyon. The trail winds through open grassland to the spring, a green seam in a dry draw, crosses a stream, then descends beneath rimrock along an 1860s wagon road and through a rubbly wash. A final stretch on the near-level old railway grade and a signed trail back to the field close the circuit.
What to knowSpring brings lupine, balsamroot and blanket flower to the slopes.
Spring brings lupine, balsamroot and blanket flower to the slopes. The area also served as a regrouping point for Oregon Trail pioneers before they continued toward the Willamette Valley. Rattlesnakes are common, and nettles and poison ivy grow in riverbank brush. Dogs are allowed on leash; restrooms are by the campground. From the Rattlesnake Bend outcrop, include the river bend and rapids in your photo; the rocky edge gives a sense of the canyon's scale.
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.
