Parking
Roadside parking at the Harms Road Trailhead, just north of the Swale Creek bridge. From Lyle, take Centerville Highway north to Harms Road, turn left, and follow it to the trailhead.
Overview
About Klickitat Trail — Swale Canyon
Why go
- Three trestles and a creek-side turnaround break up the railbed.
- Spring wildflowers brighten the open canyon.
Heads up
- Ten rough miles on old rail ballast.
- The Harms Road access has no cell service or drinking water.
Klickitat Trail: Swale Canyon is a 10.2-mile out-and-back from Harms Road to Swale Creek and back, following a former rail grade through an open canyon. Go for a long, mostly gentle walk that ends beside the creek; skip it if ten rough miles sound like a chore. Allow about five hours with time for lunch. The westbound leg drops roughly 400 feet, so you climb it on the way back.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the long creek walk for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation1,124–1,561 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 Klickitat Trail — Swale Canyon, 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.
More stories near here in the app
- The Blue Belly on the Rock
- The Columbia’s Other Migrant
- The Song in the Grass
- The Flowers Beyond Balsamroot
- 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 Klickitat Trail — Swale Canyon
From the railbed to the creekThe first stretch crosses open, breezy slopes.
The first stretch crosses open, breezy slopes. Near mile two, the trail drops into Swale Canyon, where volcanic rock outcrops edge the old railbed. The ballast is rough underfoot even when the grade is gentle. Cross three railroad trestles, then follow the final northward bend to the creek-side turnaround. Swale Creek has small chutes, waterfalls and pools; in spring, Columbia desert parsley and balsamroot brighten the route. On the return, retrace the same line. For a photo, let the curve of a trestle deck lead into the canyon.
Get to the startRoadside parking is just north of the Swale Creek bridge on Harms Road.
Roadside parking is just north of the Swale Creek bridge on Harms Road. There’s no cell service or potable water at this remote access. The path is shared with mountain bikers, and nearby land is private, so stay on the trail. Dogs are allowed on leash, and this is a day-use route.
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.
