Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR · WA
A creekside waterfall, spring flowers, then a steep climb to Gorge views.
Overview
Mosier Plateau Trail is a 3.5-mile round-trip out-and-back from Totem Plaza, including the lower plateau loop and the return to town. A short shoulder approach on Historic Highway 30 leads to the Mosier Creek bridge; the hike then pairs a shaded creek corridor and falls viewpoint with a steep climb to open Gorge views. Allow about 2–3 hours. The climb and stairs make this moderate despite the modest mileage.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs it for you?Map & elevation
Plan your hike
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
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 area
Mosier Twin Tunnels“You're approaching the Mosier-side trailhead for the Twin Tunnels, about a mile farther on foot or bike along a paved, car-free stretch of old highway.”
Plays on the road 0.2 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
After crossing the bridge, turn onto the path through Mosier Pocket Park. It follows Mosier Creek beside a Pioneer Cemetery whose graves date to the 1860s, then reaches a viewpoint of Mosier Creek Falls, an approximately 80-foot cascade in two drops. The pool between them is not accessible from this trail. Past the falls, repeated switchbacks and three stair sets climb an open grassy slope. Most of this ascent is exposed; the creekside shade ends quickly.
At the top, the viewpoint opens across the Columbia River, Mosier’s cherry orchards and the Gorge ridges. A railing marks the overlook and protects wildflowers in shallow soil, so keep to marked tread. Continue down to the lower gravel drive, take the lower loop, then retrace the same trail and shoulder to Totem Plaza. Do not make a return loop along Highway 30; it is discouraged for safety. Wildflowers bloom March through May, usually peaking in April. If you would rather keep the climb short, turn around at the falls viewpoint for about 1.4 miles round trip from Totem Plaza.
The measured itinerary starts close to the cedar totem pole. Use the large gravel lot just east of Totem Plaza, below Highway 30 between the road and railroad; parking on the road or at the Senior Center risks towing. The lot is a short walk from the route’s town start. Restrooms are at Totem Plaza, and the market in town sells sandwiches, drinks and snacks for a picnic. No permit is required, dogs must be leashed, and this is a pedestrian-only trail.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
EasyMosier Creek Falls1 mi · 45 min · At the trailheadA quick town walk to an 80-foot, two-tiered waterfall.
ModerateHistoric Columbia River Highway State Trail — Twin Tunnels Segment4.5 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.6 mi awayWalk the old highway through twin tunnels with framed river views.
ModerateLittle Moab Trail3.4 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.2 mi awayA rocky basalt rim walk above steep wooded slopes.
ModerateOld Ranch Road Trail6.4 mi · 4.3 hr · 1.2 mi awayA long, rocky climb from old pavement to Gorge views.
ModerateLittle Maui Trail #44251.1 mi · 45 min · 1.5 mi awayOpen oak meadows give way to streamside cascades.
ModerateCatherine Creek Labyrinth3.6 mi · 3 hr · 1.7 mi awayA basalt maze, a creekside waterfall, and a viewpoint worth the climb.
EasyCatherine Creek Interpretive Trail1 mi · 54 min · 2.6 mi awayA paved mile through wildflower slopes to the Catherine Creek Falls view.
EasyRowena Plateau Loop2.6 mi · 1.5 hr · 4.7 mi awayIce Age ponds, spring flowers and two big views from the plateau.
Sight · 0.4 mi awayMosier Creek FallsA quick waterfall stop, with a historic bridge on the way in.
Sight · 1.1 mi awayMosier Twin TunnelsHistoric highway tunnels with windows that frame the Gorge.
Sight · 2.4 mi awayMemaloose OverlookA quick river view across to Memaloose Island.
Campground · 2.7 mi awayMemaloose State Park CampgroundCamp beside the Columbia, with Memaloose Island in view.
Sight · 4.8 mi awayRowena Crest OverlookSee the Columbia and Rowena Loops together in one roadside view.
Sight · 5.3 mi awayMayer State Park – River AccessChoose among wind sports, sheltered paddling, or a riverbank picnic.
Sight · 6 mi awayHood River Event SiteWatch windsurfing and kiteboarding right on the river.
Beach · 6.2 mi awayHood River Waterfront ParkA sandy swimming cove for a low-key Columbia River break.Parkwolf’s Columbia River Gorge ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
