Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR · WA
A bare gravel climb opens onto wide Gorge and volcano views.
Overview
The climb crosses treeless shrub-steppe, then opens onto views of Mount Adams and Mount Hood from the crest. In April and May, balsamroot, lupine, paintbrush, phlox and larkspur color the slopes. The Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve protects rare plants, so stay on the road even when flowers draw you off it. A few communications structures mark the summit; frame Mount Hood above the layered ridges for the defining view.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoffMap & 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
Dalles Mountain Ranch“You're approaching Dalles Mountain Ranch, reached by a long gravel road above the Columbia.”
Plays on the road 1.2 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
This is a 5-mile round-trip out-and-back on a primitive gravel road from the green gate to Stacker Butte’s 3,220-foot crest. Plan about 2½–3 hours for the steady climb and return; the ascent is roughly 1,150 feet. You walk the same open road both ways, so it is easy to follow but a sustained uphill rather than a casual stroll.
From WA 14, turn onto Dalles Mountain Road between mileposts 84 and 85. Follow it 3 miles to Dalles Mountain Ranch, then take the left fork another 1½ miles uphill to the gate and kiosk. The last stretch is narrow, rough and one lane with pullouts; only about 3–4 cars fit at the gate. A Discover Pass is required to park. Dogs and bicycles are not allowed in the preserve. There is no shade, and the exposed crest can be windy.
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
ModerateKlickitat Trail — Swale Canyon10.2 mi · 5 hr · 3.6 mi awayRocky railbed, trestles, and a creek-side turnaround.
EasyThe Dalles Riverfront Trail8 mi · 3.5 hr · 6.3 mi awayA riverfront path to historic Fort Camp, coves, and a sandy beach.
ModerateLyle Cherry Orchard Trail5 mi · 3.5 hr · 8.4 mi awayAn old orchard and spring blooms above the Columbia.
ModerateKlickitat Trail: Fisher Hill Bridge to Pitt8.5 mi · 4 hr · 8.4 mi awayA long, gentle rail-trail walk beside the Klickitat River.
ModerateKlickitat Trail — Fisher Hill to Klickitat11.4 mi · 5 hr · 8.5 mi awayA quiet riverside rail bed, with a fishway and a long walk.
EasyKlickitat Trail: Lyle to Fisher Hill Trestle3.2 mi · 1.5 hr · 9.5 mi awayEasy riverside walking ends at Fisher Hill’s high trestle.
EasyBalfour-Klickitat Loop0.8 mi · 30 min · 9.7 mi awayA short paved loop to a bird blind above the Klickitat.
ChallengingDeschutes River Trail22.6 mi · 10 hr · 9.9 mi awayA long railbed walk beside rapids, cliffs and river history.
Sight · 1.2 mi awayDalles Mountain RanchA ranch walk through open hills with a spring wildflower payoff.
Sight · 3.1 mi awayHorsethief ButteA short hike to basalt columns and big Columbia River views.
Campground · 3.6 mi awayHorsethief Lake Recreation Area & CampgroundA compact campground with a swimmable lake and easy picnic grounds.
Sight · 3.7 mi awayTsagaglalal – She Who WatchesProtected rock art above the Columbia, seen on a guided tour.
Sight · 3.8 mi awayTemani Pesh-Wa Petroglyph DisplayRock art moved before The Dalles Dam reservoir covered the originals.
Visitor center · 6 mi awayThe Dalles Dam Visitor CenterAn up-close look at dam engineering and the Columbia's fish ladder.
Sight · 6.3 mi awayColumbia Gorge Discovery Center & MuseumIce Age fossils, Gorge history, and raptors on a riverside campus.
Beach · 7 mi awayDoug’s Beach State ParkWatch Gorge windsurfing from a sandy shore, with basalt cliffs behind.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.
