Parking
Unmarked pullout on Indian Cemetery Road, opposite the gated gravel road. Follow the gravel access about 0.2 mile to the trail sign; there is no restroom.
Overview
About Weldon Wagon Trail
Why go
- Spring wildflowers and oak meadows open to valley and Mount Hood views.
- The 1911 farm road gives the climb a story beyond the scenery.
Heads up
- The climb is steady, with poison oak close to the tread.
- Parts cross private land under an easement; dogs are prohibited.
Weldon Wagon Trail is a 4.6-mile out-and-back on a historic wagon road above Husum. Walk the main route 2.3 miles each way to Sanborn Road, then retrace it; allow about three hours for the climb and stops. A longer version continues to the upper Sanborn access at about 2.7 miles one way, or 5.4 miles round trip. The route starts in forest, then opens into sunny meadows with far-reaching views of the White Salmon Valley and Mount Hood.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe open slopes are the payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Columbia River Gorge map
Full mapElevation653–1,929 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 Weldon Wagon 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.
More stories near here in the app
- The Climb from the River
- After the Leaves of Three
- The Eyrie Above the River
- The Jewetts on This Bluff
- 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 Weldon Wagon Trail
From farm road to oak meadowPass the metal gate and walk roughly 0.2 mile up the gravel road to the trail sign.
Pass the metal gate and walk roughly 0.2 mile up the gravel road to the trail sign. The tread climbs through fir, pine and Oregon white oak; around 0.7 mile, trees thin and the road narrows to a wide footpath across open slopes. Balsamroot and lupine brighten the meadows in April and May. The road was built in 1911 by Elwin Weldon and Henry Hyndman to move farm produce, especially apples, to market; before then, settlers hauled goods by sled. The oaks are protected in the White Salmon Oak Natural Resources Conservation Area. For a spring photo, frame the flowers with the valley below so the hillside has scale.
Keep to the treadThis is a moderate hike with a steady 1,300-foot climb.
This is a moderate hike with a steady 1,300-foot climb. Poison oak grows right along the trail, and the open slopes feel exposed. Portions follow a county easement across private land before entering DNR-managed conservation land; stay on the marked route, including near homes and No Trespassing signs. Dogs are prohibited.
Starting outUse the unmarked pullout on Indian Cemetery Road, across from the gated gravel road.
Use the unmarked pullout on Indian Cemetery Road, across from the gated gravel road. There is no permit or parking pass, but no restroom at the trailhead. White Salmon’s main street has a brewpub and other restaurants for a separate post-hike stop.
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.
