Catherine Creek is a creek in Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Burdoin Mountain Special Management Area, WA. I loved my hike through the lower part of Washington’s Catherine’s Creek so much that I went back the next day to hike the upper part and see what the spring wildflower bloom had to offer. Prior to public ownership, the property was known as the Lauterbach Ranch where cattle heavily grazed the area. Drive east on this road (which is an earlier version of today's WA Highway 14) for about 1 1/2 miles to the gravel parking area on the left/north side of the road. Siena had a blast with the wildflowers and foot bridges. The Catherine Creek area is widely known for its wildflowers. In the spring, this area has more than 90 varieties of wildflowers blooming over several months in the spring, beginning in mid-March with grass widows, blue camas in April and lupines and balsam root in mid-May. Last Updated on May 19, 2015. After completing the loop we crossed the road and head north on an old roadbed marked as “20”.

Grass widows. Catherine Creek is a great trail because it is an old roadway, which is wide and relatively flat, and unlike many of the trails in the Gorge, it isn’t steep. I was not disappointed…the wildflowers and the view were extraordinary! Distance: 1.2 miles and 3.4 miles Difficulty: Easy Amenities: Gravel parking area; portable toilets When to go: March through May. Flower lovers come here for months to enjoy the annual progression of wildflowers. How to get there: Cross the Hood River Bridge ($2 toll) and turn right on WA Highway 14. Purplish-red grass widows typically appear mid-March, blue camas lilies mid-April, and yellow balsamroot mid-May. Lomatium. Catherine Creek, March 23, 2017 I went on my first hike of 2017 today, and it was a classic: Catherine Creek, definitely one of the best hikes for seeing wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge. Grass widows, harbinger of spring in the Columbia River Gorge. Sunday, LRH and I decided to take our little Fuss Nugget to Catherine Creek since the wildflowers are in full bloom. This makes it a good option for strollers and wheelchairs, although the parking lot area is pretty rough. Catherine Creek Trail (021) is a 2.6 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Lyle, Washington that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. Drive 5.8 miles to Old Highway 8. No other place in the Gorge has the diversity or duration of blossoms. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. From the parking lot, the trail surface is paved and in good condition. Prairie Stars. Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge Catherine Creek, on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge near Lyle, is known for early spring wildflowers and is one of the first places to come into bloom in the region. Washington Wildflowers – Catherine’s Creek 2. Last Updated on May 19, 2015. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. The Catherine Creek Wildlife Management Area has all the elements that make for a magnificent destination, even if they aren’t obvious at first. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Sampling of Wildflowers at Catherine Creek.

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The park itself is set on a plateau overlooking the Columbia River with a paved trail that forms a one mile loop. (more…) 45.636848 -121.278829 With open grasslands, ponderosa pine, and oak woodlands, the scenery is quite different from the western side of the Cascades. Shooting stars and saxifrage. Turn left on Old Highway 8, which is also County Road 1230. I often think about going back.