This Hike on the Washington Side of the Columbia River Gorge is a Must [PHOTOS]

One of the many bonuses about living in the Pacific Northwest is the vast number of outdoor activities. Hiking is probably at the top of the list for many. We are absolutely blessed with natural beauty – whether it be on the coastline, the mountains, or in the Columbia River Gorge – we are a hiker’s paradise.

My wife I discovered a gem in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest east of Bingen, Washington just off of Highway 14 (the Lewis & Clark Highway).  It’s directly across the river from Mosier, Oregon.  So, the quickest route to the trailhead is via I-84 to Hood River/White Salmon toll bridge. Turn east on Highway 14 for about six miles and then turn left on Courtney Road – the turn off creeps up on you quick (blind corner), so be prepared to stop and give traffic behind you plenty of warning – the speed limit is 60 mph. You’ll see the parking area on the right just after you exit. It fills up quickly on weekends, but there is overflow parking on the street.

There are various hikes you can choose – easy, moderate, or hard.  We chose the moderate trailhead called the Labyrinth to Coyote Wall Loop.  It runs 6.7 miles with an elevation gain of 1,489 feet.  It features a waterfall, lava tube, rock formations, and incredible views. It’s heavily trafficked with hikers and mountain bikers on weekends and dogs are welcome on a leash.

Beware, you’ll need good hiking shoes as a good portion of the trail is very rocky.  It’s open all year round, but the experts recommend day use from March to November.  The pictures below don’t give it justice, you have to experience it for yourself. Check out our photos from our trip last weekend (mid-October).

Check out more hikes near Tri-Cities below.