One of the major draws to the Columbia River Gorge each spring are the beautiful wildflower displays. Outdoor adventures of all kinds can have you seeking out flowers that may grow no where else in the world. I recently set out to photograph several early blossoms, plus revisited my photo archives, just to share them with you and inspire you to get outdoors in search of more!

Before Getting Started

There are many incredibly popular trails for viewing Columbia River Gorge wildflowers each spring. I encourage you to spend a little time researching alternatives to the best-known locations in order to have the best experience possible. Most of these wildflowers grow in a large area, and a lesser known (and less crowded) trail will surprise you with so much more, as you’ll be able to focus on the adventure and not the people.

When selecting a trail, remember that spring spreads to higher elevations slowly. Although I found some Balsamroot in early April, it was just starting to bloom at around 1000 feet of elevation; the spectacular views of covered hillsides come mid- to late April or early May, and at closer to 3000 feet. Regardless of when you go, however, you’re almost guaranteed to find something in bloom after the snow has melted. Don’t forget to be prepared for unpredictable spring weather; you may find yourself hiking in the rain.

Beauty Beware

Take a few precautions when you head out on your wildflower excursion to ensure a pleasant experience. Familiarize yourself with the appearance of Poison Oak, which grows very thickly in some areas of the Columbia River Gorge. If in doubt, definitely do not touch it! Early in the season, it can appear as bare branches sticking up beside trails; these still have the skin-irritating oils that make people itch. Leaves bud out red and turn more green, and less glossy, over time.

Another highly advised precaution is to wear bug spray, cover as much exposed skin as possible, and stay on the trail away from tall grasses to avoid picking up ticks. I’ll be honest, nothing makes me squirm more when it comes to the dangers of the outdoors. These parasites can be very tiny and hard to spot; they spread disease, so be sure kids and canines are treated with repellent as well.

Be sure to knock all dirt and debris off your boots before and after each trek to avoid introducing non-native species to new areas you visit. If a boot brush is available at the trailhead, take a few seconds to use it!

Finally, please be sure you adhere to good stewardship principles when you visit: take out anything you pack in with you, don’t alter or damage the terrain (including walking off trail in fragile ecosystems), and definitely don’t pick the flowers. They are only here for a short time; picking them not only removes them from where others could enjoy them, but it deprives local species of a valuable resource.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: new Poison Oak leaves; young Poison Oak leaves; introduced species Common Stork’s-Bill, also called Pinweed; a discarded Balsamroot bloom left on the trail.

Showstopping Favorites

Even if you don’t know what the sunflower-like blooms are called called, the hillsides painted yellow by varieties of Balsamroot in the Columbia River Gorge are iconic in the Northwest. Contrasts of purple Lupine and brilliant red Indian Paintbrush add to the rainbow that dazzles visitors each spring. These are the big draws, and worth the attention, but I encourage you to look more closely at the flora along the gorge trails.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Balsamroot cluster; Balsamroot amid grass and Biscuitroot; Balsamroot at various early stages of bloom; Lupine; Indian Paintbrush amid grasses and violets; Indian Paintbrush and Biscuitroot.

Micro Flowers

Some of the most beautiful flowers are the tiniest, and easiest to miss as a result! Don’t overlook the teensy dots of color along the trail as you go in search of spring wildflowers. Take a moment to crouch down and really look at them. The miniature details might surprise you!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Blue-Eyed Mary (with Lupine leaf); Blue Eyed Mary; Candy Flower; Common Fiddleneck; Miner’s Lettuce; Miner’s Lettuce among rocks.

Shades of Gold

Golden wildflowers of all sizes spring up throughout the Columbia River Gorge, so thick in some areas that from a distance the landscape takes on a yellow hue. Pause a moment to look at the finer details, and you may find you’re looking at something brand new to you!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Western Buttercup close-up; Western Buttercup; Spring Gold; Stream Violet; regional Violet; Oregon Stonecrop.

Wondrous Variety

Between the colorful giants and delicate micro blooms is an incredible variety of other wildflowers. You’ll be hard-pressed to not find every color of the rainbow represented by petals. Don’t forget to take time admiring the leaves and stems, which carry their own unique features and aid in plant identification.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Foothill Deathcamas; Larkspurs; Columbian Larkspurs; Ballhead Waterleaf; Star-flowered Lily-of-the-Valley; cluster of Grasswidows; Grasswidow; aging Grasswidow bloom; spent Grasswidow blooms; Western Stoneseed; Bonneville Shooting Stars (with aging Yellow Fritillary in background); Fringe Cups amid other flora; Bulbous Woodland Star; variety of Woodland Star; Smallflower Woodland Star; Nuttall’s Toothwort; Ookow.

Graceful Lilies & Orchids

Delicate blooms on slender stems are some of the most graceful Columbia River Gorge wildflowers. Most surprising might be the ones you almost miss, like the Checker Lily, also inaccurately called the Chocolate Lily (those grow in other regions), that is easily camouflaged among the foliage of other plants. Then there are the orchids, shooting up in forest shade and topped by exotic blooms you might not expect in the Pacific Northwest.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: buds of Checker Lily; Checker Lilies among other foliage; Checker Lilies; Glacier Lily (a type of Fawn Lily); Yellow Fritillary, starting to age to a deep red.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Spotted Coralroot; Spotted Coralroot; several Phantom Orchid stalks; Western Fairy-Slipper; Phantom Orchid.

Native Garden

I will not profess to be an expert on native uses of the many plants of the Pacific Northwest, but I do know that the Columbia River Gorge is home to many varieties of wild parsley, or Biscuitroots. The purple blooms of Columbia Desert Parsley help identify this unique-to-the-region variety; other regional varieties are shades of yellow. Another surprising member of the native garden may be the vines of wild cucumbers!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Columbia Desert Parsley umbel; close-up of the foliage from Columbia Desert Parsley; Columbia Desert Parsley; variety of Biscuitroot; Gray’s Biscuitroot umbel; Gray’s Biscuitroot; vine and flower buds of Coastal Manroot, also known as Western Wild-Cucumber; Coastal Manroot blossoms and vines.

Beyond Wildflowers

While wildflowers are a major attraction to the Columbia River Gorge, don’t neglect all of the other natural wonders in the region. Just because a plant doesn’t have flowers doesn’t mean it isn’t also beautiful; take time to admire the variety of plants, trees, fungus, and lichens that have adapted to the area. All of the seasonal growth attracts a wide variety of animals, including all sorts of pollinators, birds, and small mammals. You may even be fortunate enough to spot larger residents like deer or bear. Remember to always respect wildlife of all sizes when visiting their home; a little bit of awareness can leave you with a remarkable memory!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pictured, top left to bottom right: Propertius Duskywing butterfly; Western Sword Fern; broken bird egg shell (possibly American Robin); Spring Orange Peel Fungus; large mushroom amid mossy rock formations; unidentified mushrooms in oak leaf litter; lichen spreading on rock face; unidentified fluff; Ponderosa Pine needles and cones; Bigleaf Maple blooming; Oregon Oak with last year’s leaves still clinging to branches with galls (fruit-appearing bulbs, caused by parasites).

Don’t forget to look up and appreciate the breathtaking views!
Pictured: late morning outside of Lyle, Washington, with views to Oregon where Eagle Creek Fire damage is very visible.