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The Dalles Mountain

Featured In: Best Desert Hikes: Washington, by Dan Nelson and Alan Bauer.
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Unique views of the eastern gate of the Columbia River Gorge can be had here, but more importantly, you can immerse yourself in the natural desert world that Lewis and Clark encountered as they passed along the Columbia. This route leads hikers past a picturesque waterfall and through fields of wildflowers--including white biscuit root, yellow bells, salt-and-pepper lomatium, chokecherry and serviceberry, and a plethora of mock orange.

Horsethief Lake State Park, also known as Dalles Mountain Ranch State Park, offers great experiences in the desert country east of the Columbia River Gorge. From the trailÂ¬head, hike up the gated road, immediately finding glorious views of a stunning waterfall. A short 0.5 mile up the road puts you right alongside the waterfall. Incredible!

As you climb, the views of Horsethief Butte and the Columbia River grow increasingly impressive. The road winds up a gully along the creek. At times, the brush alongside encroaches to the point that the road becomes a faint trail.

Near the top, keep hiking as the slope levels off east of the creek gully. About 2.5 miles into the hike, you'll hit the Dalles Mountain Road. Cross the road and find a steep trail leading the final 1.5 miles to the summit (you likely will need to hike a bit east along the road to find this upper trail).

Driving Directions:

From Yakima, drive east on Interstate 82 to exit 37, signed "US Highway 97/Goldendale." Drive this four-lane highway to a signed right-turn-only to US 97/Goldendale once you reach Toppenish. Drive south on US 97 through Goldendale until you reach a junction with SR 14. Drive west on SR 14 for 13.9 miles and find a gated pullout/road on your right. Pull in by the "Road Closed" gate (do not block the gate!) and park on the shoulder of SR 14.

Recent Trip Reports

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There are 3 trip reports for this hike.

The Dalles Mountain — Apr 16, 2011 — Bob and Barb

Day hike

Features: Wildflowers blooming

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The TH is located 3.4 miles from the start of The Dalles Mountain Road off SR14. Turn left just bef...

The TH is located 3.4 miles from the start of The Dalles Mountain Road off SR14. Turn left just before the old ranch which is in the Dalles Ranch Area of Columbia Hills State Park. Drive 1.4 miles up this road to a gate and the TH. One must stay on the road and not wonder on the hill sides as we did 10 years ago. This is to protect the grasslands and the three rare plants which live here:--obscure buttercup, Douglas Draba, and hot-rock pentstemon. We camped at Horseshoe Lake this week-end and the ranger there told me that tours can be set up by calling the park ranger station. We hiked only 3/4 mile before turning around as the wind was brutal, there was a misty rain, AND it was too soon for the usual masses of flowers. When the balsam root and lupine are in their prime this area and the Dalles Mountain Road itself are heavenly with the fragrance of the lupine. This hike is #48 in Craig Romano's "Day Hiking Columbia Gorge" and is named Stacker Butte. I would guess it will be at least 2 weeks before the flowers are at their prime.

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Stacker Butte,(Columbia Hills,,Horsethief Lake State Park) — Apr 22, 2001 — S&R, Seattle

Day hike

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A wonderful wildflower walk! More varieties than we could possibly identify even with our 3 books. ...

A wonderful wildflower walk! More varieties than we could possibly identify even with our 3 books. Arrowleaf balsamroot in profusion mixed with lupine on the lower south-facing slopes. Grass widows still in bloom high on the hill, alongside thick patches of shooting stars. Yellow and some kind of dark orange-y nodding lillies. Lemonweed. A small area of magenta paintbrush. Countless others. An interesting mix of oak, pine, and sage habitats. Horned larks singing wildly in the wind.

Drive to the Dalles, cross to the Washington side and go north to Hwy.14. Go east on 14 about a mile, take a left onto Dalles Mtn. Rd. (DeLorme p. 25), and continue to an unsigned junction at some ranch buildings. The left (uphill) road leads through a gate (open until dusk only -- sign in at a small kiosk here) onto state park land. Continue driving up on a good unpaved road to the parking lot at the next gate (locked), which is just outside the state park, on DNR land. This is a Natural Area Preserve, and you are asked to stay on the road when you walk.

The road beyond the locked gate continues up gradually to the summit of Stacker Butte, with the mix of flower species changing all the while. The wind howled non-stop, but there is room to duck out of the blast behind sheds, etc., near the radio facility on top. Faint trails lead off to the west along the ridge from the summit, so you can make a counter-clockwise loop by descending another creek drainage to Dalles Mtn. Road and then walking back up to the parking area.

We saw a herd of a couple dozen deer, later a coyote, and then more deer down in the oaks, but not another person on the entire walk.

Clouds and rain stayed in the Gorge to the west of us most of the day, only blowing in to pelt us after we'd descended from the ridge and were making our way back to the car. Views of Mt. Hood to the south were nice until obscured by clouds. From the top of the butte is a wide-open view to the north over the Klickitat basin, but this day there was too much cloud to see any mountains except the bases of Adams and St. Helens. On a clear day the views from here must be great.

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The Dalles Mountain Ranch — Apr 22, 2000 — Susan Saul

Day hike

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The Dalles Mountain Ranch State Park is a former 6,000-acre cattle ranch adjoining the 3,000-acre C...

The Dalles Mountain Ranch State Park is a former 6,000-acre cattle ranch adjoining the 3,000-acre Columbia Hills Natural Area Preserve managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. This mountain on the north side of the Columbia River opposite The Dalles, Oregon, is a huge area free for the roaming.

Drive State Highway 14 just a mile east of the junction with Highway 197 (to The Dalles) and go left on the Dalles Mountain Road. Follow the gravel road 3.5 miles to the ranch marked with an old farm wagon. Turn left just before the wagon and follow the gravel road past the farm house to a gate and parking area. From here you can follow the road to the top of the ridge, which is occupied by a number of communications sites and an FAA beacon for The Dalles Airport, or just take off and wander.

We decided to make a loop hike by following the road to the ridgetop and out to its end. Despite the bright sun, we had the entire 9,000 acres nearly to ourselves due to a cold wind from the north. Bundled up in parkas, hats, and gloves, we persisted against the wind. From the top of the ridge, we could see Mount Hood to the south, Mount Adams and the Simcoes to the north, Mount St. Helens to the northwest, and look westward down the Columbia River Gorge towards Hood River and beyond.

Beyond the last buildings and communications towers we followed a jeep track westward until we saw a faint track doubling back to the east. We dropped down the hillside and followed the track until it disappeared. From there we set a course cross-country, pausing for a lunch break when we dropped down out of the wind to cross the first of three canyons between us and the road back to the parking area. In the canyons we surprised several bands of mule deer, observing about 25 total. The Dalles Mountain Ranch reportedly also is home to Rocky Mountain elk and pronghorn antelope.

The profusion of balsamroot turned entire hillsides yellow. Since cattle have been removed from these grasslands, the wildflowers have made a dazzling recovery. We also saw lupine, phlox, paintbrush, desert parsley, and many other species of flowers. Despite the wind, it was an excellent day and a grand hike over the mountainside.

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