We were looking for a hike that wouldn't be muddy or windy, so we drove up SR 142 along the Klickitat River to the Twin Bridges to hike the Klickitat Haul Road.

The weather turned out to have less clouds and more sun than forecast, and little wind. We had a delightful hike and the trail all to ourselves.

Our hike was leisurely as we walked at my elderly dog's pace and looked for early wildflowers and birds. The recent cool weather has delayed the spring bloom this year so desert parsleys were just beginning to bloom. 

We took a long lunch break sitting in the sun while my dog took a nap, then we continued upstream another half mile before turning around. The Klickitat River was running full and the trail was only about 6 inches above the water level so the tread had standing water on it. We decided not to get wet feet and headed back to the trailhead.

We identified about 17 species of birds, including migrating flocks of swallows and finches working their way upstream.

Trail was good. Beautiful weather. stopped about a half mile from the point where you have to wade through the river.

With strong wind in the forecast for the Columbia River Gorge, we looked for a more wind-sheltered hike. The Klickitat Haul Road turned out to be the perfect choice.

We also experienced solitude: we only met 4 other hikers all day.

Once beyond the end of the pavement, this hike becomes wild as the route enters the Klickitat Wildlife Area on both sides of the canyon so there are few signs of humans on the landscape.

The path briefly dropped to river level and we could see that this area recently had been underwater. During our hike it was muddy but passable. Beyond that spot the hike stays above the river on a shelf where the former road was carved from the cliffs. In places, the tread requires crossing a lot of rock rubble eroding from the cliffs above.

At about 3.5 miles, we did a time check and decided it was time to turn around and head back. Our pace gets slowed by diversions to look at birds and wildflowers. We also knew that in about another half mile we would have to turn around anyway due to high water covering the route.

On 4/16/23 we rode our bikes along the Klickitat Haul Road starting at a signboard just inside a self-closing gate.  The first two miles went quickly as we zipped along the paved roadway.  At about two miles the pavement ended and soon after we came to a second metal gate.  A bike was stashed at the gate with a fisherman plying the bank somewhere out of sight.  We let ourselves through(closing it behind us) and continued on.  Riding/pushing our bikes was much more challenging after the second gate as the trail drops to river level and then back up along rocky cliffs. At ~ four miles we came to a third gate and that was our turnaround spot.  The return was uneventful and we finished just in time to avoid the incoming rain showers.  Beware of ticks!! We found and smashed three of those little jerks.   #MemberAppreciation

Had time for a short adventure before the forecast rain set in. We were already in the area so we checked out the Haul Road by bike (and a bit by foot).  Other than the fisherman who we saw walking back to where he left his bike at one of the gates, we did not see anyone else. 

The road starts out paved then turns into an offroad adventure.  There were a couple of downed trees to get our bikes over and 3 gates to get through.  Some sections were too rocky for me to ride with confidence thus the walking.

We clocked about 8 miles in all. It began to sprinkle just as we made it back to the pavement.