This is an incredibly beautiful place, and one of our favorite hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. We caught it on a sunny day in early March, and the views were unparalleled. It feels like being on top of the world. I felt like singing, "The hills are alive!" from the top, but contained myself because there were a lot of other hikers on the trail. Wildflowers were just beginning to come out, but it's early for the full show.
The view is matched by extraordinary waterfalls along the way, including the fabled Pool of the Winds. Make sure to take the short spur trail to get up close to the Pool of the Winds. You can really feel the blast of wind and mist shooting out of the opening in the rocks.
The trail is in good shape, and we didn't find it slippery at all or need spikes.
The only downside of this hike from my perspective is its popularity. We went on a Saturday at mid-morning, and the lot was full when we arrived. Since it was full, we did the short hike to Beacon Rock first (also very cool!) and then went back and were able to find a parking spot. I would recommend going early or doing the hike on a weekday if you can.
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