This was our third hike for the weekend and it turned out to be quite a surprise. We had wondered as we drove past Wind Mountain a few times on Saturday if it was possible to hike it so we set out in search of a trailhead. There was not much here on WTA, I am guessing that is intentional. More on that later.
It wasn’t hard to find the trailhead, there were signs once we turned on Wind Mountain Road. Like it says in trail descriptions on other hiking websites, there was a large parking lot first and then a few pullouts next to the small trail marker further down the road. We were the first to arrive and head up at 10am but we were not expecting other people with the warning here of the trail being unmaintained and suggestions of hiking somewhere else.
Not but a minute later, we could see a Prius pull into the pullout behind us and soon we paused to let a trail runner by. Hmmm, the locals are still using the trail? Can’t be in that bad of shape...
And it wasn’t. The trail was in great shape but a few logs down over it, nothing you couldn’t hop over. The trail consisted of long swooping switchbacks and a steeper than average grade and a few turns over talus field.
At 10:38 we reached the US Forest boundary and an expected sign about the area being sacred. In a few more minutes we reached a newer looking kiosk explaining the historic significance and where to stay on the trail and avoid the built structures believed to be built for spirit quests.
We didn’t last long at the top because Wind Mountain lives up to its name and we avoided walking on the stacked rocks. The view down into the Gorge was beautiful but not that much more grandiose than say Lyle Cherry Orchard where we were the day before. And you spend most of your time here in the trees.
What surprised us the most was how many people we encountered on the way down. Families with babies and children, large groups, dogs, etc. We might have been on Tiger or Rattlesnake for all we knew. Seems like everyone was coming to Wind that morning. There are still quite a few people using the trail and maybe it is being suggested to tourists? It is definitely being maintained by someone.
Back at the parking lot, there were 10 cars: 8 from OR, 1 from WA and 1 from CA. Online, there are quite a few websites recommending the hike. My guess is that Wind Mountain was taking the brunt of trail closures on the Oregon side these last two years and the idea was to “hide” it a bit from the WA side. Just know if you go that you will not have solitude and to respect mountain top. And hikes like Lyle Cherry Orchard have more views for your buck.
Also, our new favorite place to stop is in Hood River, Crush Cider Cafe. 20 cider taps and delicious tacos!
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