PNW Hike: Catherine Creek

Catherine Creek Recreation Area features several hikes that provide sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge — and wildflowers.

BY LAURA J. COLE  |  March 18, 2025

Things to know about hiking Catherine Creek Recreation Area.

  • Catherine Creek Recreation Area is one of the premier areas for wildflower viewing in the eastern Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The 4,000-acre park features more than 90 species of wildflowers—ranging from grass widow and lupine to Indian paintbrush and meadow larkspur—that bloom at different times from February through July.
  • This area was once known as “Sunflower Hill” for the brilliant yellow balsamroot that once covered these hills each April. But by 1987, when the Forest Service acquired the property after decades of being a ranch, cattle and sheep had grazed away most of the wildflowers, which have since been revived through the conservation efforts.
  • Forest Service employees and volunteers worked to clean up and build Catherine Creek Universal Access Trail, which was finished in July 1998, and takes visitors through open grassland and oak-pine woodland, past a waterfall, and offers benches for resting and taking in the sites.
  • Parking is available for free in the gravel area that runs along the highway. It can get busy on weekends, so try to arrive early.
  • Port-a-potties are available mid-January through early June.
  • Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees in the summer, when there is often little rain and the area is prone to wildfires. Hike with caution.

  • Catherine Creek is part of the Burdoin-Coyote-Catherine Recreation Planning Area that features hikes ranging from 1 mile to 30.

Catherine Creek Arch Loop + Universal Access Trail

Location: Lyle, Washington (about 1.5 hours from Portland)

Length: 2.8 miles

Elevation gain: 288 feet

Trail type: Loop

Dog friendly: Yes

Best time for wildflowers: Varies, shown here are grass widows that typically bloom in February and March

Land Acknowledgement: This trail is on land that was used by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Yakama, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Wasco and Wishram, and Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla

Catherine Creek Arch Loop + Universal Access Trail

Location: Lyle, Washington (about 1.5 hours from Portland)

Length: 2.8 miles

Elevation gain: 288 feet

Trail type: Loop

Dog friendly: Yes

Best time for wildflowers: Varies, shown here are grass widows that typically bloom in February and March

Land Acknowledgement: This trail is on land that was used by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Yakama, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Wasco and Wishram, and Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla

Things to know about hiking Catherine Creek Recreation Area.

  • Catherine Creek Recreation Area is one of the premier areas for wildflower viewing in the eastern Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The 4,000-acre park features more than 90 species of wildflowers—ranging from grass widow and lupine to Indian paintbrush and meadow larkspur—that bloom at different times from February through July.
  • This area was once known as “Sunflower Hill” for the brilliant yellow balsamroot that once covered these hills each April. But by 1987, when the Forest Service acquired the property after decades of being a ranch, cattle and sheep had grazed away most of the wildflowers, which have since been revived through the conservation efforts.
  • Forest Service employees and volunteers worked to clean up and build Catherine Creek Universal Access Trail, which was finished in July 1998, and takes visitors through open grassland and oak-pine woodland, past a waterfall, and offers benches for resting and taking in the sites.
  • Parking is available for free in the gravel area that runs along the highway. It can get busy on weekends, so try to arrive early.
  • Port-a-potties are available mid-January through early June.
  • Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees in the summer, when there is often little rain and the area is prone to wildfires. Hike with caution.
  • Catherine Creek is part of the Burdoin-Coyote-Catherine Recreation Planning Area that features hikes ranging from 1 mile to 30.
The highest mountain in Oregon, Mt Hood—or Wy'East—can be seen for a good portion of both Catherine Creek Arch Loop and the access loop, here through a few ponderosa pines.
Long grass topped with big, pink flowers are backlit by the sun
Named after British wives in colonial India who escaped their husband for cooler climates in the summers, grass widows are part of the lily family and are among the first wildflowers to bloom, sometimes popping up as early as February.
Leafless white oaks stand before a massive cliff, which features what looks like a carved-out square.
The west side of Catherine Creek Arch Loop takes you past cliffs of basalt columns and the trail's namesake, a natural rock bridge (pictured here), that has been fenced off to protect the fragile site that is considered sacred by local tribes.
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