Heritage Landing Hike

Overview

The "other" side of the lower Deschutes River attracts a different sort of clientele than the Deschutes River State Recreation Area on the east bank. Rafters and boaters use the launch at Heritage Landing to end their trips. Fishermen use the Rock Pile Trail to head up the river and find a quiet casting spot. Hikers can take advantage of this trail as well, which runs between the railroad and the river. Interesting wildflowers bloom here from spring into fall and, the farther you walk, the more peaceful it will become. The area is a state park and can be very busy during the summer with jet boats, rafts, and other craft plying the lower Deschutes. Heritage Landing is also the easternmost reach of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on the Oregon side of the river. Note that most of the Heritage Landing area was severely burned in the July 2018 Substation Fire. Almost all trees and shrubs along the length of this hike were killed. From the upper end of the pullout, head over a fence on a stile through sage and rabbitbrush and descend to a sandy jeep track, the Rock Pile Trail, that leads south. On a hot summer or fall day, there will be fishermen and recreationists also using this first part of the trail. Goldasters are bloom everywhere in late summer and gumweed can be seen closer to the river. The shore is rocky and you can look across to large islands in the Deschutes. Pass a lone juniper standing isolated among the rabbitbrush. Trails lead down to the river bank. The jeep track peters out and becomes a path that leads close to the river. The slope steepens down to the white alder-lined shore, and you cross several muddy seeps. A cairn and plaque state: “For Your Enjoyment 1986 The Dalles Rod & Gun.” Then pass another cairn put there by the Izaac Walton League in 1983. Reach an outhouse, where the tread becomes sandy. The trail splits and you can take the high road here. There are small rapids to the left. Pass over a low stone wall. More goldasters can be found here. The trail ascends to the rig

Trail Stats

Photos

250px-HeritageLandingMap

250px-HeritageLandingMap

250px-HeritageLanding4

250px-HeritageLanding4

250px-HeritageLanding3

250px-HeritageLanding3

250px-HeritageLanding2

250px-HeritageLanding2

400px-HeritageLanding1

400px-HeritageLanding1

Tags