6 min
Overview
The paved Riverfront Trail leads from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, at the north end of The Dalles, along the Columbia River all the way to The Dalles Dam. The entire length, about ten miles, is easily done by bicycle although Riverfront Park, through which the trail passes, is closed from November 1st to Memorial Day to protect wildlife. However, the first part of the trail, as far as the small picnic area and restrooms at Klindts Cove, is a good family hike and takes in an undeveloped section of the scablands scoured by the Bretz floods. There are expansive views of the river itself and the grassy slopes of the Columbia Hills on the Washington side. While most of the the trail can be used all year, spring is the best time for weather and wildflowers. At the beginning or the end of the trip, you can tour the Discovery Center or at least the interpretive trail (Native Plant Pond Walk) that leads from the front to the back of the building. You'll pass examples of early settler and Native dwellings, see a small mews with a couple of raptors, admire labeled native plants, circle a cattail-rimmed pond, and enjoy a view to Squally Point on the Columbia River. This area was part of the donation land claim settled by Edward Crate, his part-Indian wife, Sophia, and their 14 children. They did business by supplying transportation services for emigrants on the Oregon Trail and grazed cattle here. The original Crate log cabin was destroyed by a fire in 1948. From the parking area, head down the slope and switchback twice. Note the interpretive signs along the way. The trail crosses a grassy expanse of scabland and enters a locust grove, the site of a former homestead. From here, switchback to pass under the railroad tracks. This area is part of the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife's Crates Point Wildlife Area. Wind around through basalt outcrops in a powerline corridor. The trail enters a strip of riparian vegetation, with Taylor Lake to the right and Rocky Island to the left. A side trail leads over a bridg
Trail Stats
0.0 km
30 m
64 m
0 m
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Photos
250px-TheDallesRiverfrontMap
250px-TheDallesRiverfrontMap
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250px-Sculpture_fountain%2C_Lewis_%26_Clark_Festival_Park%2C_The_Dalles
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250px-TheDallesRiverfront3
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250px-TheDallesRiverfront4
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250px-Crates_Point_from_the_Columbia_Gorge_Discovery_Center
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400px-TheDallesRiverfront1