Recreation

Know before you go. Take a look at Current Conditions below the Recreation Map.
The Columbia River Gorge receives a high volume of visitors and popular sites can get crowded. Please consider a few "Plan B" options in case your first choice is too crowded when you arrive. Please visit ReadySetGorge interagency website to plan your trip.
Interactive Recreation Map of Forest Service sites
Recreation Conditions Report
Area Name | Status | Area Conditions |
---|---|---|
Angel's Rest Trail (#415) | Open | |
BZ Launch Site & Trail (#4413) | Open | Boat launch, take-outs and trail are open for use. Please use winter stairs to access the river as the metal stairs have been raised for the season. One vault restroom open year-round. |
Balfour-Klickitat Area & Trail (#4414) | Open | |
Bonneville Trailhead | Open | |
Bridge Of The Gods Trailhead | Open | 3/24/22: Restrooms are now open. A valid recreation pass is required for parking. |
Cape Horn Overlook | Open | |
Cape Horn Trail (#4418) | Open | 2/24/22: Upper trail OPEN but lower trail is seasonally closed (Feb 1 to Jul 15) to protect peregrine falcon nesting habitat. |
Catherine Creek Interpretive Trail (#4400) | Open | |
Catherine Creek Loop | Open | |
Catherine Creek Recreation Area | Open | Please stay on official trails to protect native wildflowers. Report any illegal trail building to 541-308-1700. |
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center | Open | 2/24/22: The Discovery Center is open daily 9am-5pm. Call for more information (541) 296-8600. |
Coyote Wall Recreation Area | Open | Dogs must be on leash Dec 1 - June 30 to protect nesting birds. Alert: Heavy traffic on weekends and afternoons. Do not park in lanes of traffic. Violators subject to tow. |
Devils Rest Trail (#420C) | Open | |
Dog Creek Falls Observation Site | Open | |
Dog Mountain | Open | |
Eagle Creek Campground | Closed | Closure of I-84 east Exit 41 to the Eagle Creek Recreation Area to begin April 21: Campground will open May 13, 2022. Reservations for 2022 can be made at Recreation.gov. |
Eagle Creek Day Use Area | Open | 3/17/22: Day Use Area now open. A valid recreation pass is required for parking. |
Eagle Creek Overlook Group Campground | Closed | Closure of I-84 east Exit 41 to the Eagle Creek Recreation Area to begin April 21: Campground will open May 13, 2022. Reservations for 2022 can be made at Recreation.gov. |
Eagle Creek Trailhead & Trail (#440) | Open | Closure of I-84 east Exit 41 to the Eagle Creek Recreation Area to begin April 213/17/22: Eagle Creek and Lower Punchbowl trail are now open. |
Gorge 400 (MP 15 - 19.5) John Yeon to Wahclella | Open | |
Gorge 400 Trail | Open | |
Gorton Creek Trail (#408) | Open | |
Herman Creek Campground/Horse Camp | Closed | 9/30/21: Closed for site restoration. |
Herman Creek Trail (#406) | Open | |
Herman Creek Trailhead | Open | 2/24/22: A valid recreation pass is required for parking. |
Historic Columbia River Highway | Open | See tripcheck.com for up-to-date status. Alert: Heavy traffic on weekends and afternoons. Do not park in lanes of traffic. Violators subject to tow. |
Horsetail Falls & Trail (#438) | Open | 2/22/22 Entire trail is now open. |
Husum Boating Site | Open | |
Klickitat Trail | Open | Open for day use only. |
Klickitat Wild & Scenic River | Open | |
Larch Mountain | Closed | 5/5/22: Larch Mountain Road is still closed for the season. |
Larch Mountain Trail (#441) | Open | |
Lower Punchbowl Trail (#440B) | Open | |
Lyle Trailhead | Open | Flush toilets are CLOSED for the season. Porta potties are available. |
Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness: Columbia Gorge | Open | Parts of the wilderness are closed due to post-fire hazards. Plan your hike carefully, and check specific trails for status. Do not hike off trail and respect closure signs. |
Metlako Falls Spur Trail (#440A) | Closed | Closed indefinitely due to landslide that destroyed the viewpoint. |
Moffett Creek Trail (#430) | Temporarily Closed | Closed due to hazards and unstable conditions. |
Mount Defiance Trail (#413) | Open | Expect rugged conditions, not cleared since 2016. |
Multnomah Falls | Open | 5/5/22 Reservations required starting 5/24/22. Do not park in lanes of traffic. Violators subject to tow. |
Multnomah Falls Lodge | Open | |
Nesmith Point Trail (#428) | Closed | Closed indefinitely due to trail damaged from the 2017 fire. |
Nick Eaton Trail (#447) | Open | Avoid during high winds and heavy rains due to tree fall and landslide hazards. |
Northwestern Park | None | Northwestern Park, owned and operated by PacifiCorp Power, provides public access to the White Salmon Wild and Scenic River with a boat ramp and picnic facilities. |
Oneonta Trail (#424) | Open | 2/22/22 Oneonta Trail is open. Oneonta Gorge (which is separate from the trail) is closed until further notice. |
Oneonta Trailhead | Open | 2/22/22 Limited parking. Do not park in lanes of traffic. Violators subject to tow. |
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (#2000) | Open | |
River Front Trail (#4406) | Open | |
Sams Walker Day Use Area & Trail (#4402) | Open | |
Sandy River Delta | Open | Open for day use. Must keep dogs on leash in parking lot and surrounding area as well as confluence trail. Do NOT park in trailer parking area (unless you have a horse trailer). |
Skamania Lodge | None | |
St. Cloud Day Use Area & Trail (#4410) | Open | |
Starvation Ridge Trail (#414) | Open | Only accessible via Mt. Defiance Trail #413 as the old cutoff trail (414A) is now closed. |
Wahclella Falls Trail (#436) | Open | Limited parking. |
Wahkeena Falls | Open | Day use area, restroom & day use parking are closed for the season. Trail and parking on Hwy 30 are open. Do not park in lanes of traffic. Violators subject to tow. |
White Salmon Wild & Scenic River | Open | |
Wyeth Campground | Open | 5/5/22: Campground is now open. Reservations for 2022 can be made at Recreation.gov. |
Alerts & Warnings
- Waterfall Corridor Timed Use Permits begin May 24
- Closure Update: Eagle Creek Fire
- Firewood available again
- Spring weekend hiking permits for Dog Mountain
- Drones prohibited in wilderness and select recreation sites
- Klickitat Mile One Overnight Use & Large Boat Launch Prohibition
- Guard against car theft
- Check road and weather conditions