Ice Age floods carved ponds into this Columbia Gorge plateau, and the 2-mile loop around them is barely a climb
Most Gorge hikes make you earn the view with a brutal climb. Rowena Plateau hands it over almost for free: a roughly 2-mile loop with about 240 feet of gain, ending at a cliff rim with the Columbia River stretched out below.
It’s part of Tom McCall Preserve, east of Hood River, and it starts right at the Rowena Crest viewpoint. Park, cross the road, and you’re on the plateau in minutes.
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Ponds from another era
The odd little ponds along the loop are called kolk ponds. They’re depressions scoured out by swirling floodwater at the end of the last Ice Age, which is a wild thing to say about a spot you can reach with a stroll.
The route crosses a narrow neck of land onto the plateau, then passes the first pond and a handful of seasonal pools. Further on, the trail drops toward a point with open river views before swinging back along basalt cliffs.
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What the loop is actually like
Depending on which spurs you add, the loop runs about 2 to 2.6 miles with roughly 240 feet of gain. That makes it one of the friendliest hikes in the Gorge, easy enough for most families and still a proper payoff.
Looking across the river, you can pick out the town of Lyle and the mouth of the Klickitat River. Up and down the Gorge, the basalt layers do the cinematic work for you.
My vote: go late in the day, when the low light turns the grass gold and the cliffs glow. Spring wildflower season in April and May is the famous show, but the plateau looks great with the sun low any time you can catch it.
Before you lace up
No pass or permit is needed, but dogs aren’t allowed on these trails, on leash or off. The trail runs along a cliff edge, so keep kids close and stay on the path.
Poison oak grows near the ponds, and warm months can bring ticks and rattlesnakes, so long pants and closed shoes are smart. The parking circle is small and fills early, and the preserve closes for part of the year to protect fragile soil, so check The Nature Conservancy’s current status before you drive out.
Want to turn it into a bigger Gorge day? Vista House sits along the same historic highway back toward Portland.
Would you rather chase a cliff-edge sunset or the wildflower peak? Tell us which you’d pick.
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, or lock in your hotel in Hood River before the good rooms are gone.
Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.
