Lyle Cherry Orchard

Area	Columbia Gorge (east - WA)
Best time to visit	March and April
Blooming Now	YES
Elevation	190-1100 feet
Trail Info	6 miles round-trip, 1400 foot elevation gain
	PLANT LIST AVAILABLE
	WILDFLOWER SEARCH
	ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
	Hike information - Oregon Hikers Field Guide
	Hike information - Washington Trails Association
Dogs	Allowed, but must be kept on leash AT ALL TIMES.

NOTE: The blue marker indicates the trailhead.

Description

Nancy Russell, Friends of the Columbia Gorge founder, purchased this 400-acre area and created this trail. It's a great place to witness the first Spring wildflower bloom.

Start by walking to the far (east) end of the parking area, where the trail starts uphill through the oak forest for 0.2 mile to the first plateau. Take a moment to admire the view, but keep climbing because the Gorge views get better the higher you go! In March, the meadows here are covered with Grass Widows (Olsynium douglasii) and Yellow Bells (Fritillaria pudica). By April, those give way to Panicled Death-Camas (Zigadenus paniculatus), Poet's Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon poeticum), and Upland Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum).

After climbing to a second plateau, you will see a trail leading to the east. This continues two miles to a turnaround area with several old cherry trees, for which the trail is named. From here you will have a terrific view of the eastern Columbia Gorge.

Directions

Take Interstate 84 east to Hood River. Take exit 64 and drive north across the Hood River Bridge ($2 toll for passenger cars). Turn right onto Washington SR-14, and drive east for 12 miles through the town of Lyle. Less than one mile beyond Lyle, you will pass through two tunnels. Watch for the parking pullout on the left (north) side of the highway 0.3 mile after the tunnels.

Trip Reports

Date	Submitted by
04/07/2024	Greg Lief
04/07/2024	Greg Lief
03/20/2024	Greg Lief
Reports from previous years
04/15/2023	Greg Lief
03/21/2023	Jody
03/19/2023	Harvey Simmons
04/11/2021	Greg Lief
03/26/2021	Greg Lief
03/21/2021	Greg Lief
03/08/2021	Greg Lief
04/14/2019	Greg Lief
04/09/2017	Greg Lief
03/26/2016	Greg Lief
02/25/2016	Greg Lief
04/04/2015	Ann Reece
05/18/2013	Greg Lief
04/02/2013	Greg Lief
02/20/2013	Marianne Nelson
04/07/2012	Greg Lief
04/18/2010	Greg Lief
04/12/2008	Greg Lief
03/22/2008	Greg Lief
04/08/2007	Greg Lief
03/25/2007	Greg Lief
03/11/2007	Greg Lief

Switch to historical view of wildflower reports

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Photo Gallery

Facing west from above Lyle Cherry Orchard	Facing east from above Lyle Cherry Orchard	Facing west from above Lyle Cherry Orchard	Panicled Death-Camas at Lyle Cherry Orchard
Panicled Death-Camas at Lyle Cherry Orchard	Facing east from Lyle Cherry Orchard trail	Panicled Death-Camas at Lyle Cherry Orchard

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'Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction.' -- E. O. Wilson