Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,700.00 ft (518.16 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
5.40 mi (8.69 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Primarily and historically a mountain biker’s playground, Coyote Wall is quickly gaining popularity with hikers, and for good reason - the setting is spectacular! The hike on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, across from Mosier, Oregon, will most likely be cloud-free since it lies just to the east side of the Cascades. And because the trail meanders its way through wind-swept golden fields and along the Coyote Wall Cliff/Ridge, every step of the way provides unobstructed vistas of Mount Hood, Mount Defiance, and the entire eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge. If you visit in late May or early June, you’ll enjoy a radical variety of wildflowers in bloom, including forktooth ookow, red sorrel, parsley desert buckwheat, bachelor’s button, Pacific manroot, and bugloss fiddleneck.

Note that the entire hillside, from Coyote Wall to Catherine Creek, has a network of trails and old maintenance roads. When considering which path to take, rest assured that there is truly no wrong series of trails to explore. We make a recommendation on our map, however, as long as you're heading up hill and don’t veer too far to the east, you’ll be just fine.

If you're venturing to this grassy ridge in the midst of the summer heat, enjoy a sweet reprieve and cool off at the nearby swimming hole, Rowland Lake. To get there, just travel 1 mile east on Highway 14 and turn left onto Lyle White Salmon Road.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Spectacular views. Wild flowers in early summer.

Cons

Trail shared with mountain bikers.

Trailhead Elevation

150.00 ft (45.72 m)

Features

Big vistas
Wildflowers

Suitable for

Biking

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

05/04/2019
What a great trail in mid spring when all the wildflowers are out. We went in early May and saw entire meadows full of flowers. On a clear day, the views across the river of Mt. Hood are outstanding. As others note, there is a ton of poison oak along the trail, especially if you veer off the trail that hugs the escarpment to do a loop. (Which I'd still recommend! It's a less peopled part of the trail and goes through more diverse territory.) There's very little in the way of cover for the hike, so bring sunscreen, lots of water, and go early.
02/26/2018
Nice late Winter hike!
10/02/2016
Coyote Wall in Fall!!!
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