Hikes Archives | The Good Hearted Woman

Camassia Nature Preserve: Wildflowers & Family-friendly Hiking

The Camassia Nature Preserve is a 26-acre natural area known for its beautiful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and easy, family-friendly trails. [West Linn, Oregon]

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For a few brief weeks every spring, wildflower fields along the Columbia River burst forth in a rhapsody of blue.

It is Camas Season.

Though it closely resembles a lily, the Camas plant (“Camassia quamash”) is actually a member of the asparagus family. It was unknown to science before Lewis and Clark made their Voyage of Discovery. The flowers grow in clearings along the Columbia River, and were once so abundant in the Pacific Northwest that that non-indigenous travelers would mistake the blue covered fields for distant lakes.

The quamash is now in blume and from the colour of its bloom at a short distance it resembles lakes of fine clear water, so complete is this deseption that on first sight I could I could have sworn it was water.

~ Meriwether Lewis, Personal Journal, 1806

It’s becoming more difficult to find those wide blue meadows in these modern times. Many are secreted away in elusive alpine meadows along the Columbia River Gorge, and you must do the work to find them. (And by work, I mean Hike, with a capital H, as in up-Hill.)

There is, however, at least one place you can go to easily experience the camas lilies in bloom, along with a host of other wildflowers, native plants, and animals – at the Camassia Nature Preserve in West Linn, Oregon.

The Camassia Nature Preserve is a 26-acre natural area owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. The nature area is renown for its beautiful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and easy, family-friendly trails.

Named for the common blue camas that blanket its meadows each spring, the preserve holds something for visitors to experience year-round.

DID YOU KNOW? Camas was an important food source for the indigenousness peoples of Northwest. Bulbs could be fire-roasted and provided a nutritious, sweet-tasting, high-protein staple.

The rocky plateau upon which the nature area sits was originally formed by ice-age, glacier-fueled floods. It now provides a habitat for more than three-hundred plants, and is home to a myriad of meadow, tree, and pond dwellers as well; including deer, raccoons, skunks, hummingbirds, wood ducks, raptors, newts, osprey, salamanders, and a choir of songbirds.

I managed to get a super-short clip of a little red-headed woodpecker in action. ⬇️ (You’ll see him right under the arrow is when you hit Start.)

The 1 1/2 mile loop trail is well-maintained and family-friendly. Most of the trail is covered with bark chips, and some potentially muddy stretches are also lined with a composite boardwalk. Hikers are asked to stay on the trails to protect and preserve the wildlife.

If you are planning to hike the park with little ones, be aware that there are a couple of places where you are going to want to be extra vigilant, particularly on the short stretch of the trail that overlooks the river: there is a wide berth between the edge and the trail, but there are no guard rails. Also, while we’re discussing cautions, be sure to watch out for poison oak at the trail edges. We didn’t see any on our visit, but there are warnings about it all over the preserve.

When we visited, we saw hikers as young as two and as old as eighty. Despite the warning about the “big hill up ahead!” that we received form one particularly helpful five-year old as we passed her on the trail, there were only a few very slight uphill climbs, but nothing remotely demanding. (Note that while the hike rates an “Easy” in my book, the trail is not wheelchair accessible.)

The park os located directly across the Willamette River from downtown Oregon City, behind West Linn High School. The Conservancy partners with high school ecology students, who use the nature area as an outdoor classroom and help keep it litter-free.

More family-friendly hikes can be found on our Pacific NW Hikes page. (Always check trail conditions before going out in the PNW. Things change quickly sometimes.)

Did you happen to notice the cool lens-ball image at the top of this post? I bought an inexpensive photo-sphere last fall, and since then I’ve been have been having so much fun with it!

A photo sphere / lens ball is one of the most inexpensive, easy-to-use photo hacks around, and the results are just so cool!

Check out how the photo sphere magnifies and highlights the flowers in the field in this image.

Glass Photo Sphere | Lens Ball Tips

When you take a picture through a glass sphere (i.e., lens ball), the image will appear inverted, much like the image you see when looking at yourself in a spoon.

Many times, fixing this is as easy as simply rotating the whole image upside-down, as I did in the first image in this post. (You probably didn’t notice it, but all of the background foliage in the title image is upside-down! )

Other images require a bit more finessing. For example, this small image is the original shot for the image above. Note how the ground inside the sphere appears to be at the top of the sphere, which looks weird no matter how you turn it.

To correct this visual dissonance, I cut out the original sphere image using a circle frame, flipped it 180°, and layered it back onto the original image.

The result is a complete image in which everything appears right-side up. This little trick doesn’t require any special skill, knowledge, or expensive software – I skipped Photoshop this time and just flipped it on PicMonkey.

Camassia Nature Preserve

5000 Walnut Street
West Linn, OR 97068
Map

There are several entrances to the nature area. The main trailhead is located in a small neighborhood parking area at the end of Walnut Street. There is also an entrance at West Linn High School, and another entrance in a nearby neighborhood.
Parking is limited to a small lot at the trail entrance at the end of Walnut Street. This can be very congested at peak times of the year.
During the spring and summer, volunteers lead guided hikes and teach visitors about the ecology of the preserve.
Hikers are required to stay on the trails in order to avoid disturbing the wildlife.
Dogs, bicycles, horses, camping, hunting, littering, fires, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the preserve.

Wildflower season: Mid-April through early May.

Additional locations where you may find camas fields seasonally in bloom include:

Round Lake Trail in Lacamas Park, Camas Washington
Bush’s Pasture Park, Salem Oregon

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How to Survive on the Delicate Arch Trail

September 25 By Renée 14 Comments

The Delicate Arch Trail is challenging, and totally worth the effort! Go early, take your time, and bring twice as much water as you think you need.

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Iconic to Utah, Delicate Arch is the most famous – and most photographed – natural arch in the world. Mr B and I recently braved the three-mile desert hike to get up close and personal with Delicate Arch, and Wow! The payoff was totally worth the effort!

FUN FACTS: Delicate Arch stands about 60 feet tall at its apex. The light opening beneath the arch is 46 feet high and 32 feet wide, making it the largest free-standing arch in Arches National Park. Historically, it has been given many names, including a couple of my personal favorites: “Cowboy’s Chaps” and “Old Maid’s Bloomers.”

The term “Delicate” first appeared in a January 1934 article about the Arches National Monument Scientific Expedition, which described it as “the most delicately chiseled arch in the entire area.” [National Park Service]

Hiking the Delicate Arch Trail

Distance: 3.2 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 480 feet (146m)
Difficulty: Moderate, but could be strenuous on a hot summer day
Trail: Well-maintained, mostly slickrock
Maps: USGS Arches National Park; Trails Illustrated Arches National Park

NPS WARNING: It is critical to consider weather conditions no matter what time of year you plan to hike the Delicate Arch Trail. Take into consideration summer heat, winter ice, and your own health and fitness before embarking on this hike. Rangers frequently rescue people who underestimated the trail’s difficulty.

Can I survive the Delicate Arch hike?

The Delicate Arch Trail can be challenging. If you are hesitant about whether or not to go, let me offer this by way of encouragement: As Peter Pan’s Wendy so delicately puts it, I am “ever so much more than twenty,” and I carry significantly more weight than I should. And…

I MADE IT!!!

“Mom, hold your hat and pose like a blogger!” [Olivia Huskey Photography]

It helped immensely that I had an awesome cheering section to keep me motivated and hydrated. (Thanks, Livy, Ben & Em!) However, if you are in good health and can walk three miles without issue, this is a hike you should definitely put in your back pocket.

**Success on the Delicate Arch Hike DEPENDS ON Being Prepared!**

WATER

Take water. Lots of water. More water than you think you will need.

It should come as no surprise that hiking in the desert is entirely different from hiking through a forest. After just minutes on the sandstone trail, I found myself already feeling parched as the dry Utah air sucked all the moisture from my body.

Water is not available anywhere on the trail, so be sure to bring plenty or fill up at the Visitors’ Center before you set out. Even when temperatures are moderate, the park recommends taking 2-3 quarts of water per person.

I feel as though I need to emphasize this point more zealously, because I know we see warnings like this all the time, but sometimes we take them for granted. As in, oh sure, of course I’ll bring plenty of water. What kind of a trail-donkey do you take me for?!

Well folks, I’ve been camping and hiking since before I could walk, so taking an ample supply of water on the trail is second nature. However, this was my first real desert hike in the summer, and less than halfway into the hike it was apparent that I did not bring enough water.

The truth is, if it hadn’t been for my traveling companions, I might have had some serious trouble. Under the circumstances, the experience was merely humbling and instructive: had I been alone on the trail, it could have been disastrous.

My Cheerleaders!

NOTE: The NPS suggests taking 2-3 quarts of water per person on this hike, and one gallon of water per day in the park, even when temperatures are cooler.

SHOES

This is not a “flip-flop” hike. The trail is wide and flat, and we found the sandstone surprisingly “grippy”: walking on it was a bit like walking on a path made of medium-grain sandpaper. Nevertheless, it is crucial to wear solid, supportive shoes with good traction.

That being said, I am well-known in our family for my ability to trip over invisible cracks in the sidewalk, and I did just fine in my tennis shoes. I did, however, use my daughter’s camera monopod as a walking stick much of the time, which was especially useful as we were crossing the vast, flat sandstone slab. If I were to do this hike again, I would definitely bring a walking stick or trekking poles with me.

Note that the NPS recommends traction devices (i.e., ice cleats) during the winter months, as the final 70 yards of trail are often ice-covered.

SUN PROTECTION

Desert. Sun. No Shade.

The sun on the Delicate Arch Trail trail can be blistering and unrelenting. Shady spots are few and far between. No matter what time of year you hike the Delicate Arch Trail, it is critical to protect any exposed skin with sunblock and wear a brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face and prevent your head from burning.

One-third of the way into the hike, we desperately needed a shade-break.

TRAIL SIGNS

Along the Delicate Arch Trail, you will notice a number of strategically placed piles of rocks. These “cairns” have been placed there by National Park rangers to mark the way to go. If you are unsure of where to go on the trail, just look for the next cairn and go in that direction. Under no circumstances should you build your own cairn or knock an existing one down.

TIMING

Sunrise is just as beautiful as sunset, much cooler, and always less busy. You might find several hundred people at Delicate Arch for sunset, but just a handful for sunrise. Try to enter the park before 7 am. Get an early start and beat the crowds. [National Park Service]

Setting out from the Arches National Park Visitors Center, we hit the Delicate Arch Trail just before 8:00am (which was about an hour later than we had hoped). By the time we reached Delicate Arch an hour or so later, the heat was already quite uncomfortable, and the crowds were starting to get heavy.

The image above was taken at about 9:30am, when the crowds were relatively light.

If you want to photograph Delicate Arch in all its glory, with the sun hitting all those amazing bands of red and rust just right, you’ll have to brave the crowds at sunset, which I’m told can be ridiculously huge.

Along the Delicate Arch Trail

To get to the Delicate Arch trailhead:

From the Arches National Park Visitor Center, drive 12.3 miles up Park Avenue and turn right. Continue an additional 1.2 miles and turn left into the parking area for Delicate Arch Trail.

Trailhead address: Arches National Park, Moab, UT 84532
Trailhead coordinates: 38.73565, -109.5206 (38° 44′ 08.35″N 109° 31′ 14.13″W)

Hitting the Trail

The Wolfe Ranch marks the beginning of the Delicate Arch Trail. This homestead was built and used by Civil War veteran John Wesley Wolfe and his family of five from 1898 to 1910, when they packed up and returned to their home in Ohio.

Image Credit: Don Graham (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Just beyond the Wolfe homestead, a bridge takes you across the Salt Wash and onto the main trail.

Following the Cairns

At one point, the trail becomes a huge flat slab of sandstone, and you will have to follow the cairns (or the crowds) to find your way.

As you make your way across this wide, shadeless span, the heat can become almost unbearable by midday.

See that big flat rock face in top third of the image above? See those teeny-tiny dots on it going from the bottom to the top? Those are People! TONS of People!

The Giant’s Grin

A little more than three-quarters of the way up the Delicate Arch Trail, you will find what I am calling Giant’s Grin. (Totally made that up: I have no idea what it is really called.) I couldn’t find this listed in any of the Arches National Park literature I could find, but it it one of the coolest places we saw at the park.

Once you arrive here, you can breath a sigh of relief, because your destination is just around the corner! Before you continue though, take a minute to enjoy this mammoth formation and the stunning photo op it offers.

Just beyond the Giant’s Grin, the trails begins to narrow and hug a towering vertical ridge. The views as you make your way around the ridge are stunning.

Best Tips for Hiking Delicate Arch Trail | The Good Hearted Woman

Many thanks to Olivia Huskey Photography for taking this epic shot. It’s my one of my very favorites from our time in Arches National Park: I love the story it tells.

Then you round the last curve, and just like that, Delicate Arch is in front of you.

A Drink of Cool Water

You know that sensation you get when you take a cold drink on a hot day and the liquid flows down your throat and splashes into your empty stomach, and for just a second, the cool washing through you is pure bliss?

Rounding that ridge and seeing Delicate Arch right there in front of us was a lot like that.

Our Em.

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Oneonta Gorge Hike {9 Essential Tips}

July 1 By Renée 25 Comments

The Oneonta Gorge Hike in the Columbia River Gorge creates an indelible memory for those who brave the trail to get there.

Oneonta Gorge Hike {9 Essential Tips} | The Good Hearted Woman

Image Credit: Paul Weeks via Flickr (CC 2.0)

Oneonta Gorge is an amazing, invigorating hot-weather hike, and one of the most memorable that Mr B, Em and I have ever taken.

Arriving at the far end of Oneonta Gorge is totally worth the effort it takes to get there. When you stand at the end of that pristine fissure in the earth and feel the spray from Lower Oneonta Falls falling all around you, it is an incredible, indelible moment.

Image credit: Waqas Mustafeez via Flickr (CC 2.0)

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Just down the road from Oregon’s famous Multnomah Falls, the Oneonta Gorge “trail” is not a trail at all: you hike the creek bed. The hike itself is quite short – just over a mile round-trip. The challenge comes in the form of a GIANT log jam completely blocking the route into the Gorge. The only way through the log jam is to climb over it. It is very doable as long as you are reasonably flexible and keep a clear head; however, it requires some patience.

After the long jam, as you continue walking the river bed, the water gets very deep at one point. It came up past my waist (I’m 5’3”), and considering we were there in August, I imagine that the water can be much deeper earlier in the year.

The payoff at the end of the trail is the basin of Lower Oneonta Falls, a place that lends the feeling of standing in a world apart.

I highly recommend taking this hike; however, there are a few important things you need to know before you go.

Oneonta Gorge Hiking Tips:

DO

DO prepare to get wet. Wear a swimsuit, or a wetsuit, or whatever kind of suit you have that you don’t mind getting wet. (And while you’re at it, wear some shorts or pants or something on the bottom, because we are all going to be climbing over that log jam shoulder to shoulder and thigh to thigh, and when you are taking a big step above me or around me because I am going slower then you, I don’t want your special parts waving hello to me as they brush by. [Thanks again, Mr. Red Speedo.] )

DO Wear water shoes with good tread.
Yes, of course you can wear your old tennis shoes… as long as the tread on the bottom is still solid. All I’m saying is, this is a very slippery hike, and you do not want to fall. I cannot emphasize strongly this point strongly enough.Case in point: Let’s just say that I am not known for my sure-footedness. Anyway, on our return trip, I lost my footing in the log jam [because I had not read an awesome blog post like this one that advised me to wear shoes with good tread], and fell about six feet down into the log jam. I missed impaling myself on a vertical log by that much, and the whole experience was extremely traumatic, to say the least.)

DO go hiking when it is hot outside.
We took the Oneonta Gorge Hike in early August during a heat wave. At that time, it was refreshingly brisk in Oneonta Gorge, and yet the logs in the log jam were still very slick and slippery. Imagine how cold and wet it might be during one of our infamous PNW torrential downpours.

DO take your smart phone in a dry bag or a Ziploc bag, because you are going to want some pictures.
I have this cool little dry bag for my phone that I bought when we went to Hawaii. It’s very sturdy, allows me to take clear pictures while my phone zipped safely inside of it, and I never have to worry about my phone getting wet.

DO prepare to be surrounded by a lot of other people in close proximity.
As an Oregon hikers, we are used to having the trail pretty much to ourselves, but there were TONS of people the day we went (a Thursday), and it can get especially up-close and personal while everyone is moving in different directions as they get over the log jam.

DON’T

DON’T bring your baby, your toddler, your puppy, or your mobility-challenged great-grandma. Just don’t.
This might go without saying, but I’ll put it out there anyway: this hike is only for able-bodied folks. This is not meant to be exclusionary or discriminatory in any way, but we saw so many people (and animals) really struggling on this hike. I don’t mean that they were just out of shape (Me!! I am definitely out of shape, and I made it.) I mean they should not have been there in the first place.For example, we saw a man about a quarter of the way into the log jam trying to coax his hysterical two-year old over a log. A crowd was patiently waiting, all balancing on slippery logs at least eight feet off the ground at the time, while we watched this poor kid, petrified and screaming at the top of his lungs. His dad was so intent on getting on with the hike that, though a few people gently mentioned to him that maybe he should try another day, he would hear neither friendly suggestions nor his own child’s pleas.

Lesson here: sometimes you just need to Parent Up, turn around and go home.

We also saw an adorable puppy shivering with cold and fear, legs wobbly in frigid water up past his chest. His people had tried to come prepared: the puppy had a canine flotation vest on with a handle, and they were hefting him over the logs, but he was clearly scared. When we saw him later up the creek bed, he was trying desperately to stay above water and shivering like a kitten in a snowstorm. I am certain that many people have done this hike successfully with both pets and kids, but honestly, I just don’t think it is worth the risk or the emotional toll.

DON’T go barefoot, wear flip-flops, or shoes with no tread.
I’ve already beat this one into the ground, but I’ll say it again – wear good water shoes. (See “DO #2”)

DON’T take your “good camera.” Because water, rocks, and big, slippery logs do not play nice with $1200 camera lenses.…and finally

DON’T drink/ingest/smoke/vape (or whatever you do) any mind-altering substances before you go.
Seriously, Oregon, don’t play innocent with me. I know that at least a few of you are in the habit of enhancing your hiking vibe on occasion, and I’m not trying to harsh your mellow, but you really do need your wits completely on for this one. Stay straight and stay safe, folks.

→ Read what others have to say about Oneonta Gorge on TripAdvisor.

Getting there:

From I-84, take Exit #35/Ainsworth and head west on the Historic Columbia River Highway for approximately 1.5 miles. Just east of the Oneonta Tunnel on your left/south is the Oneonta Gorge. Parking is limited.

Start point: Oneonta Gorge Trailhead
End Point: Lower Oneonta Falls
Distance: 1.0 miles
Elevation gain: 0 feet
Moderately-Difficulty: Difficult (due to climbing over logs and deep wading)
Best time to hike: Aug – Oct
Kid or Pet-Friendly: No

Fun fact:

It was a miner ’49er named Carleton Eugene Watkins, originally on the West Coast for the California gold rush, who first photographed the area, and it was he who gave the gorge its unusual name – “Oneonta” after his hometown of Oneonta, New York.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running – and (relatively) ad-free!! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Wahkeena Falls {Hike}

June 17 By Renée 3 Comments

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge.

The Columbia River Gorge offers visitors almost an infinite hiking opportunities. Some of our favorite day hikes can be found along the string of waterfalls on Oregon’s Historic Columbia River Highway known as the “Waterfall Loop,” where well-maintained trails are abundant and the scenery is spectacular. The hike to Wahkeena Falls is especially beautiful, with something to see around every bend in the trail.

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Unlike Multnomah Falls and many of the other falls on the waterfall loop, Wahkeena Falls is not a single, straight fall, but rather a series of steps, horsetails, and plunges between basalt outcroppings as Wahkeena Creek makes its way down to the base of the falls and on to the Columbia River.

Wahkeena Falls, once known as Gordon Falls (for F.E. Gordon, a pioneer landowner), was renamed in 1915, after the completion of the Columbia River Highway. Wahkeena – a Yakima Indian word meaning “most beautiful” – is a fitting name.

From the Oregon State Archives “A 1940 Journey Across Oregon”:

… WAHKEENA FALLS, 159.6 m., named for the daughter of a Yakima Indian chief, are considered by some the most beautiful of the many falls in the gorge. There is no sheer drop, but the waters hurl themselves in a series of fantastic cascades down the steep declivity. Wahkeena Creek has its source in Wahkeena Springs only a mile and a half above the cliff over which the waters plunge. …

Even the Wahkeena Falls trailhead is stunning. (I’m just going to say it – I’m really proud of this photograph.)

The hike to Wahkeena Falls is moderately easy, and although the trail offers a bit of an upward climb going in – a 400 feet gain in about a half mile – it is well worth the effort.

From beginning to end, the Wahkeena Trail (#420) rewards day hikers with beautiful views. There is a short .2 mile paved hike to the lowest stage of the falls that’s popular with families and folks who aren’t up to hiking to the top. There is even a nice little stone bench if you want to sit down and take a break. From there, the trail takes you through about a dozen switchbacks with a steep rise in elevation that will seriously challenge your calves if you’ve avoiding the gym lately.

The trail is wide enough to walk side-by-side with a hiking buddy, and very well maintained. Like most of the trails in the waterfall loop, there are many interconnecting links, so be sure to mind the “street signs” that you see along the way.

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

Am I the only one who thinks this is funny?

Know Before You Go

Distance: 1.4 miles round trip to the top, 0.4 round trip to the bridge
Hike Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Hike Type: Out and back
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
Start point: Wahkeena Trailhead Road
Family & dog-friendly (Dogs must be on a leash)

Waterfall Loop Map

Read what others have to say about Wahkeena Falls on TripAdvisor.

Getting there:
From Portland head east on I-84 and take the Bridal Veil (Exit 28). At the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, take a left heading east and go approximately 3 miles, just before Multnomah Falls. There is parking on both sides of the highway, and the trail head is on the south side of the highway, heading west. There is another trail that connects this trail head to Multnomah Falls, heading east.

The Trail Less Traveled: Elowah Falls & McCord Creek Falls {Hike}

October 9 By Renée 8 Comments

Enjoy both sweeping views and relative solitude on this – the Elowah Falls & Upper McCord Falls Hike –the least-traveled trail on Oregon’s “waterfall road.”

It can be so easy to put off exploring your own backyard. Late this summer, Mr. B, Em and I decided to spend a week camping along the Historic Columbia River Highway at Ainsworth State Park, and take the time to explore Gorge trails so close to home that we often overlook them.

We took our trusty copy of Curious Gorge along with us, which lists over 100 Gorge hikes, and found a number of enticing trails to check out, including this one, which I’m almost embarrassed to admit I’ve never hiked before. It seems that I’m not alone though: the book’s author, Scott Cook, says that due to its weirdly hard to find parking lot, “Elowah Falls is the most overlooked major waterfall in the entire Gorge.”

I believe him. If you have ever hiked to the top of Multnamah Falls, you probably had a lot a company along the trail. Not so on the Elowah Falls and McCord Falls Hike. I could count the number of people we encountered the entire time we were on the trail on two hands.

The Elowah Falls hike is actually two hikes in one. About .2 miles in, at the second junction in the trail, you can choose to go up to Upper McCord Creek’s twin waterfalls, or down to Elowah Falls. We took the high road first.

A short way into our hike, we encountered a rusty piece of history – this long cast-iron flume pipe running down the hill.

According to Cook, this flume was built circa 1890 by pioneer Myron Kelly, who used it to deliver pressurized water from McCords Upper Twin Falls to his pulp mill down on the river. The pressurized water turned mill wheels that ground cottonwood trees into pulp, which he sold to Camas’ paper mills.

The mile-long trail to McCord Creek Falls makes several switchbacks for an elevation gain of 260 feet. It also passes a basalt wall blooming with wildflowers, and gives you a beautiful view of the Columbia River and Hamilton Mountain across the river in Washington.

If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler making its way up (or down) river.

We stopped at McCord Creek Twin Falls to eat lunch, and Mr. B and Em did a little exploring while I took pictures of the local flora.

After lunch, we returned down the trail to Elowah Falls. The falls are fed by runoff from Mount Hood and, due to our extremely dry summer weather, the 213-foot high waterfall itself was somewhat anticlimactic, but nonetheless lovely, and the spray was quite refreshing after our hot afternoon hike. We’re hoping to take the hike again in early spring when the water is flowing more.

The canyon created by the falls creates a wind tunnel, and as we got close to the falls basin, the wind became strong enough to push the weak waterfall flow sideways.

If you are looking for a great, easy hike, we highly recommend checking out Elowah Falls. From Portland, it makes for a beautiful day trip, and if you are looking to get a little one-on-one time with the people you love along the way, the trail will be all yours.

Hike to Elowah Falls & Upper McCOrd Creak Twin Falls | The Good Hearted Woman

Proof that I was actually on this hike! (Also: Wind)

Hike Info:

Elowah Falls & Upper McCord Falls Hike

Easy-Moderate Hike
.75 miles to Elowah Falls, 1 mile to Upper McCord Falls, and 3.5 miles to do both.
Trail is very well-maintained, but rocky. Wear good shoes.
Pets are OK. Leashes required.

Getting there:

The parking lot really isn’t that hard to find. It’s just that it is situated east of the place your normally return to the highway from the old Historic Highway, and I think people just don’t know it’s there. (All the better for us solitary hikers then, huh?) The trailhead starts in the parking lot of John B. Yeon State Park, making this the most easterly of the Historic Highway’s waterfall hikes.

From the west (30 minutes from Portland)
From Portland, take Hwy 84 east to Ainsworth exit 35. At the stop, turn left, and then immediately right onto Frontage Road. Follow for 2 miles to Yeon State Park (just before the highway entrance).

From the east (30 minutes from Hood River)
Take I-84 west to Warrendale exit 37, Take the exit and go .3 miles, then turn left under the bridge. Take another left onto Frontage Road and head east for .3 miles to Yeon State Park (just before the highway entrance).

Resources: Curious Gorge [2013 edition], by Scott Cook [←affiliate link]

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Hiking Diamond Head {360° of Amazing}

August 26 By Renée 6 Comments

Hiking to the peak of Diamond Head Crater is no stroll through the park, but Wow! What a payoff!

No, I am not sunburned in the picture above. I’m just one of those people who doesn’t sweat much, overheats easily, and turns red any time I my heart gets going faster than my feet. Now that we have that out of the way, let me tell you why we are smiling from ear to ear.

Or better yet, let me show you – from our vantage point at the top of Diamond Head Crater.

Looking to the right, Honolulu stretches west, and beyond it, Iroquois Point and the inlet to Pearl Harbor; and farther in the distance, the southwestern tip of Oahu.

Now we look down, and about 700 feet below us stands the Diamond Head Lighthouse. The original lighthouse was built in 1899, and the current structure, erected in 1917, stands 147 feet above sea level and uses the original 1899 fresnel lens to projects its light 18 miles out into the Pacific Ocean.

And then to the east, and beautiful Maunaloa Bay.

To sum it up – 360° of Amazing.

But there is a price to pay for this view: the hike takes some effort. Admittedly, Mr. B is in better shape than I am, but we were both huffing and puffing a couple of times during this “moderate” hike. The park service suggests visitors allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace for the hike; however, the hike itself really only takes about an hour round trip, give or take – if you don’t stop and take a lot of pictures. If you are young and very fit and want to run the trail, it might only take you 30 minutes, but that’s just a guess. (I’ll certainly never know!) It will take you longer if you aren’t in the habit of exercising, or you bring small children. (Note: Do not bring your dog, or any other pet. They are not allowed in the park – not even the parking lot.)

Here’s a few tips for making a successful trip up one of Hawaii’s most famous landmarks.

Start early

The park is open from 6am to 6pm seven days a week. Thousands of people visit each day, so getting there early can help you avoid the crowds. But that’s not the biggest reason. In my book, it’s all about the Heat. You are walking up the side of a extinct volcano here folks! There is very little shade, and it gets hot early.

Wear Good {Closed-toe} Shoes

This is not a flip-flop hike. I’m not your mom, so I’m not going to tell you that you can’t wear flip-flops on the hike. But I will tell you that if you do, you’ll wish you had listened to me. And while we’re on the subject, wear a hat, or something to keep the sun off your head. (I brought my sun-brella, and I’m 100% sure it saved me from heat stroke.)

The first 0.2 miles of the 0.8 mile trail are all paved, but beyond that, the trail is rocky and uneven. There are steep stairs and narrow tunnels to navigate as well, and many sections of the trail are only wide enough for one person. Needless to say, leave the stroller in the car and Great-Grandma at the hotel with the air-conditioning on.

Take Water

It was surprising to me how many people didn’t have water with them. The reason I noticed is because they were suffering, many obviously in need of a drink. If you have the means, freeze a bottle the night before so that it will stay cold.

Once you leave the parking lot area there are no restrooms, water or other services available. According to the park service, when it’s hot and humid, people who don’t hydrate enough frequently need to be carried out, and because of the terrain that often means a helicopter rescue. And while a helicopter ride over Oahu sounds fabulous, I wouldn’t want to take it while lying flat on the floor of an National Guard medical helicopter with an IV stuck in my arm because I forgot to bring a water bottle.

Take It Easy

Enjoy the experience. If you find that the pace you’ve set is a little too ambitious, slow down. This is an adventure, not a race.

There are a couple of tunnels that you will need to go through; the longer is 225-feet long. I have a very mild case of claustrophobia, and this tunnel was a bit of a challenge for me. However, you never lose sight of light, and that helps a great deal. There is also a quite daunting 99-step staircase: I’m out of breath just remembering it.

Take Pictures

I was intrigued with how the outline of the palm trees that lines the coastal highway contrasted with the water, and found myself momentarily wishing for a longer lens.

I took a minute to grab a few shots of one of my favorite subjects, too.

Finally, remember to have someone take your picture. (Yes, you can take a selfie, but…) There are plenty of friendly people in this world, and a lot of them will be right up there with you on the top of that volcano. My best advice: find a mom. Moms get left out of pictures a lot, so whenever I see a mom taking a picture of her family, I make a point of asking if I can take the picture so that she can be in it too. Nine times out of ten, she will flash me a Mom Club smile [First rule of Mom Club] and it makes my day.

That’s about it, so I’ll end where I started: If you have the opportunity to climb Diamond Head, do it! You will sweat – and it is totally worth it!

Mosier Twin Tunnels {Hike}

February 27 By Renée 6 Comments

We decided to wrap up our Valentine’s weekend trip to Hood River by stretching our winter-weary hiking legs with a trip up to see the historic Twin Tunnels just west of Mosier, Oregon. Really more of a stroll than a hike, this short 1.1 mile jaunt (one way, from the Mosier-side trail-head) offers some fabulous views of the Columbia River Gorge.

Once an important link in the scenic Columbia River Highway, the Mosier Twin Tunnels were constructed between 1919 and 1921. From the beginning, the tunnels and the nearby cliffs presented a trouble spot on the historic highway: rockfalls were common and accidents happened frequently. Eventually abandoned in 1955 after the completion of Highway I-84, the tunnels were soon filled in with rubble and forgotten.

Eastern Portal – Mosier Twin Tunnels

Then, in the 1980’s, interest in restoring the old historic highway began to develop. In 1995, with help of longtime Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield, work was begun to reopen the tunnels for tourist use. Rubble was removed from inside the tunnels, the walls were rebuilt, and the road was completely resurfaced.

The twin tunnels were reopened in July 2000 for bicycle and foot traffic, and are now part of the 4.6-mile-long “Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.”

The hike itself is mostly flat, with just a slight elevation change, and paved, making it a smooth ride for cyclists and wheelchair hikers.

I don’t know if it is always this way, but on the day we went, cyclists outnumbered walkers nealry two to one.

Hiking in from the Mosier side, the trail soon comes to the edge of the Gorge and turns west. Here, you’ll walk past stone guardrails and look down to a great view of Eighteen Mile Island, known locally as Chicken Charlie Island.

This 10-acre island, once owned by one Charles Reither, was significantly larger before the completion of Bonneville Dam in 1937, and was home to a chicken ranch and a small railroad. It is now the only privately owned island in the Columbia River Gorge.

Just over a half mile into the hike, a beautiful new stone-walled lookout has been built over the Columbia River, and a short distance past the lookout is the east portal of the east tunnel. The entrance to the Eastern Portal has been restored to very much the same as it was nearly 100 years ago (pavement and cement curbs notwithstanding).

The second tunnel has two windows, known as adits, looking out over the river. There are steps that once led to viewpoints, but these are now blocked to the public. They make for some cool images though.

Beyond the tunnels, the trail continues another 3.5 miles to the Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead, near Hood River.

When we took this hike in mid-February, we were already finding the first signs of spring!

This hike was a beautiful way to end our weekend, and a great way to kick off the hiking season here in the Pacific Northwest. Hopefully we will see you on the trail soon!

Getting there:
Mark O. Hatfield East Trailhead: (Starting from the Mosier side – 1.1 miles to Twin Tunnels)
From I-84 take Exit 69/Mosier. Follow the Historic Columbia River Highway as it curves left toward the town of Mosier. At the base of the bridge, turn left and circle under the bridge. Drive approximately 1 mile to the trailhead parking lot, which is clearly marked on the left. The actual trailhead is about a football field away from the parking lot.

Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead: (Starting from the Hood River side – 3.5 miles to Twin Tunnels)
From I-84 take Exit 64/Highway 35, White Salmon & Government Camp. After exiting, turn right at the stop sign and then make another right turn. Head up for 0.4 miles to a four-way intersection and turn left toward the Historic Highway State Park. Wind up the hill for 1.2 miles and turn left into the parking area at Mark O. Hatfield Western Trailhead.

For more information on hiking in the Columbia River Gorge, visit:

Friends of the Gorge
Curious Gorge – This is a limited online version of the book by the same name, listing 109 different Gorge hikes. In an effort to encourage readers to purchase the actual book, specific hike info is blacked out on this site, but it still gives you a lot of history about each hike, some lovely images, and a pretty good idea of what to expect.
Cascade Ramblings – Nice maps and hike basics here.

Hike to Witch’s Castle | Forest Park, Portland, Oregon

August 20 By Renée 22 Comments

Easy half-mile Hike to the Witch’s Castle; Forest Park, Portland, Oregon. Learn how real-life turned into local legend, plus hike details and trail tips.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Once upon a time, I had visions of hiking through the hills and valleys of the Pacific Northwest with my happy little train of children, traipsing along whilst singing our hearts out all Von Trappified and such. (In my perfect world, it would be totally acceptable to break out into song at any given moment.)

Then Tweens. Then Teens. Do you know how hard it is to entice the average teenage girl to go on a Hike with her Family?

Then one day…

Me: “Hey, do you want to go an a super-easy hike to a mysterious (probably haunted) definitely creepy stone Witch’s House hidden in the forest?”

Teen Daughter:

Me: “Yeah. I thought so. Let’s go.”

Before I give you the scoop on the actual hike – tips, directions, and so forth – a little history lesson is probably in order.

With 5,200 acres and more than 80 miles of trails, fire lanes and forest roads, Portland’s Forest Park is one of the largest urban forests in the United States. Forest Park has always been a hotbed of strange happenings in the Portland area, and Witch’s Castle is at the epicenter of one particularly haunting tale.

{Dun-dun-duuuun…}

It seems that back in 1850, one Danford Balch filed a claim on a parcel of land near the newly settled town of Portland. Danford needed some help clearing the land, so he hired a transient worker named Mortimer Stump. Balch invited Stump to stay with his family, which included his wife Mary Jane and their nine children, while the work was being done.

Unfortunately, Stump ended up staying on a lot longer than was healthy for anyone.

It seems that Stump eventually fell in love with 15-year old Anna Balch and asked for her hand in marriage. When Danford and Mary Jane refused, the couple threatened to elope, and Father Balch retorted that if they did, he would kill Mortimer Stump. Young love being what it is, Mortimer and Anna ran off to Vancouver and were married in the fall of 1858.

Danford Balch would later claim that what happened next was the result of his wife “bewitching” him. The next time he encountered the couple, in Portland with other members of Stump’s family, a drunken Balch shot Mortimer Stump in the head. Balch was arrested, but escaped while awaiting trial.

Finally arrested again six months later on his own property, he was tried, found guilty, and subsequently hanged in October of 1859, making Danford Balch the first (legal) hanging in the Oregon Territory.

Mary Jane Balch, the “Witch” in our story, continued to live on the property. To this day, some attribute the strange occurrences at the Witch’s House to the ghosts of Danford, Mortimer, Anna, and Mary Jane.

If that story isn’t enough to intrigue your teen off the couch, I don’t know what is.

Lamentably, the Witch’s House is not the actual Balch home. Over time, the Balch land was passed to various owners, and was eventually given to the City of Portland by Donald Macleay in 1897 to be used as a park.

In the 1950’s, a stone ranger station and restroom was constructed near the old Balch place, but was soon abandoned and quickly deteriorated. It is that stone structure that stands today as the Witch’s House.

How to Get to the Witch’s Castle Trailhead at Forest Park

Forest Park stretches more than seven miles of Northwest Portland along the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains. The park is open every day of the year from 5am until 10pm.

The Witch’s Castle is an easy half-mile hike from the Upper Macleay Parking lot near the Portland Audubon Society, or a slightly longer three-quarter mile jaunt starting from the Lower Macleay Parking lot at at NW 30th and Upshur.

If you want to visit the Audubon Society first, as we did, you can pick up the trail just to the right of the Wildlife Care Center, and then the only turn you’ll make is a quick left onto the main trail.

From the turn onto the main trail, it’s an easy twentyish-minute walk in from Upper MacLeay, following Balch Creek on the Wildwood Trail.

Strange things are afoot at the Witch’s Castle… (If someone knows how I did this, please tell me – I may want to create the effect again someday! And no, I did not drop the camera.)

Speaking of Stranger Things, Mr. B and I pose in front of a seemingly innocent doorway. And yet…

… the doorway above leads to this not so innocent little room/cave under the Witch’s Castle. > >Shivers< <

OK, maybe it’s time for something pretty…

Looking for more easy Portland area hikes? Be sure to check out the Camassia Nature Preserve in West Linn, just south of Portland.

At the end of the day, we all had a great time together, and got to explore a pretty cool little corner of our world. And for the record, I did sing on the trail on the way back – accompanied by the lilting tones of, “Oh my gosh, Mom! You are so weird!”

As a Portland native, I take that as a real compliment.

P.S. About the picture above: I’m pretty sure I’m not really that short. I’m almost positive I was standing in a hole. Or something.

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The Camassia Nature Preserve is a 26-acre natural area known for its beautiful wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and easy, family-friendly trails. [West Linn, Oregon]

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~ Meriwether Lewis, Personal Journal, 1806

Glass Photo Sphere | Lens Ball Tips

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The Delicate Arch Trail is challenging, and totally worth the effort! Go early, take your time, and bring twice as much water as you think you need.

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Hiking the Delicate Arch Trail

Can I survive the Delicate Arch hike?

I MADE IT!!!

Success on the Delicate Arch Hike DEPENDS ON Being Prepared!

WATER

SHOES

SUN PROTECTION

TRAIL SIGNS

TIMING

Along the Delicate Arch Trail

To get to the Delicate Arch trailhead:

Hitting the Trail

Following the Cairns

The Giant’s Grin

A Drink of Cool Water

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The Oneonta Gorge Hike in the Columbia River Gorge creates an indelible memory for those who brave the trail to get there.

Oneonta Gorge Hiking Tips:

DO

DON’T

Getting there:

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge.

Know Before You Go

Enjoy both sweeping views and relative solitude on this – the Elowah Falls & Upper McCord Falls Hike –the least-traveled trail on Oregon’s “waterfall road.”

Hike Info:

Hiking to the peak of Diamond Head Crater is no stroll through the park, but Wow! What a payoff!

Start early

Wear Good {Closed-toe} Shoes

Take Water

Take It Easy

Easy half-mile Hike to the Witch’s Castle; Forest Park, Portland, Oregon. Learn how real-life turned into local legend, plus hike details and trail tips.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Me: “Hey, do you want to go an a super-easy hike to a mysterious (probably haunted) definitely creepy stone Witch’s House hidden in the forest?”

Teen Daughter:

Me: “Yeah. I thought so. Let’s go.”

How to Get to the Witch’s Castle Trailhead at Forest Park

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. 🌻 Be sure to PIN this post!

**Success on the Delicate Arch Hike DEPENDS ON Being Prepared!**

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!