Early Season Wildflowers at the Columbia River Gorge
While the mountains are still buried under winter’s blanket of snow, seeds planted at lower elevation hillsides are being warmed by the sun and sprouting through the Columbia River Gorge. Seasonal transitions are a spectacular thing, but winter to spring holds a particular kind of magic.
Standing on the slopes of Coyote Wall in early March, you can almost feel the landscape waking up. While area favorite higher-altitude trails are still months away from being accessible, the Gorge offers a head start on the season. The basalt cliffs and grassy plateaus act as a sun-trap, coaxing out the very first wildflowers of the year.
