Hiking, Biking and Horseback Riding

A wide diversity of terrain makes Klickitat County a great place for on and off-road biking, hiking, and horse-riding. Multiple use and specialty trail systems provide endless opportunities. A road closure system in select areas of the county assures a true getaway experience for those seeking the solitude of nature. (Private property considerations, as with fishing and hunting, need to be respected).

Many trails are located in Klickitat County. Notably, the Buck Creek Trail along the western county border is road accessible near Northwestern Lake and has corrals and loading facilities for horse-riding.

Wildflower hikes along the Gorge and in mountain meadows are popular. The Catherine Creek and Major Creek areas near Lyle highlight a diversity of flora. The Dalles Mountain State Park near Dallesport is newly formed and affords spectacular views of the Columbia Gorge as well as hillsides carpeted with spring wildflowers. Glenwood provides access to the famous Bird Creek Meadows on the southern slope of Mount Adams, an area rich with wildflowers into the summer months. Mount Adams, in 1997, experienced two monumental landslides on its upper slopes.

Many areas within the Gifford Pinchot, the Klickitat Wildlife Management Area, and Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge are open to hiking, wildlife viewing, and outdoor photography.

For rock climbers, the east side of Horsethief Lake State Park, near Dallesport, has a hiking trail leading to a popular basalt rock formation.