Coyote Wall-Labyrinth Loop - January 31, 2015

East of Hood River on the Washington side of the Columbia is the Coyote Wall-Labyrinth Loop hike. The six mile circuit involves 1,200+ vertical feet and is generally accessible year round. I went on an overcast Saturday the day before Super Bowl XLIX, full of false optimism that a Seattle win was imminent.

The loop's recently renovated trailhead is a few miles east of the UAV/drone hotbed of Bingen, WA. After parking and gearing up, we followed the trail along an old highway past a small lake, ignoring the spur leading up to Coyote Wall. After another half mile, we left the highway and started up a series of switchbacks on the Labyrinth side of the loop. Although a grey Gorge day, the landscape was still punctuated by bright green moss and the subtle beginnings of wildflowers getting a jump on the spring. The only annoyance was the churlish member of another hiking group loudly opining on her failed efforts at dating.

We continued zigzagging up the hillside along a creek, past several waterfalls and a small cave. Several ospreys and bald eagles circled around us looking for prey while following thermal updrafts. On several occasions we yielded the path for mountain bikers either slogging up or zooming down past us. After a leisurely few hours we reached the top of the Labyrinth trail and looped to the west for two miles toward Coyote Wall. Cloud cover blocked Mt. Hood, but we could still see the landscape leading down to the Columbia in both directions.

At the edge of the wall, we paused to admire the abrupt drop down to the trailhead. The rock face looked like something more appropriately found on a butte or mesa in a Southwest desert. And then we hurried back to the car as the wind started to pick up along the wall. Despite the river being in view the entire descent, it seemed to take much longer than expected to complete the final mile of switchbacks.

View more pics from the hike.

Coyote Wall - January 4, 2014

Only four days into 2014, a friend and I completed the second hike of the season. Coyote Wall (8 miles, 1,900 feet) is located five miles east of Hood River on the Washington side of the Columbia. It's one of the best hikes in the Gorge, straddling climate zones as mountain forest transitions to the arid terrain of the Cascadia rain shadow. Normally I would wait for the snow to melt and wildflowers to bloom before attempting Coyote, but this January's dry winter conditions were too good to pass up.

Mt. Hood, Hood River and Mt. Defiance (left to right)
with the Columbia River in the foreground.

We reached the newly renovated parking lot and trailhead facilities at 9:15 a.m. and quickly started the day. The temperature was below freezing, but the conditions were perfect - no snow, but frozen ground with very little mud. The loop started by winding through a forested area along the base of Coyote Wall, going in and out of private property. Although the trail was well-established - and I had used the route several times before - the path we took was no longer the preferred path because of the private land. In the future I'm not sure I would go this way.

With each step, the prominence of Mt. Hood increased off to the southwest as it rose above the surrounding landscape. After several miles of gradual uphill hiking, the trail joined a dirt road. We took a long break at a spot where the road opened up to a view of the Hood River Valley before continuing into the woods. Now at the highest point of the hike, the trail turned back towards the Columbia in a forested area along the top of the wall. After more than a mile, the trees ended and the landscape provided an unobstructed view for the rest of the hike. We could see from Stacker Butte and The Dalles to the east, to Indian Point and the mountains near Cascade Locks to the west. In my opinion it is one of the best spots in the entire Gorge.

Looking east to The Dalles.

During the rest of the descent we stopped several times to soak in the view and take pictures. A few other hikers were out, and over 20 mountain bikers. Many of the hikers/bikers brought unleashed dogs with them, leaving a surprising minefield of trail dookie. More than once we almost stepped in something worse than mud.

Before returning to the parking lot, the trail traveled for a half-mile on a paved road at the base of a steep cliff. The impact marks of several boulders could be seen in the pavement, with other smaller rocks scattered on the trail. I wouldn't want to be there during a wind storm!

By 2:10 p.m. we were back at the car. Overall it was a great hike. Lessons learned: watch where you step when unleashed dogs are around, and let the conditions - not the season - dictate when to go on a hike. Despite being in early January, the trail was in perfect shape. I would also consider the route carefully. Because of the private property issue, I've learned alternative paths have become available as part of a master trail plan for the area.