Tom McCall Point Trail: The Most Breathtaking Wildflower Hike In Oregon

Tom McCall Point might just be the best hike I discovered all year.

If you’re willing to venture beyond the Columbia River Gorge’s biggest attractions (Multnomah Falls, the Waterfall Corridor, etc.), you’ll be rewarded with one of Oregon’s most spectacular spring hikes.

This is the hike for anyone craving a change of pace, adventurers willing to swap waterfalls for rolling hills blanketed in wildflowers, panoramic views of the Columbia River Gorge, and a peeps of snow-capped mountains that seem to follow you for nearly the entire trail.

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Tom McCall Point: The Most Picturesque Wildflower Hike

Ever since Papu’s parents bought a home in Camas, Washington, we’ve been spending a lot more time exploring the Columbia River Gorge.

Having a home base so close to one of the most beautiful outdoor playgrounds in the Pacific Northwest has given us the perfect excuse to venture beyond the usual Portland day trip spots and start discovering more of what this region has to offer.

This spring, I knew I wanted to experience wildflower season in the PNW.

If you’ve done any research on spring hikes in the Gorge, you’ve probably heard of the ultra-famous Dog Mountain Trail. It’s often touted as THE wildflower hike to do.

Naturally, that was the first place I looked. But after scrolling through the AllTrails reviews and photos taken in mid-April, I had to admit… I was underwhelmed. The photos didn’t have very much color or pizazz. Maybe it was a timing thing, but the scenery just didn’t excite me enough to justify the effort (or the crowds).

So I kept digging… hoping that our planned trip wasn’t too early/late in the season to see the spring wildflowers!

That’s when I stumbled across photos of the Tom McCall Point Trail. MY JAW FELL TO THE FLOOR. The moment I saw photos of the flowers everywhere, I was freakin’ SOLD.

I saw lots and lots of hills blanketed in bright yellow wildflowers. Sunflowers even! Sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge. And towering above it all, Mount Hood sitting pretty, dominating the horizon.

The best part about it? It was going to be pretty low effort. The hike is only about 3 miles round-trip, making it an easy half-day adventure.

We could get our hiking fix, enjoy peak wildflower season, and still have plenty of time left to explore more of the Gorge afterward. That’s exactly my kind of day trip!

The photos you’re about to see completely exceeded my expectations. So far, this is hands-down one of my favorite spring hikes in Oregon.

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Tom McCall Point: What To Expect On The Trail

We left Camas early that morning and made our way east through the Gorge, stopping in the tiny town of Mosier around 9am for coffee at Randonée Coffee Co. If you’re the type who likes supporting small local coffee shops while road-tripping, this is a great one to check out.

As we continued driving toward Tom McCall Point, one thing immediately became obvious: this part of the Gorge is PACKED with hiking opportunities.

We passed trailhead after trailhead, with cars lining sections of the road and people already heading up the hills. (If you’ve got the energy for more than one hike, you could easily turn this into a full day of exploring different trails. I’ve included some of the nearby hikes at the bottom of this guide.)

By the time we arrived at the Tom McCall Point parking area around 9:30am, there was still plenty of parking available despite it being a clear-skied spring weekend.

From the parking lot, I was already impressed. To our left, we could see the hillsides ahead sprinkled with bright yellow balsamroot flowers and patches of purple lupine. To our right, we were treated to wide-open views of the CRG. Gorgeous, right?

The hike itself starts out gently, following a well-maintained trail that gradually climbs upward. Our breath picked up, but it was nothing too strenuous. As we gained elevation, the views of the Columbia River Gorge kept getting better and better.

Every few minutes, I’d stop to take another photo because the combination of wildflowers, rolling green hills, views overlooking the unique landscape of Rowena Plateau, and the river below somehow looked even prettier than it had a few minutes before.

Then came the moments that completely W-O-W-E-D me on this hike…

As the trail kept on winding upwards along the hillside, we caught our first glimpses of a snowy mountain, slightly shrouded by clouds above the ridgeline ahead. We excitedly assumed it was Mount Hood! It wasn’t, lol.

That mountain was actually Mount Adams!

And somehow the view got even better. Because there was not ONE mountain peak to ogle at, but TWO!!! OMG!

A few moments later, the trail rounded another bend and Mount Hood finally revealed itself in full force. From that point on, it completely dominated the landscape!

Every turn seemed to frame it perfectly against the wildflower-covered hills.

I know everyone has their preferred scenery, but this is EXACTLY why I love mountains so much. Give me a giant snow-capped peak rising above a sea of wildflowers and I’ll be happy + daydreaming about the views for weeks on end.

Once we reached the top, we found a comfortable spot to sit down, pulled out the banana bread we had packed, and soaked it all in. We spent far longer than necessary taking photos, admiring the views, and simply appreciating how beautiful the Gorge can be during peak wildflower season.

Eventually, we turned around and retraced our steps back down the mountain. It definitely took us longer than we anticipated because, throughout the return journey, we kept looking back over our shoulders for one last view of Mount Hood. We didn’t want to go!

After making our way back down the trail and giving our legs a much-needed stretch, we decided to call it on hiking for the day.

The downhill portion was definitely harder on my knees than the climb up, and in hindsight, this is one of those hikes where I would have happily used trekking poles. Thanks to all my previous years of hiking, my knees are aging faster than the rest of me. I feel alllll the downhill pressure, sigh.

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Beyond The Trail: Post-Hike Itinerary Ideas

The Dalles, OR

Rather than immediately heading back toward Portland, we continued about 20 to 30 minutes farther east to The Dalles for lunch and an afternoon of exploring.

If you’ve never been, The Dalles is one of the oldest permanently occupied settlements in Oregon and played an important role during the Oregon Trail era.

Long before Interstate 84 existed, this was a major transportation and trading hub along the Columbia River. Today, it’s a laid-back small town that serves as a gateway to outdoor recreation in the eastern Columbia River Gorge.

Many visitors pass through on their way to hiking trails, waterfalls, wineries, windsurfing spots, and scenic drives, but it’s worth slowing down and spending a few hours here.

For lunch, we stopped at Casa El Mirador, which honestly served up pretty darn good Mexican food for a small town in Oregon. After all the hiking, chips, salsa, and a hearty Mexican plate lunch really hit the spot.

Once we were fueled up, we spent some time wandering through downtown. One of the most eye-catching buildings is the historic Granada Theater, a beautifully restored 1929 movie palace whose colorful marquee instantly transports you back to another era.

My favorite discovery of the afternoon was a shop / mixed-use space called The Workshop. I wasn’t expecting much when we walked in, but I quickly became obsessed with all of the cherry-themed gifts and products!

If you didn’t know, The Dalles and the surrounding Hood River region are known for their fruit orchards, particularly cherries! The shop had such cute cherry-themed kitchen goods, candles, artwork, home décor, gifts, and souvenirs that reflected their local identity.

It took a lot of self-control not to leave with half the store. I ended up buying a “self-improvement” book with the cutest illustrations (a frog in kinky boots).

Before heading back toward Washington, we made one final stop at the coffee shop attached to The Workshop for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Cascade Locks, OR

Cascade Locks is a small Columbia River Gorge town that’s worth a quick stop if you’re ready to refuel or squeeze in one more adventure before heading back to Portland.

After our time in The Dalles, we drove straight to Cascade Locks because we wanted to bring home some salmon products, and Brigham Fish Market was the spot I had lasered in on during my research looking for a Native-owned business to support.

This Native American-owned seafood spot has built a loyal following for good reason. Their fish and chips and clam chowder are excellent after a day out under the sun, and if you’re driving home, don’t leave without picking up some of their house-smoked salmon to enjoy later.

If you want to experience the Gorge from a completely different perspective (and still have energy from the day), hop aboard the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler for a scenic river cruise. You can relax, take in the towering cliffs, and learn a bit about the area’s history after spending the morning on the trails.

Lastly, stop by Eastwind Drive-In, a classic roadside stop serving burgers, fries, shakes, and soft serve. We were too full to eat anything substantial, but soft serve? We can never deny soft serve!

With a soft-serve in hand and a camera roll full of wildflower photos, it felt like the perfect way to wrap up one of my favorite spring days we’ve had in the Columbia River Gorge so far.

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Tips For Visiting Tom McCall Point

No parking pass / permit is required. A huge plus considering there are so many rules with the rest of the Columbia River Gorge. Rowena Plateau is managed by Oregon State Parks, while Tom McCall Nature Preserve is managed by The Nature Conservancy. No trail permits or passes are required.

This trail is only open from March 1 to October 31 each year.

Arrive early. We arrived around 9:30am on a weekend and still found plenty of parking, but this is one of the Gorge’s most popular wildflower hikes during spring.

Bring a snack and a picnic blanket. The summit views practically beg for a leisurely snack break. We packed some banana bread, which made the experience even better. The only thing we were missing was our waterproof picnic blanket!!! Next time, I’m def NOT forgetting it for this hike.

Don’t rush off after the hike. One of the best things about Tom McCall Point is that you can pair it with other nearby stops and still have plenty of day left. We ended up visiting The Dalles and Cascade Locks on the way home afterward, but there are other nearby hikes to check out if more hiking is your idea of a good time.

Drive the Rowena Loops. After your hike, continue east along the Historic Columbia River Highway and descend the famous Rowena Loops. Built in 1919, this beautifully engineered section of road curls down the hillside like a ribbon draped across the landscape and is one of the most scenic drives in the Gorge.

Leave the dog at home. Dogs are not permitted on Tom McCall Point, whether on leash or off leash, due to the preserve’s sensitive habitat and wildflower ecosystems.

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