Rowena Crest Viewpoint gives a beautiful panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge from the cliffs in the nature preserve . The nearest hike is Tom McCall Point trail. This there-and-back trail begins at Rowena Crest Viewpoint and extends about 3.6-miles. By the end of the hike, you arrive at McCall Point, a 1719 ft elevation, and you can see a spectacular view of Mount Hood and Mount Adams. The Tom McCall preserve is also know for the wildflowers that surround both McCall point and the rest of the Tom McCall preserve hike trail during Spring.
How to get to Rowena Crest viewpoint?
Rowena Crest is located near the town of Mosier between Hood River and The Dalles, it features one of the best views of the Columbia River Gorge. It’s east of Portland along the gorge and is accessible by taking I-84 at Mosier (exit 69) and then the Old Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30 E).
Address: 6500 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Mosier, OR 97040
Coordinates: 45.682730, -121.299259
How far is Rowena from Portland?
Rowena Crest Viewpoint is 75 miles from downtown Portland or about 1 hour and 16 minutes in driving time. That may fluctuate a bit on when you decide to go and the traffic during that time of day. This is a popular spot, especially in Spring when the wildflowers bloom, so it is recommended to get there earlier in the day.
Is Rowena crest viewpoint open?
Rowena Crest Viewpoint is open all year. However, the Tom McCall Point trail is only open from March 1 to October 31. It closes because of the increased risk of erosion and ground disturbance during the wetter months.
Do you need a pass for Tom McCall preserve?
No. The viewpoint and parking are accessible without a permit or pass. That said, parking gets sparse as the day goes on. There’s no parking lot. The parking is located on the loop road next to the Rowena Crest Viewpoint as well as off the paved road that leads to it.
About the Tom McCall Point Trail
The trail is rated as moderate and is about 3.6-miles round trip. The hike is mostly uphill on the way to the McCall point and downhill on the way back. In spring you’ll see the wildflowers everywhere within the first few hundred feet. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on this trail–although many people seemed to ignore this rule when we went. The trail takes about an hour and a half to complete (depending on your pace).
You’ll likely want to spot for pictures a bunch because the landscape is incredibly stunning. As you climb you’ll see sweeping grass fields across the plateaus with the Columbia River in the background. In spring, this will be blanked in wildflowers while in summer it resembles a high desert.
Flora & Fauna: You might also see some deer, western meadowlark (Oregon’s state bird), horned larks, canyon wrens, and red-winged blackbirds. Additionally, the Tom McCall preserve has over 279 species of plants on the nature preserve’s 231 acres.
Caution: There are rattlesnakes along this hike. Be aware as we saw two on our first time hiking the trail in May. They like this area as it allows them to bask on the rocks and hunt for the mice in the grassy fields.
You can follow us at the platforms below if you want more travel ideas and Oregon hiking content. We will also send you new posts via email if you’d like to sign-up for the newsletter.