Hiking is a time-honored pastime in the Columbia River Gorge. We often welcome guests who spend their entire summers exploring scenic Columbia Gorge hikes. But did you know that fall is also a fantastic time to get out onto the trails and work up a sweat? In fact, without the summer heat beating down on you and plenty of gorgeous fall foliage everywhere you turn, it might just be our favorite season to try out some of the top hiking trails in the Columbia River Gorge!
When it comes to where to hike, the world really is your oyster around here. There are hundreds of trails on both the Washington and Oregon sides of the Columbia River, all of which will reward you with truly stunning scenery. Some of the best ones aren’t even that far from our luxurious cabins in Washington.
At the end of your long hiking day, you’ll need a comfortable place to put your feet up and relax – and that’s exactly what you’ll find inside our charming cabins. With fantastic amenities like deep soaking tubs, dead-sea bath salts, and onsite massages, there’s no better place to unwind after enjoying the best Columbia Gorge hikes – and no more scenic place to enjoy fall in the Pacific Northwest. Book a cabins in Washington, and get started planning your epic fall adventure today.
The Best Columbia Gorge Hikes for Fall
The weather in the Gorge is mild enough that many top trails can be hiked and enjoyed year-round. Even so, there are few things better than hitting the trails when the daytime temperatures are still relatively mild and before the heavy rains of winter start. Add stunning pops of yellow, orange, and red to the already beautiful scenery, and you have a truly mesmerizing journey ahead of you this fall!
You can expect plenty of fall colors to be around in the Gorge throughout September, October, and even November. These colors contrast beautifully with the deep greens of our evergreen forests, making for a truly gorgeous display of Mother Nature at her finest.
There are more Columbia Gorge hikes worth considering this fall than we can mention here, but we did our best to choose nine well-rounded hikes that will take you through some of the most spectacular scenery this area has to offer. Without further ado, here are some of our favorite Columbia Gorge hikes for you to consider this fall:
- If you’re looking for Columbia Gorge hikes that offer gorgeous river views, plenty of steep climbing, waterfalls, and an incredible view at the top, the Angels Rest Trail is for you. The vine maples and alders create a stunning contrast to the green forest.
- The Grassy Knoll Hike is one of our favorite Columbia Gorge hikes for wildflowers, but come fall, it’s a spectacular place to witness the changing of the seasons and admire the beautiful views of Mount Adams.
- Falls Creek Falls always makes our list of favorite hikes because it’s just that good. It’s a relatively easy hike that takes you to one of Washington’s tallest waterfalls (335 feet!). That alone is impressive, but add beautiful colors in the surrounding shrubs, big leaf maples, and alders, and it’s quite a sight to behold.
- Another great hike in the area is the Hamilton Mountain Loop. This one makes many lists of the “best” hikes in the area because it offers a little bit of everything – waterfalls, cliffs, deep forests, fantastic Columbia River Gorge views, and plenty of colorful bursts during the fall season.
- Latourell Falls Loop is closer to the Portland Metro area, but it’s gorgeous in the fall and certainly worth your time. The waterfall plunges an impressive 249 feet, and the bright autumnal hues make this the perfect adventure for a fall afternoon.
- If you’re looking for rugged and challenging Columbia Gorge hikes, head to Cape Horn. Not only will you enjoy spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge, but you’ll also make your way to the beautiful Cape Horn Falls. In the fall, the forest of bigleaf maples lights up with bright reds, golds, and oranges.
- Catherine Creek is another excellent choice for those looking for easy hikes. A highlight of this is the natural arch you’ll see along the way. This trail can also connect to the popular Coyote Wall Area, another great place to witness the natural beauty of fall.
- Another excellent waterfall hike in the Hood River area is Dry Creek Falls. The trailhead is near the Bridge of the Gods, and soon you’ll walk through the lush forest filled with bright gold maple trees, ultimately arriving at a beautiful waterfall that drops an impressive 75 feet.
- If you’re looking for something relatively flat and easy, the Klickitat Trail is one of the best Columbia Gorge Hikes to take! This former rail trail is relatively flat and follows along the Klickitat River, but the autumn colors from the shrubs and oak trees make it simply spectacular in fall.
Unwind at the Best Cabins in Washington
Hiking is equally exhilarating and exhausting, and we have no doubt you’ll feel depleted after a day on these Columbia Gorge Hikes. That’s why you’ll need somewhere indulgent and relaxing to put your feet up. Enter our luxurious cabins in Washington – arguably the only place worth considering as your home away from home in the Columbia River Gorge area.
Regardless of the season you visit, and what you do while you’re here, one visit is all it takes to see why we’re rated as the best cabins in Washington. Our luxury cabins have a quiet, magical quality and offer the perfect respite after a long but rewarding day of hiking in the Gorge. This is one of the many reasons we call our cabins a sanctuary.
We offer guests their choice of ten romantic cabins, each positioned for privacy and outfitted with luxurious amenities. Each cabin has been thoughtfully decorated and offers custom-made queen—or king-size beds, comfortable seating, in-cabin welcome snack baskets, cozy cotton robes, and much more. Soak in the in-cabin jetted tubs, stroll through our gardens, relax by one of our two firepits, and otherwise enjoy the view with a delicious glass of wine from your private porch.
We also offer massage services on-site, in the privacy of your cabin, for that added touch of indulgence throughout your stay. What more could you ask for during your time away? Go ahead – book your cabin getaway today!
