The Catherine Creek Trails on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge are great fun! You’ll have views of the Columbia Gorge and Mt. Hood, pretty forested stretches, and an impressive natural rock arch.
The view from the Catherine Creek Trailhead isn’t terribly appealing, but once you get past the first rocky quarter-mile, the trails are a delight.
Along the way, you’ll see panoramic views of the Columbia Gorge.
You’ll get impressive views of Mt. Hood.
You’ll travel beside impressive basalt formations, including this natural bridge.
And you’ll travel through oak woodlands and see the remains of an old homestead. The corrals are still standing, but the cabin is a pile of rubble.
Some of the trails in the area are closed to horses – for a good reason. They’re steep, rocky, and very popular with bikes. So, stick to the trails designated for horses, and you’ll have a great ride.
The Catherine Creek Trails are covered in more detail in Riding Southwest Washington Horse Trails, by Kim McCarrel, available at www.NWHorseTrails.com.
