Gorge Towns to Trails is a long-term initiative to create a world-class, 200-mile loop trail encircling the Columbia River Gorge. Designed to connect communities with recreation and one another, the project envisions trails that link towns, transit hubs, and key trailheads while promoting alternative transportation and reducing congestion at overcrowded destinations. By protecting habitat corridors and strategically acquiring sensitive lands, the project not only supports wildlife and ecosystem connectivity but also helps disperse visitors to lesser-known parts of the Gorge. Gorge Towns to Trails also aims to boost sustainable tourism that benefits local economies and preserves the rural character of Gorge communities. Central to the vision is ensuring access for all, including trail connections that prioritize accessibility and equity.

In 2022, the initiative was named one of Oregon’s Signature Trails—recognized as a high-impact project with the momentum, community backing, and scenic beauty to become a world-class trail experience.

Explore the interactive map below to trace the progress of Gorge Towns to Trails. Click through key milestones, trail openings and expansions, and other projects that are bringing this visionary loop trail to life. If you’re using a mobile device, flip it horizontally for the best experience viewing the map.

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Wildflowers at Mosier Plateau. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.

Mosier Plateau

In 2013, Friends' Land Trust opened Mosier Plateau Trail, a 3.5-mile path that begins in downtown Mosier, Oregon. The trail ascends through the historic town cemetery, passes by Mosier Creek Falls, and leads to a 45-acre preserve atop the plateau. Renowned for its vibrant spring wildflower displays, the trail offers sweeping views of the Gorge and has become a popular destination for hikers.

Mosier Plateau
On the trail up Mosier Plateau. Photo by Anna Leung.

Gorge Tourism Studio

In 2016, the Gorge Tourism Studio, hosted by Travel Oregon, brought together government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits to develop a 15-year vision for sustainable tourism in the region. Gorge Towns to Trails was identified as a priority recreation project within this vision, emphasizing its role in connecting communities and promoting low-impact tourism.
Pictured here, Mt. Ulka will connect the Discovery Center to The Dalles Riverfront Trail. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.

Mt. Ulka

Friends, with assistance from Trailkeepers of Oregon, has developed a proposal to connect the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum and The Dalles Riverfront Trail to Mt. Ulka, our preserve on Sevenmile Hill. The proposed 6-mile roundtrip trail would offer expansive views of the Gorge, Mt. Hood, and The Dalles.

Mt. Ulka
Hiking through Tom McCall Nature Preserve.

Gorge Towns to Trails Launch

In 2011, Friends introduced the Gorge Towns to Trails initiative, envisioning a 200-mile loop trail encircling the Columbia River Gorge. This ambitious project aims to connect communities with recreation, promote alternative transportation, and create contiguous protected lands benefiting wildlife. The initiative has earned support from city, county, and regional planning efforts and was recognized in 2022 as one of Oregon’s Signature Trails, highlighting its potential to provide access to iconic landscapes and world-class trail experiences.
Lyle Cherry Orchard. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.

Lyle Cherry Orchard

Between 2018 and 2021, Washington Trails Association collaborated with Friends to expand the Lyle Cherry Orchard trail system. The Cherry Loop, completed in 2019, added 0.8 miles of new trail, while the Lyle Loop, finished in 2021, added 2 miles.

Lyle Cherry Orchard

White Salmon Bluff Trail

In 2024, the City of White Salmon initiated the preliminary scoping and design phase for the White Salmon Bluff Connector Trail, an important addition to the Gorge Towns to Trails network. This project aims to reestablish a historic pedestrian link between the Columbia River waterfront and downtown White Salmon, enhancing connectivity and honoring the area's heritage.
Hiking at Lyle Cherry Orchard. Photo by Monique Trevett.

Signature Trail Designation

In 2022, the Oregon Signature Trails Inventory recognized Gorge Towns to Trails as one of 15 trails with the infrastructure, support, and momentum to offer world-class trail experiences. This designation underscores the project's significance in connecting communities and promoting sustainable recreation.
Gibbons Creek at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Cate Hotchkiss.

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

In 2020, Friends of the Columbia Gorge transferred the 175-acre Steigerwald Shores property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, facilitating the largest habitat restoration project in the Columbia Gorge's history. The project reconnected over 900 acres of floodplain to the Columbia River, restored wetlands, and expanded the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, the project included the relocation and expansion of existing trails, advancing the vision of a continuous trail from Washougal to Stevenson.

Steigerwald Reconnection Restores Wetland Habitat
Over the past five years, Friends has been working with the City of The Dalles, The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum, Wasco County, and other local stakeholders to create an exciting new trail connection on the Mount Ulka Preserve, to connect to The Dalles Riverfront Trail and the museum. (Cate Hotchkiss)

Mosier to The Dalles

In 2023, Friends, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, began a community engagement initiative for the conceptual planning of a new trail segment connecting Mosier to The Dalles. This project aims to fill a critical gap in the Gorge Towns to Trails network, enhancing connectivity and access between these communities.
The Compass, part of the Washougal Waterfront Trail. Photo by Mitch Hammontree.

Washougal Waterfront Trail

The Washougal Waterfront Trail, opened in 2018, transformed a former lumber mill site into a scenic, ADA-accessible path along the Columbia River. This 2-mile trail, developed in partnership with the Port of Camas-Washougal and the City of Washougal, serves as the Washington-side gateway for Gorge Towns to Trails.

Washougal Waterfront Trail

More Than a Trail

From advising on highway congestion to helping secure funding for local park and trail connections, Gorge Towns to Trails is building future systems to better manage Gorge recreation areas and promote alternative transit use. This includes efforts led by Gorge Towns to Trails‘ staff to assist community partners in exploring the Bridge of the Gods Multimodal Bridge Project, developing the Columbia Gorge Express bus system, and engaging the public on key safety and traffic revision proposals for the Historic Columbia River Highway and Washington State Highway 14.

Gorge Towns to Trails also provides creative avenues to support Gorge communities. With Gorge towns typically five to fifteen miles apart and separated by largely undeveloped areas, the 200-mile loop trail network would offer a unique opportunity to create a regional trail model unachievable in most parts of the United States.

Through the 2022 Oregon Signature Trails Inventory process, Gorge Towns to Trails was identified as one of 15 trails with the existing infrastructure, support, and momentum to provide access to iconic landscapes and world-class trail experiences.

Facts

45%

The trail miles already in place for the entire loop trail system.

80%

The necessary land corridor miles that are already secured.

100

The number of partners, including almost 50 businesses and six Gorge towns, that support Gorge Towns to Trails.

Key Milestones and Trail Segments

2011: Friends’ Launches Gorge Towns to Trails

In 2011, Friends introduced the Gorge Towns to Trails initiative, envisioning a 200-mile loop trail encircling the Columbia River Gorge. This ambitious project aims to connect communities with recreation, promote alternative transportation, and create contiguous protected lands benefiting wildlife. The initiative has earned support from city, county, and regional planning efforts and was recognized in 2022 as one of Oregon’s Signature Trails, highlighting its potential to provide access to iconic landscapes and world-class trail experiences.

2013: Mosier Plateau Trail Opens

In 2013, Friends’ Land Trust opened Mosier Plateau Trail, a 3.5-mile path that begins in downtown Mosier, Oregon. The trail ascends through the historic town cemetery, passes by Mosier Creek Falls, and leads to a 45-acre preserve atop the plateau. Renowned for its vibrant spring wildflower displays, the trail offers sweeping views of the Gorge and has become a popular destination for hikers.

2016: Gorge Tourism Studio Recognition

In 2016, the Gorge Tourism Studio, hosted by Travel Oregon, brought together government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits to develop a 15-year vision for sustainable tourism in the region. Gorge Towns to Trails was identified as a priority recreation project within this vision, emphasizing its role in connecting communities and promoting low-impact tourism.

2016: Washougal Waterfront Trail Completed

The Washougal Waterfront Trail, opened in 2018, transformed a former lumber mill site into a scenic, ADA-accessible path along the Columbia River. This 2-mile trail, developed in partnership with the Port of Camas-Washougal and the City of Washougal, serves as the Washington-side gateway for Gorge Towns to Trails.

2020: Expansion of Lyle Cherry Orchard Trail

Washington Trails Association collaborated with Friends to expand the Lyle Cherry Orchard trail system. The Cherry Loop, completed in 2019, added 0.8 miles of new trail, while the Lyle Loop, finished in 2021, added 2 miles.

2020: Steigerwald Lake Restoration and Expansion

In 2020, Friends of the Columbia Gorge transferred the 175-acre Steigerwald Shores property to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, facilitating the largest habitat restoration project in the Columbia Gorge’s history. The project reconnected over 900 acres of floodplain to the Columbia River, restored wetlands, and expanded the Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Additionally, the project included the relocation and expansion of existing trails, advancing the vision of a continuous trail from Washougal to Stevenson.

2022: Oregon Signature Trail Designation

In 2022, the Oregon Signature Trails Inventory recognized Gorge Towns to Trails as one of 15 trails with the infrastructure, support, and momentum to offer world-class trail experiences. This designation underscores the project’s significance in connecting communities and promoting sustainable recreation.

2023: Mosier to The Dalles Connection

In 2023, Friends, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, began a community engagement initiative for the conceptual planning of a new trail segment connecting Mosier to The Dalles. This project aims to fill a critical gap in the Gorge Towns to Trails network, enhancing connectivity and access between these communities.

2024: Mt. Ulka Trail Connection

Friends, with assistance from Trailkeepers of Oregon, has developed a proposal to connect the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum and The Dalles Riverfront Trail to Mt. Ulka, our preserve on Sevenmile Hill. The proposed 6-mile roundtrip trail would offer expansive views of the Gorge, Mt. Hood, and The Dalles.

2024: White Salmon Bluff Trail Conceptual Planning

In 2024, the City of White Salmon initiated the preliminary scoping and design phase for the White Salmon Bluff Connector Trail, an important addition to the Gorge Towns to Trails network. This project aims to reestablish a historic pedestrian link between the Columbia River waterfront and downtown White Salmon, enhancing connectivity and honoring the area’s heritage.

To learn more about how you can help this project as a supporter or partner, contact Friends’ Senior Planner Nick Kraemer.

Community Partners

  • Beacon Rock State Park
  • Bonneville Trails Foundation
  • Cape Horn Conservancy
  • Chinook Trail Association
  • City of North Bonneville
  • City of Stevenson
  • City of Washougal
  • Columbia Gorge National Wildlife Refug
  • Pacific Crest Trail Association
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
  • Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
  • Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
  • Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
  • Skamania County Chamber of Commerce
  • Stevenson Business Association
  • The Port of Camas-Washougal
  • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
  • Washington Trails Association