Balfour Klickitat Trail

Klickitat River from trail

Lyle Bridge and Columbia River from trail

Lagoon from Wildlife Viewing Area

Rowena Plateau from Balfour Klickitat Trail

Sunset on the Columbia from the Trailhead

• 01 Balfour Klickitat Trail Balfour Klickitat Trail
• 02 BKT Klickitat River Klickitat River from trail
• 03 BKT Bridge and Columbia Lyle Bridge and Columbia River from trail
• 04 BKT Lagoon Lagoon from Wildlife Viewing Area
• 05 Rowena Overlook - Tom McCall Nature Preserve Rowena Plateau from Balfour Klickitat Trail
• 06 BKT Sunset Sunset on the Columbia from the Trailhead
• Pause

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Balfour Klickitat Trail

Info:

Situated at the confluence of the Klickitat and the Columbia, the Balfour Klickitat Trail offers not only great views of the surrounding Columbia Gorge, but also the chance to immerse yourself in a very unique habitat that is home to a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Most notable perhaps is the trail's proximity to an area that is frequented by many bald eagles during the winter months. With a 0.7 mile paved walking trail, this area is very accessible and a great walk for families with kids.

For the bird watchers, there is a short unpaved trail section that heads to a point higher up above the Klickitat. From this viewing area one can see any number of birds of prey as well as other wildlife in the area.

The spring brings wonderful wildflowers like many other Gorge locations - in fact the Balfour Klickitat trail is located almost directly across the Columbia River from the famous Rowena Plateau/Tom McCall Viewpoint on the Oregon side.

From a historical perspective, the land the trail is built upon was originally part of a farming area owned and developed by Sir Thomas Balfour in the 1890s. You can still see a few of the non-native Osage orange trees near the trailhead.

The trailhead has further details on the area's history and includes several interpretive signs.

Amenities:

• Bird Watching
• Hiking
• Picknicking
• Restroom
• Views
• Wheelchair Accessible

Driving Directions:

This is located on Old Hwy 8 north of Washington Hwy 14 just west of the town of Lyle, WA. From the Oregon side, take either the Hood River Bridge over to Hwy 14 and head east towards Lyle or take The Dalles Bridge at The Dalles and travel west on Hwy 14 through Lyle (it will be the first right after the bridge in Lyle) - follow Old Hwy 8 for a 1/4 mile and the trailhead/parking lot will be on your right.