Nice hike at the Columbia River Gorge lots of smaller wildflowers and balsamroot near the top.  Took the Coyote Wall Trail up and Traverse/Old Ranch/Little Maui trails on the way down.  We saw Little Maui Falls near the bottom.  Quite a few people on the trail when we finished, bothe hikers and mountain bikers--everyone having a good time.

Bottom Line:

After the snowy vista of Mt St Helens a few days ago, this was something completely different! I did this trail for the first time a couple years back and sung its praises. I am here again to say this this trail is AMAZINGLY beautiful and unique. It really has it all, from flowers, to waterfalls, tranquil streams, basalt columns, oak groves, grassy ridge walking, views of a snowy Mt Hood and the Columbia River, and the huge Coyote Wall escarpment (which you will be perched on mid-hike). Pictures do not really do it justice - hopefully my end-to-end video will show the diversity and uniqueness of this hike. One could argue that Coyote Wall is the hike-to destination of a typical PNW hike, but really, the entire trail from beginning to end is beautiful and enchanting. The ascent in particular is like walking through a storybook with its perfect brooks, flowers and oak groves. I do believe this is the best spring hike on The Gorge and the flower show, while great, has only just begun!

Stats:

• Distance: 8 miles
• Vertical: 1660 ft
• Duration: 4-1/4 hours
• Road/Parking: This is really no formal parking lot for this trail. There is roadside parking on Old Hwy 8 just off Lewis and Clark Hwy. The trail (labeled "Old Hwy 8" on Google Maps) follows the road west for a bit, past a waterfall, before you reach a signed junction for Labyrinth Loop. No toilets. I displayed my Discover Pass but not sure it was required.
• Weather: A mix of sun and cloud with increasing cloudiness. 60Fs but felt warmer in the sun. Light breeze.
• Water: There is LOTS of flowing water on this trail but note that there is rural development *above* this trail system, so not entirely sure it is wise to drink filtered water. Carry drinking water.
• Flora/Fauna: Ticks - more on that below. Butterflies and bees. Ground squirrels. Some trees are coming out on this trail with that shiny lime-green color of spring, but most of the oaks have not started to leaf up yet, adding to the storybook (perhaps with a sinister turn?) feeling on this trail. Lots of flowers, except for the high point of the trail which was running a little behind. In general, the diversity of flowers on this trail is exceptional - see the attached wildflower link that lists all the possible species. Among the flowers in bloom: Balsamroot (most prolific near Coyote Wall, but not as dense as say, Columbia Hills); California Poppies and Lupine (bottom only); Grass Widows; Columbia Desert Parsley; Western Buttercup, Large-Head Clover; Shooting Star; Biscuitroot; Western Serviceberry; False Dandelion; Upland Larkspur; Oregon Grape; Woodland-Star; Penstemon; Phlox; Wholeleaf Saxifrage; Tomcat Clover; Pungent Desert Parsley (the star of the show!!); Fiddleneck; Wooly-Pod Milk-Vetch; Miniature Lupine; Wild Daffodil; and a sea of tiny white, purple and yellow flowers I did not try to identify.
• Trail: Quiet, but more traffic than a few years ago. The suggested route is counterclockwise as shown on the map segment below. The ascent is through an enchanting landscape of basalt columns, waterfalls, brooks, flowers and oak groves. I am not sure if it is just because I am not familiar with this kind of hiking in WA, but I found it incredibly beautiful and had a big grin on my face the whole way. Higher up, the character of the hike changes to grassy ridge walking with incredible views, all the way out to Coyote Wall to the west. The wall of course is magnificent, and many folks come here just to hike the wall (see video). The return via the "Maui" trail returns to the enchanting terrain of the ascent with more waterfalls, streams, oaks and flowers. The trail overall is in excellent condition with just a few muddy spots from recent rain. Parts of the trail are open to mountain bikers; the "flowy" trails off Coyote Wall makes for a somewhat non-direct descent by hiking standards but try to stick to the trail as trail restoration is in process. CAUTION: TICKS. Every dog owner we passed had already removed ticks from their dog. This is tick central, so long pants and repellants are suggested. Grasses are on the short side right now, reducing the opportunity to pick up a tick, but I definitely brushed myself off and checked numerous times during the hike. 
• Takeaway: Have I said I love this trail? A later start today would have allowed me to take in sunset (like last time) but the forecast called for increasing cloud. You will see how saturated the light became as it was at the end of the video. The grass and desert parsley popped! I have hiked a lot of the trail on The Gorge - this is one I will do over and over.

I will post the video later this evening. Hopefully it does this trail justice :)

The wildflowers were just about to burst out. Some of the trail was rutted from bikes/rain so walking was a little uneven some times. The views were great and Mt. Hood almost came all the way out for us. There were a few clouds. Our dog did pick up a couple of ticks. We did ID poison oak at one point. We saw just a few mountain bikers.

Arrived at 8am, pit stop at the main trailhead to use the restroom, where there were 5 cars, before heading to the Eastside of the old road/paved- approach trail where we parked to begin our hike.  There was just one other car there.

Cool temps to start but as the sun hit us, we warmed right up.

The hills are spring-green with lots of water running at this time. No real wildlife sightings but there is some nice wildflower color dotting the landscape.

The trail is in relatively good shape. Some rain drainage is cutting into the tread in places.  Foot traffic picked up through the morning, along with a few mountain bikers.  Lots of people heading up as we were heading out.

We finished around 10:40am with cars lining the road near Eastern TH and the main TH.  Another great Saturday in the sunshine.

This is a great fall hike.  Because its out in the open, not a closed in forest hike, you see great sky all around, great views to the east towards Lyle and Mosier, and different vegetation.  Oaks, in clusters, huge solo patriarchs, and entire hillsides, mixed with solitary Ponderosa pines and mixed bigleaf maples.  All on a pallet of palomino colored dry grass and the blue Columbia River.  Very different than the forest hikes more common to the west.  The oaks are all turning from deep green to brown and burnt orange by this time of year.  
I have started hiking this as a loop, starting at Labyrinth up to Atwood Road, then across Old Ranch Road to Little Maui and finally to Labryinth Connector, which puts you back at the start of the Labryinth trail for about 5 miles or so.   You meet some mountain biker traffic on this popular biking destination, and some trail runners.  But everyone seems to get along and share easily.