Evening light was superb illuminating the grassy hillsides and stately basalt columns alongside the Columbia River. We meandered a mile plus hoping to circumnavigate Horsethief Butte, though the far side of the trail is closed for restoration.

Signs and guidebooks speak of petroglyphs though we saw none on our visit. I believe them to be higher and deeper into the recesses of the butte itself. Our plan is to return on our way back to Washington for a summit trek and more exploration.

After setting up camp at Maryhill SP, we drove to the Dalles Mountain Ranch area to check on the flower status. The lupine and balsamroot are starting to bloom, but it seems it will be 2-3 weeks before they will be at peak bloom! A few lupine had open blossoms, but most were still just buds. There were many yellow desert parsley and barestem desert parsley blooming in the fields along the Dalles Mountain Road as you are driving to the ranch. A small area along the road had large head clover blooming amidst the barestem desert parsley and these were very pretty. The wind was blowing 20-30 MPH with stronger gusts so we did not hike the ranch area today, but plan to do so on Thursday which is our last day before having to go home.  We drove to the Horsethief Butte Trail where the wind was still strong, but we wanted some walking after our long drive to camp so we walked a short section of the trail. Yellow desert parsley, Oregon grape, death camas, prairie stars, fiddleneck, and a few blooming balsamroot were seen. We saw one blooming wild cucumber with many, many more in the bud stage. 

Bottom Line:

An oak and flower-riddled hike up the Memaloose Hills (prolific yellow avalanche lilies among the oak trees that have to been seen to be believed), and a hike around and up Horsethief Butte, the latter busy with rock climbing groups. Flowers are many weeks behind, with most of the flowers at lower elevations of the East end of the Gorge (near The Dallas). Few flowers up on Rowena Plateau. Lots of balsamroot and desert parsley around the Butte, but virtually no flowers up the hill of Columbia Hills State Park. Maybe another 3-4 weeks for the show up at the old homestead.

Stats:

• Distance: 3.80 miles across the two locations
• Vertical: 580 ft
• Weather: Mix of sun and cloud; 60Fs; no wind, so bugs were a mild annoyance at Horsethief (the swarming around the head variety)
• Parking: For Memaloose, we parked at the rest area accessible on east-bound Hwy 84, and hiked up the hill to Memaloose Lookout, past a feature called the Memaloose Pinnacles; the drive to Horsethief Butte is well-marked, within Columbia Hills State Park along WA SR14, with a Discovery Pass required to park
• Trail: Lovely spring growth throughout both hikes, with oak-lined trails up Memaloose thick with yellow avalanche lilies, and a relatively open plateau at Horsethief; the map below shows the path up the butte, where we circled back to where we came from due to some area closures, and trickier rock descents in other directions; both trails have tics, and I brought one home with me. CAUTION: Look out for ticks, rattlesnakes and poison oak 
• Takeaway: Spring in the Gorge is so beautiful; the flowers might be a little late, but the views and landscapes are stunning regardless

After setting up camp at Maryhill SP, we had 2 hours to meander Horsethief Butte which is about 30 minutes from our campsite. Flowers were few and seemed to be just beginning. Gold stars, Gray's biscuit root, popcorn flowers, shooting stars, grass widows, prairie stars, one saxifrage and fiddle neck were the flowers seen.  Red cozier dogwood and pussy willow were budding along the trail as we began our walk.  We were the only ones in the area the 1 1/2 hours we were there. It was cloudy and windy with strong gusts at times!

This was a impulse to give Horsethief Butte a try and also see the pictographs including she-who-watches, both in (but at either end) at the Horsethief Lake State Park.  The butte is interesting with its lava blocks and crevasses, and looming towers.  It's not to difficult to climb up and look around, and it doesn't take to much time to hike the circuit.  There are even some spots boarded off to protect some ancient pictograph finds.  Walking around the butte is easy and fun during the flower season, including plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.  On a clear day you can also get a nice view of Mount Hood.