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Trip Report

Columbia Hills State Park - Crawford Oaks — Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026

Southwest Washington > Columbia River Gorge - WA

Trip Report By

WTA Member
Outstanding Trip Reporter
300

Type of Hike

Day hike

Trail Conditions

Trail in good condition

Road

Road suitable for all vehicles

Bugs

No bugs

Snow

Snow free

Trails Hiked

  • Wildflowers blooming
Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii) was one of the wildflower species blooming in the grasslands. Photo by Susan Saul

The weather forecast promised sunshine, but reality was heavy fog.

We enjoyed a nice hike around the Vista Loop and Military Road trails from the Crawford Oaks trailhead looking at close-in plants since we didn't have any views.

We also birded, especially after the fog finally evaporated around 2:30 pm. The birds also got more active after the fog cleared.

We found plenty of leaves of familiar native plants and some new blooms.

Gorman's Desert Parsley (Lomatium gormanii) blooming in a sheltered microclimate in the rocks. Photo by Susan Saul
The first blooming Butterfly-bearing Desert Parsley (Lomatium papilioniferum) of the year. Photo by Susan Saul
The fog finally cleared so we could see the upper slopes of the Columbia Hills. Photo by Susan Saul
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Comments

Yay! You always find the first signs of spring. :)

Posted by:


Loren Drummond on Feb 13, 2026 03:07 PM