October, 2025
Jumped in my big white truck today and headed east, headed out from the Beacon Rock State Park Campground where I was camped. I drove up along the Washington side, the northern side, of the mighty Columbia River, just to see what I could see heading east as mentioned. It’s a beautiful drive. But with the morning eastern sun in my eyes, it wasn’t the best for a video. Maybe on the way back I’ll get a video to show you?
But, just an hour or so upriver, there was this really pretty waterway and a nice quiet two-lane paved roadway off to my left, so I screeched a halt, and took the exit. Oh I’m glad I did. Rather than post a map, let me say that I was just east of White Salmon, just west of Lyle, and closer to Lyle, on the Washington State side of the mighty Columbia River.
In the photo below, the main highway is over there on the right, with a RED pickup truck on it driving westward (not a white RAM pickup like mine, but a nice red Ford pickup nonetheless). I had pulled off and stopped on this side road to snap the photo. The huge bulk of the Columbia River is to the right, outside the photo, but there was this little bit of the river, this waterway, in between that main highway and this off-shoot road. What a pretty day.
Photo below is a closeup of the hill beyond that waterway above. The land seemed so dry, and that is exactly how things are here east of the Cascade Mountains.
What a huge rock “fortress” that is on the top of that hillside.
I decided to stay on that back road and see what I might see. The road climbed that hill, then went on for miles and miles further into Washington State. But after only one mile or so I came to a small parking lot and this sign below … Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. And the Columbia River was right there in view. All of that sounded cool, so I parked and off I went on foot.
All of the paths here were paved. They advertised the place as ADA accessible for people with walkers and wheelchairs, etc.
I walked the entire “Catherine Creek Loop South” trail, all the way around. Click on photos to enlarge them.
It was autumn when I was here. The autumn leaves were gorgeous.
And the evergreen trees were gorgeous too. 🙂
As ever, there were a couple of trees that had fallen, from age it appeared, and maybe a high wind last winter.
The view across the dry grass was so pretty. Even the dry grass was pretty.
I turned to the left to look east, upriver, here’s the view of that below.
And then I turned to the right and looked to the west, downriver.
And then I proceeded on down the trail/path. This switchback below sure did not look ADA compliant to me. Yes it was paved, but the turns were tight and the slope was really steep.
More signs, more fun things to learn.
Here’s another view of the land and the river …
At some point, I turned my back to the river and looked inland, north, into Washington State, and noticed that same sort of huge rock fortress in the distance. I’d bet one of you readers knows the geological name of this rock formation.
But also, look closely to see the house on top of that rock wall. It’s so tiny compared to the rock wall. Their view would look south, over the Catherine Creek National Park, and out over the Columbia River, with sunrise to the east, and sunset to the west. Wow, that would be stunning.
I walked the entire path, stopping to read each sign (there were many more signs than I’ve shown you here), and stopping to look at the plants, and stopping a few times to sit and watch the river and listen to the birds. I never saw another human!
Eventually, I got back up close to the entrance and found this area, below. It was part of an old fence from the farm that used to be on this land. I liked that this bit of old fence was still here.
And then I jumped into the big white truck again and headed back down the hill to the main highway. I stopped just before the road joined the main highway to snap the photo below, showing Oregon in the far distance, then the Columbia River to the left and in the distance, then the railroad is next, then some of the waterway from the Columbia, then the main highway, then a little more Columbia River water closer yet to me.
What a wonderful drive. It was so peaceful, and educational, and so very pretty. I feel so lucky to be able to see these sorts of things. What a gorgeous world we live in. Thanks for coming along with me today. 🙂 Please tell me what you liked, or questions you have, or what you’ve seen in this area too!
Cool beans! I loved all of it. Ok, I liked the old farm fence a lot, and that huge rock wall, and reading all about life there and the plants and the arid info, and the views of the Columbia River. I mostly like how you go somewhere, just go, and then explore and find such cool stuff. Favorite photo was of those brown oak? leaves.
Yes oak leaves. As much as I loved so much of what I saw that day, that photo of the oak leaves is my favorite too. 🙂
Yep, that’s eastern Washington. You aren’t very far east of the Cascades but it’s far enough to be dry and beautiful. 🙂 Nice photos.
Thanks Paul. I am so loving eastern Washington, just beginning to explore it.
I’ve camped in eastern Washington a lot. Yes, it’s dry/arid and it’s so beautiful. I haven’t been close to the Cascade Mountains yet, and that’s where you are in this trip. Gosh, I’m going to plan a drive and camping trip right along the Columbia River, maybe this next spring, but I’ll do it. There’s so much to see! 🙂
Susan, yes, do take a trip over to and then down the Columbia. All the way to Astoria/Ilwaco and the Pacific Ocean if you have the time. There are two excellent campgrounds out there right on the ocean … Cape Disappointment State Park on the Washington side of the Columbia (just past Ilwaco) … and Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon side of the Columbia (just past Astoria, and then past Warrenton). Both/either are fantastic. Some day I have to get back east to Idaho!! 🙂
We sure know about dry arid weather in Santa Fe, NM. But I never thought that Washington State had such dry weather, thought it was “green” all year round, but my research on line says it isn’t, that the Cascade Mountains separate the state, west/wet and east/dry. Your blog Ann proves the point. What a great exploration you had today, fun stuff. I like that very last photo of the river water, and the one with the farm fences, and the huge rock walls. Great stuff. thanks! 🙂
Thanks Shawn. 🙂 Isn’t this planet wonderful?
The old farm, how cool. Beautiful country.
Me too. I loved that the Catherine Creek area had been a farm. There wasn’t much info about the people who farmed it tho, wish there had been more. Thanks Ms. 🙂
Fun info. Great photos. Thanks for sharing! We love your trips!
Thanks Wanda. I love your comments. Makes me smile. 🙂
Best blogger ever. Love the overview info, the bigger picture, and the details too. I’ve never been and probably never will get to this area of Catherine Creek or anywhere close. I used to travel a lot, locally and further afield but not so much any more. I really like traveling along with you. 🙂 Thank you.
Oh, thank you Olivia. That warmed my heart. 🙂 I bet you have traveling stories to tell!
No boats! I see no boats on the river. Where are the boats? I sometimes thought about taking my boat up the Columbia, but never did it. Looks like it would have been a wonderful thing to do. To then stop at all these places. Thanks for taking us places like this that are so special.
Nope, no boats Mark. Dang it. The day just wasn’t right, was it! No boats. Fooey.
🙂
My pals and I think that country looks like the “wild west”. And there you are right in the middle of it. That’s brilliant! We have nothing like that here in England. So appreciate your sharing. Thank you.
Ah yes, the “wild west”. It does look like that! Mostly the “wild west” in films is down in southern California or Arizona or Texas … but yes, the land here in western Washington looks a lot like that land. You are welcome Henry. Thanks for reading and for commenting. My best to you and your pals. 🙂
What an amazing drive! The Columbia certainly is a mighty river. Nice to see the paved pathways and an attempt to be accessible! Very few trails are. I didn’t realize that the landscape would be so dry.
I have always just assumed that if something is “accessible” that it has been checked out and approved. I learned from seeing that SLANT that “accessible” doesn’t always mean it’s so. I don’t like that! I did send an email to the National Parks who manage the Catherine Creek area and asked them to “fix” that. Gotta keep the folks on track here, eh? And, oh yes, eastern Washington can be dry as dust … it’s an entire world apart from wet western Washington.
Thanks. 🙂