Coyote Wall and Indian Point Trails 10/9/11

This is not the parking area but an old cattle corral

 As the deadline for completing the 25 trails approaches, we started early on Sunday and drove East on I-84, crossing over to Washington (at either Cascade Locks or Hood River) and proceeding East on SR-14.  A few miles past Bingen, but before you get to Lyle, turn left on Courtney Road and into the parking area you will see immediately.  Cross Courtney Road and walk a short distance on a gated road to trailhead.

This sign marks a trail head - there is more than one trail starting from the old road

Looming above you is Coyote Wall, layers of basalt from old lava flows

Poison Oak is VERY plentiful along the trail - avoid it!

 Another view of the wall, which slopes down to the Columbia River.  The trail winds up through Oregon White Oak and then Ponderosa Pine.

 The trail is very popular with mountain bikers, but too steep for my biking pleasure.  I could easily imagine myself huffing and puffing as I push my bike up or losing control going downhill and crashing into a large patch of Poison Oak. 

 There is a tiny stream near the trail.  The trail continues upwards, I did not go all way the to the top - perhaps another day.

 We found this bracket fungus on an old oak stump - Mr. Thornsby says they are not edible.














After a quick lunch in White Salmon, WA (see previous photos of Everybody's Brewpub) we crossed the River back to Oreogn proceeded West on I-84 to Cascade Locks (exit 44) went under the freeway and on the frontage road to the Herman Creek Campground where you will find the trailhead.

Here's my anonymous hiking partner heading up the Herman Creek Trail (#406).  Now we are back in the Douglas Fir forest, much more green and shady than Coyote Wall.

After a short distance, you cross the powerline right of way, which helps you to find yourself on a map.

And allows me and Mr. Thornsby to pose behind a large rock (basalt).

Continuing on the Herman Creek Trail, you go back into the forest which has some weird looking trees and lots of moss (North facing slope).  There are a lot of piles of basalt in this section - covered with moss and forming little grottoes possibly inhabited by gnomes. (see below)

After 1.2 miles, If you want to continue towards Indian Point, you get onto the Gorton Creek Trail.

Which I did do, seeing lots of Oregon Grape in fruit

Mahonia nervosa has tart berries that are edible, but not choice.  Some people make jelly from them.  The plant was used medicinally by native people.  The inner bark of the stems and roots contains a powerful alkaloid called berberine and makes a bright yellow dye.

A view from the Gorton Creek Trail on this rainy day

I didn't go much farther, but if you want to go to Indian Point you proceed a few miles to the Nick Eaton Trail, then to the viewpoint, then you can return by the Herman Creek Trail.