Now is the time to head to the Columbia River Gorge for wildflower photos. I stopped for a check at the Nature Conservancy’s Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena Plateau today and the balsamroot is spectacular. Right at peak bloom, I’d say. There are some nice clumps of lupine as well, but that lovely species will come on even stronger in the next week or two.
This area of the Gorge between Hood River and The Dalles was not affected by the devastating wildfires last summer, and it is one of the top locations in the Pacific Northwest for photographing wildflowers.
Reports on Dog Mountain on the Washington side of the Gorge indicate that the balsamroot is looking good there also, although the best is yet to come for the blankets of color near the top of the trail that this location is known for.
Dallas Mountain Road at Columbia Hills State Park, also on the Washington side of the Gorge, should also be looking very good now and for the next couple of weeks.
Check the weather forecast for The Dalles, Oregon, and look for an early morning or late afternoon with calm breezes. I’m a fan of the Storm weather app from Weather Underground.
The photo above is a quick iPhone snap from a spot I scouted this afternoon and plan to return to for a sunrise view.
For more ideas on where to photograph wildflowers in the Pacific Northwest, see my books Photographing Oregon and Photographing Washington.
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Thanks for the reminder. I need to get back to the Rowena Loops again soon.
Now is the time! According to flower photography master and Gorge resident David M. Cobb, the wildflowers are at peak right about now.
Beautiful shot…thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Pamela!