Looking west; Columbia River

Getting There

Take Hwy 14 E from Vancouver, WA (Downtown) for about 20 miles. The newly opened parking lot is located 1.5mi from the 32nd St roundabout, on the right (south). There's room about 15 cars and one bus. (There's a pit toilet as well.)

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Originally, I was heading into the Gorge to hike Hamilton or Dog Mountain but when I got on Hwy 14 in Vancouver I could see the air was a hazy brown. I checked my AQI app and it showed 75+. Furthermore, the wind was really blowing. I was concerned about trees coming down on the highway and on the trail.

Before Cape Horn I doubled back and aborted my plan. I was deja vu from last weekend when I did the same thing and ended up going to the coast where there was breathable air.

I didn't want to spend a lot of time in the car so I figured I'd at least get some exercise at Steigerwald Lake. There were only a few cars in the lot.

The Hike

Length: 7.21 mi
Elevation gain: 138 ft
Moving time: 1:59:51
Total time: 2:04:17
Avg. pace: 16:37
Calories: 1,204

See previous post from May 1st, 2022 for some more details.

It was pretty cold even the sun was shining bright. I donned my winter jacket, light gloves, and beanie. I left my poles behind.

On the ridge/levee from the parking lot to the Lewis & Clark Discovery Greenway Trail, the wind was strong enough that I had to lean into it.

On the straightaway, it was a strong headwind.

I passed a woman with two friendly dogs. She was trying to get them to stop jumping up but I didn't care. I pet the pupper away and laughed.

Near the east side of the closed Art Trail where it dips down a bit, there wasn't any wind; a nice reprieve.

On the first bridge, next to the Art Trail, there were two metal Chinook salmon sculptures hanging off the side. Both were getting tossed around by the wind and bashing into the side of the railing.

In the ditch heading to the river, a deer was stopped about 100 ft away, just turning its head.

I could see small flocks of birds trying to fly but they couldn't go very far before having to set down again.

I walked all the way to the M bar J ranch fence.

On the way back to took the detour to Redtail Lake. Unfortunately, the large, bronze insects were not on the display on the 2nd bridge. Maybe there are removed when the Art Trail is closed. I made a comment on my AllTrails post.

AllTrails map

Columbia River (in distance: Mt Hood, Crown Point)

Redtail Lake without much water

Photography fun; Redtail Lake bridge

AllTrails map

Getting There

The Hike

Length: 6.60 mi
Elevation gain: 118 ft
Moving time: 1:59:13
Avg. pace: 18:04
Calories: 1,050
Total time: 2:08:46

The area is called Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge and has two main trails. The newest section is titled Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail which takes you from the trailhead & parking lot to the Columbia River. On Google Maps, the trail, which originates at Steamboat Landing Park, is titled Captain William Clark Park Trail. However, on AllTrails, it's called the Lewis & Clark Discovery Greenway Trail.

The place opened today, May 1st. There are fresh tractor markings everywhere, freshly planted trees, and newly sawn trees carefully placed in the creek bed. It's going to take some time for nature to thrive.

I remember how barren the Sandy River Delta looked back in the early 2000s after a lot of work had been done to reclaim the area for the public. The bird blind could be seen several hundred feet away. Now, the place is lush with life and you don't see the bird blind until you're almost on the ramp.

The Trailhead

Some of my favorite shots

Mt Hood and Crown Point, OR

Late afternoon clouds over the Columbia River

Late afternoon clouds over the Wildlife Refuge

Redtail Lake, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The Lewis & Clark Discovery Greenway Trail dead-ends at the property line of M bar J Ranch.

On the way back I took a different route through a section of Gibbons Creek Wildlife Art Trail that will be closed seasonally from Oct 1 - April 30 for Wintering Waterfowl.