Located in south central Washington state, rural Klickitat County lies at the junction where the Columbia River Gorge cuts through the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. It is an eastern gateway to the scenic Columbia River Gorge and the south entrance to the Mount Adams Recreation Area. This county offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Unfortunately, none of the trails are ADA.There areas listed below that are worth looking at for slow walkers and outdoor scooter users. More detail will be forthcoming as these areas are personally explored. Also, with the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration in 2003-4, more opportunities may come forward. In the future look for the proposed Cape Horn Park and Loop Trail, the Washougal to Stevenson Trail and Klickitat Rails to Trails. Gorge Photo by Karl Karlsson.

Willard Springs Trail - Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Directions:
The main entrance to the refuge is located on the Trout Lake to Glenwood Road. Traveling east on SR14 from the Portland/Vancouver area proceed just past mile marker 63 and turn (left) north onto Alt SR141. When Alt SR141 merges with SR141 turn left and proceed north through the towns of Husum and BZ Corner. At mile marker 21 turn right at the "Conboy NWR" sign. Travel approximately 9 miles and turn right at Conboy Lake Refuge Road. This road (1 mile long) ends at the refuge headquarters.

Features:
Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge’s seasonal marshes and pine- and fir-forested uplands are nestled at the base of Washington’s lovely snow-capped Mount Adams. This is a beautiful refuge with lots of wildlife. At the entrance you will find access to the historic Whitcomb-Cole Hewn Log House, public restrooms and the Willard Springs trail, which are all near the refuge office. These areas are open daily during daylight hours.

Conboy Lake NWR Photo by Joe Engler

Beginning near the refuge headquarters, the 2-mile Willard Springs trail follows the lake edge through open marsh habitat and leads into pine forests. The trail is the most popular hike in the area, and suitable for all skill levels, but it is not officially ADA accessible. The return portion of the Willard Springs trail uses an old dirt road for approximately 3/4 mile. Also, about 1/4 mile of the outgoing trail is probably scooter friendly. Much of the headquarters area is relatively flat and the Whitcomb/Cole Hewn Log House can be reached via a car and accessible pathway. If you try these sections, do so with someone who can assist you if you encounter soft ground or other problems. Additionally, county roads loop around and pass through portions of the refuge where you can view wildlife.

Deer and Elk are residents, as are many smaller mammals. Visitors may see a variety of birds ranging from small swallows, waterfowl to hawks and Bald eagles. In the Spring, wildflowers add to the splendor. Standing dead trees offer opportunities to view woodpeckers, flycatchers, and nuthatches. The refuge offers opportunities to see sandhill cranes in the spring and summer, and elk in the fall. This is a spring migration stop for geese and ducks. The refuge also draws swans and bald eagles during winter months.

Other:
While in the area visit the Maryhill Museum of Art and Stonehenge on Hwy 97 Goldendale, WA 98620 Maryhill is a nationally known art museum located in wide open spaces, but their website doesn't address accessibility at all.

Additional Birding Opportunities: See Birding in Kittitatas County. Stop into Loafers Bakery in Bingen for some yummy bakery goods and directions to Bingen Pond. Reportably there are paths around Trout Lake for bird watching, but accessibility is unknown at this time.

South Climb Trailhead

Directions:
From Trout Lake, go N on FS 80. FS 80 becomes FS 8040. Continue for about 10 mi on FS 8040 to end of road.

Features:
Accessible but difficult 0.5 mi trail.

Other:
Accessible restrooms at the trailhead. This trail is in Yakima County, but accessed through Trout Lake in Klickitat County. Departure point for climbers ascending Mt. Adams

Camping in the area (Be sure to check for 2003 park closures.):

Maryhill State Park - From Goldendale: Drive 12 miles south on U.S. Hwy. 97. The park has 70 campsites including utility sites, 20 for tents only. There are four restrooms, one ADA, and 10 showers, two ADA. There is one RV dump station. 1.1 mi. Hiking Trails (nonADA). Both the Stonehenge construction and the home of Stonehendge builder Sam Hill (located near the park) are open to the public.The park is right on the Columbia River, and features boating, camping, fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming, water skiing, and windsurfing.

Maryhill Museum, is located three miles from the park. All visitor areas of the Museum are accessible for wheelchairs. A possible trail to take at the museum might be Loops Road, which was originally designed not to exceed a 5 per cent grade. However, the Museum has no record of any alterations that may have occurred to it while it was in use as a public road. There are no restrooms at Loops Road. (Loops Road, a 3.6 mile route that snakes through the Klickitat Hills just north of Maryhill, was the first paved road built in the Pacific Northwest.) Currently, the visitor gate at Loops Road is not accessible for visitors in wheelchairs, however, when reservations are made the Museum does arrange to open the main gate.

Brooks Memorial State Park - Located 13 miles north of Goldendale, Wash., in the Simcoe Mountians. From Yakima: Take Hwy. 97 out of Toppenish. Park is 40 miles south of Toppenish.From Vancouver, WA: Take I-84 on the Orgeon side of the Columbia River. At Biggs, Orgeon, take Bigg's Bridge past Maryhill State Park, northbound onto Hwy. 97 to Goldendale. Brooks Memorial is on Hwy. 97, 13 miles north of Goldendale. 9 mi. Hiking Trails
9 mi. Bike Trails (nonADA) Over nine miles of hiking trails lead along the Little Klickitat River and up through Ponderosa and Oregon Pine forests. At the top are open mountain meadows with a panoramic view of Mount Hood. Visitors may see deer, beaver dams, squirrels, spring wildflowers and a variety of birds. The park has 22 tent spaces, 23 utility spaces, one dump station, one restroom and two showers. Hookup sites are sites 1 through 23. Tent sites are sites 24 through 45. There is a limit of eight people permitted per site. (does not specify ADA)

Horsethief Lake State Park and the adjoining newly formed Dalles Mountain State Park near Dallesport affords spectacular views of the Columbia Gorge as well as hillsides carpeted with spring wildflowers.

Klickitat Wildlife Area (WDFW). From Goldendale, go west on SR 142 for 11 miles to Glenwood Hwy. Go northeast on Glenwood Hwy for 5 miles to site. This has partially accessible viewing and restrooms in a 14,000 acre natural area along Klcikitat River Canyon. Seasonal wildlife viewing includes deer, turkey, chukar, black bear, valley quail, bandtail pigeon, and dove. River access via dirt paths at Lyle and Mineral Accesses. Camping and fishing is designated as non-ADA.

Bird Creek (DNR) Start on Goldendale Highway 0.3 mi. East of Glenwood. Go North on Mt Adams Highway (paved) for 2.1 mi. Go left on K-1000 Rd.(paved)1.3 mi. Turn left onto K-4000 Rd.(gravel) go 0.4 keep right, go 0.5 keep left, go 0.6 keep right, go 0.8 camp on the left. Accessible camping and restroom along a forest stream. Picnic tables are not wheelchair accessible.
The famous Bird Creek Meadows on the southern slope of Mount Adams, is an area rich with wildflowers into the summer months.

Island Camp (DNR) Start on the Goldendale Highway 0.3 mi. East of Glenwood, go North on the Mt Adams Highway (paved) 2.1 mi. Turn Left onto K-1000 Rd. (paved) for 1.3 mi. Turn left on K-4000 road (gravel) go 0.4 mi. keep right, go 0.5 mi. keep left, go 0.6 mi. turn left onto K-3000 Rd. at 0.7 mi. you will pass the back entrance to Bird Creek, go another 1.4 mi. keep right, go another 1.2 mi to camp on right.
Features: Camping along a forest stream, explore nearby lava tubes, blow holes.

Proposed Rail-Trail - Klickitat Trail

With any luck (or hard work by its proponents) this 31-mile, state-owned corridor that was once a rail line connecting Lyle in the Columbia River Gorge with Goldendale, the Klickitat County seat will be a trail that has wheelchair accessible sections. A few landowners are holding this up right now and are creating a hostile environment, so if you check this out, you have more than accessiblity to worry about. Keep an eye on this one. This county sure needs something that is accessible to wheelchair users! But the state is ready to drop this one. We will know more later in 2003.

Symbols

	An agency or a trip evaluation has rated all or part of the trail as wheelchair accessible.
	There is some terrain greater than a 5% grade. A wheelchair user may require assistance on portions of this trail. Suitable for power mobility devices.
	No Dogs are allowed on the trail.