Wildflowers on the Historic Columbia River Highway

Posted: May 2022

I made a visit to the Tom McCall Preserve area in early May, when Bird Vetch and Balsamroots are in peak bloom. The 9-mile stretch of the Historic Columbia River Highway between Mosier and Rowena is perfect for capturing these roadside wildflowers - you can see them alongside the road throughout almost the entire drive and there are plentiful of spots to safely pull over in.

A dirt road cuts across a field of Balsamroot and bird vetch wildflowers

Purple bird vetch wildflowers among a field full of yellow balsamroots with low-hanging clouds in the background

Purple bird vetch and yellow Balsamroot wildflowers

A field full of purple bird vetch wildflowers on an overcast day with fast-moving clouds

Panorama of a fence surrounded by a field full of purple bird vetch wildflowers

This region of the Columbia Valley is also part of Oregon's wine country, and there are numerous vineyards along the corridor.

A vineyard on the roadside of the Historic Columbia River Highway with low-hanging clouds in the background — Vineyard on the Historic Columbia River Highway

Memaloose Overlook and Rowena Crest Viewpoint offer birds-eye views of the Columbia River and the iconic horseshoe bend on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Memaloose Overlook Viewpoint offers visitors a panoramic view of the Columbia River — Memaloose Overlook

A barge boat on the Columbia River with low-hanging clouds in the background — Barge on the Columbia River

Columbia River and the small town of Lyle, WA in the background on an overcast day with low-hanging clouds — Columbia River and the town of Lyle, Washington

Birds-eye view of the Columbia River and the I-84 highway that runs alongside it — I-84 running alongside the Columbia River

Oregon's iconic Rowena Crest Viewpoint offering a birds-eye view of a horseshoe curve along the Historic Columbia River Highway — Rowena Crest Viewpoint