| Wildflower Destinations > Columbia River Gorge (East) |
Mill Creek Ridge Preserve
Wasco County, Oregon
Columbia Land Trust
Fees: none
Activity: hiking
Elevation: 1040'-1504'
Current status (as of 4/19/24): blooming
Notes: A.k.a. "Mill Creek Ridge Natural Area." It is also possible to access the preserve from the south (by parking on Mill Creek Road), but there are no official trails down there, the property boundaries are not always marked, and it means an extra 500' of elevation gain to get to the top of the ridge. However, the terrain on the south side is arguably more interesting, with several steep-sided gullies.
Peak wildflower bloom at Mill Creek Ridge Preserve is typically from late March through April into late May, but there may be some flowers blooming from early March until early June.* (In 2024, things are running a little later than usual.)
Typical year: 
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* The dates given on this Web site for each location's blooming season are only estimates and can vary from year to year. Weather conditions in the winter and spring can shift these dates by up to a month, especially in the mountains. For the latest updates, check the Oregon Wildflowers or PortlandHikers Facebook groups, or browse the most recent postings to iNaturalist or Instagram.
