We took advantage of the nice weather and took a drive up to Coyote Wall. It is located just east of Bingen in the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington side of the river. Parking is crowded along and just off the highway and it's obvious you will not be alone! This is a very popular mountain bike riding area and with a few hikers.
Returning back to the last turn off we headed up and over a ridge to the stream from whence the waterfall had come. This area is called the Labyrinth.
It is a beautiful climb up a small valley of wildflowers, oak trees and a wonderful stream cascading down one waterfall after another. Staying primarily to the right we eventually left the stream and head up a small grove of thickly spaced oaks and green grass. At the top we were greeted to one vista after another, each better than the last. To the east the Columbia River rolls along below us. To the west it meanders away with Mt Hood in the background. There are endless places for lunch here.
At the top we came to a T in the trail and opted to go West. Following the trail until we just could see the Burns Ranch about two hundred yards ahead, we took a right up a dirt single track up through the oak. after about fifty yards it comes out on the Burns Ranch driveway. Continuing on it west for fifty yards and there is a trail branching off west as the driveway goes north. Following it up over and around and after crossing a couple small seasonal streams we eventually come out in a big open grass prairie. On the west side of this is the edge of the magnificent Coyote Wall. We picked our way down from here following one many trails on the grassy slopes. Eventually we ended up on the old roadbed. This was an eight mile loop for us.
