Mill Creek Ridge Preserve is a beautiful ridgetop with fairly dense populations of balsamroots, paintbrush and lupines on the open ridgetop and upper southeast-facing slopes. There's also a decent grassland component there, too. The northwest-facing slope is an open Oregon oak woodland with a good balance of the representative native forbs as a ground cover.
The preserve itself is owned and managed by the Columbia Land Trust. Currently, there is only one trailhead into the property and that is limited to about 8 vehicles at once. Parking along the adjacent Cherry Heights Road is also limited due to deep ditches and narrow road shoulders, so parking is not advised along that road. If the trailhead is full of vehicles, then it's advised to drive on and find a different place to hike. It's best to hike during weekdays or arrive early or mid-afternoon and later to find a parking spot. The trails can be hiked within a couple of hours time so arriving late is a good option. Columbia Land Trust also offers work parties as well as special hikes to their properties, so that's an option for accessing the property, too.
The wildflower season begins in mid-March and extends into mid-June. The peak flower time is late April into early May most years.
From the intersection of Cherry Heights Road and W 6th Street in The Dalles, OR (Fred Meyer is at the NE corner of the intersection), turn right onto Cherry Heights Road and drive 5.9 miles uphill to the south. The entrance to the trailhead parking is a narrow gravel road to the left (east) side of Cherry Heights Road. There is no signage to indicate this is the trailhead from the main road. The parking area is grass and gravel and holds up to 8 vehicles. Consider hiking this site on weekdays or arrive early in the day or after mid-afternoon in order to find a parking spot. Parking along Cherry Heights Road is not advised due to narrow shoulders and deep ditches as well as for safety's sake!
Comprehensive plant list for Mill Creek Preserve
April 22, 2018: Mill Creek Ridge Preserve (A Columbia Land Trust property.)
Mill Creek Ridge Natural Area: Columbia Land Trust
Mill Creek Ridge. One of the most beautiful conservation areas in Oregon: A Columbia Land Trust video on Youtube.
Conserving Mill Creek Ridge Near The Dalles: A Columbia Land Trust video on Youtube.
Mill Creek Ridge Preserve: Northwest Wildflowers
Mill Creek Ridge Hike: OregonHikers.org
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