The Syncline Trail on the Washington side of the Gorge is a prime spot for mountain biking, and the spectacular views of dramatic cliff faces, the Columbia River and Mt Hood found on the Coyote Wall section also make this one of the area’s best hikes.
The 20-mile trail system has endless options making it a good option for all skill levels, whether you want to do a morning run along the ridge, enjoy a leisurely walk through meadows bursting with wildflowers, or make a day of it by linking up with other trails like the Catherine Creek hike.
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Getting to the Syncline Trail and Coyote Wall
Locals refer to this entire recreation area as Syncline, which is about a five minute drive east of Bingen along Highway 14. Take the turnoff at Courtney Road across from Locke Lake, and there’s a parking area with washroom facilities that also serves as the trailhead.
From there, follow the paved Old Highway 8 to reach the different trail options which include:
Old Ranch Road and Little Maui Trail Loop: 3.9 miles, 646 feet elevation
Little Moab: 0.8 miles, 814 feet elevation
Labyrinth to Coyote Wall Loop: 6.7 miles, 1,489 feet elevation
Note: Directly across from the parking lot you’ll see a wooden structure with a dirt trail to the right of it. This leads to private land, so to access the Coyote Wall trailhead you’ll need to continue towards the washroom/roundabout where the new pathway begins.
The Coyote Wall hike
Coyote Wall is a massive formation of columnar basalt, which makes it a favorite spot for geologists. This distinguishable feature of the Gorge can also be seen from across the river in Mosier, Oregon, and a diverse population of rare and sensitive plants are found in the area.
To get to Coyote Wall, head up the trail and veer left onto Old Ranch Road which links up with Little Moab. Scramble over rock stairs and keep your head up for mountain bikers tearing down the trail as you make your way to the cliff edge, which has dramatic views looking straight down at winding Courtney Road, Locke Lake and the Columbia River Gorge.
Some choose to turn around here; otherwise, complete the loop by continuing up Coyote Wall Trail to Atwood Road where it loops back, then take Little Maui Trail back down to see a new vantage point of this fantastic Washington hike.
Tip: Short on time but want the view? Take the Old Ranch Road trail over to Little Moab which will take you straight up to Coyote Wall without doing the full loop. This out-and-back option is about 2.5 miles round trip, and takes about 45 minutes.
The Old Ranch Road and Little Maui Trail Loop
While this hike doesn’t have the wow factor of peering straight down Coyote Wall, it still has sweeping views of the Gorge with the bonus of a few additional waterfalls and streams.
Since it’s a loop you can either head to the right to start on Little Maui, or veer left to start on Old Ranch Road (which is closer to Coyote Wall). Those who start on Little Maui along the east side of Syncline are treated to great views of Mt Hood, wildflowers and stream crossings along a series of switchbacks.
The path eventually loops back to meet up with Old Ranch Road, and you’ll enjoy sweeping Gorge views on the way back down.
Note: This hike won’t get you over to Coyote Wall, so if you want that view you’ll need to link up with the Little Moab trail as you’re heading back down Old Ranch Road.
Tips for hiking Coyote Wall
Dogs are permitted, but must be on a leash from December 1 to June 30 to protect nesting birds.
Watch out for ticks, rattlesnakes and poison oak along the trail.
As this is primarily a mountain bike trail, hikers should give cyclists the right of way by stepping off the side of the path as they approach.
Spring is one of the best times to visit when the wildflowers are in bloom, and it’s also a good option for an off-season winter hike (though the trail can get quite muddy).
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Tamara Elliott
Tamara Elliott is the travel editor and founder of The Gorge Guide, which highlights the best experiences in the Columbia River Gorge. She’s an award-winning writer based in Hood River, Oregon, who particularly loves the area wineries and waterfall hikes. Tamara is also the founder of Globe Guide, which offers savvy tips for exploring destinations around the world.
Discover this 6.3-mile loop trail near White Salmon, Washington. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 40 min to complete.
A massive formation of columnar basalt, Coyote Wall is one of the Columbia River Gorge's most recognizable features from all directions. Known around the Gorge as "The Syncline", local amateur geologists enjoy debating its proper geological classification over a craft brew.
Coyote Wall is made of rocks of the Columbia River Basalt (CRB) Group. The CRB rocks formed when vast lava flows flooded parts of eastern Washington. Over time, the Columbia River carved down through these thick lava layers, cutting out a gorge. The erosive power of the ice age floods further shaped this landscape.
Coyote Wall is a moderate, 6 mile round trip hike with 1,630 ft in elevation gain. The trail runs up along a ridge with sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge.
Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 30 min to complete. This is a popular trail for backpacking, birding, and hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
There are two parallel trails – a 12.41-mile, unpaved, hiker/biker/ horse trail on the northern levee and an 11-mile, paved, hiker/biker trail on the southern levee.
In map view, a syncline appears as a set of parallel beds that dip toward the center. In a syncline the youngest beds, the ones that were originally on top of the rest of the beds, are at the center, along the axis of the fold.
syncline: What's the difference? Anticline refers to structures that dip downwards from a median line, forming a “hill,” while syncline refers to structures that dip upwards from a median line, forming a “valley.” The terms are especially used in geology to refer to folds of rock strata.
Explore this 5.4-mile out-and-back trail near North Bonneville, Washington. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 43 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.
In the Creation Myth generally known to Navajos, Coyote's roles are few: he causes the flood, originates death and interferes with the placing of stars, as well as generally poking his nose into everyone's business. Even here, however, he is accorded a knowledge above that of the other beings.
The origin of death is a common theme in Native American mythology. The myths of the plateau tribes blame its origin on the interference of the trickster figure Coyote. The Chiricahua Apache myth also blames Coyote. The plains tribes ascribe it to the result of unfavorable chance.
Great horned owls, bald and golden eagles, wolves, and bears all have been known to prey on coyotes. Coyotes are quick to respond to increases or decreases in prey.
Cape Horn Trail (#4418) Cape Horn Trail (#4418) vicinity map. This strenuous trail is noted for its many scenic overlooks with classic views looking east up the Columbia River Gorge. Enjoy the six mile loop seasonally from July 16 to January 31 or take the trail 2 miles to access the Nancy Russell Cape Horn Overlook.
Average Size: 2–3 feet tall with a 16–20 inch tail. Average weight is 25–35 pounds. Diet: Small mammals such as rabbits and rodents. Coyotes also eat fish, frogs, insects, snakes, deer, and will even eat fruit and grass.
Discover this 3.2-mile loop trail near Lansing, West Virginia. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 15 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and rock climbing, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.
Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 19 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, camping, and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are February through November.
At this time, you can access a northern portion of the trail system from Highway 237 Bikeway to Montague Expressway. A short downtown portion travels through Selma Olinder Park. The southern portion begins at Tully Road and extends southward through county jurisdiction and reaches Morgan Hill.
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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The path eventually loops back to meet up with Old Ranch Road, and you’ll enjoy sweeping Gorge views on the way back down.
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