Spring weather has kick started the wild flowers and the no-longer-so-fuzzy Canada Geese goslings are already forming flight feathers. This can be the most pleasant and rewarding time of year to take to the trail, walking or cycling. Watch for these larger easy-to-spot birds: Osprey, Canada Geese, Bald Eagle, Lesser Scaup, Mallard, Green Wing Teal, Bufflehead, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Common Raven, and many more smaller song birds.
Whereas Riverfront Park (at Exit 85) is closed for nesting wildlife, especially Canada Geese, until Memorial Day, May 27, access to the Riverfront Trail is easiest at Lewis & Clark Event Park at the foot of Union Street, Kiwanis Klindt Cove pocket park at 3661 Klindt Drive, Chenoweth Creek Trailhead on River Trail Way, and at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum at 5000 Discovery Drive. All locations have ample parking.
As awareness of the Riverfront Trail spreads beyond the Gorge, the odds of meeting someone on the trail from elsewhere adds to its enjoyment. In town to play Irish music for a local St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Harvey Neuber and Karen Wagner brought their bicycles along for a spin on the trail on a sunny Sunday before driving home to Pendleton and Cove. This has become a very enjoyable routine for the couple whenever they are in The Dalles or even passing through. Harvey says, “I’ve been walking and riding the trail for well over a decade and I always look forward to my next opportunity whenever we visit The Dalles.”
The proximity to downtown The Dalles offers other great benefits. Karen said, “It’s a great way to explore the beautiful riverfront scenery on the west end of the trail but also fun to check out lesser known parts of The Dalles. We love to get off the freeway, spin our legs on the bikes, take in the Discovery Center, and head back to town for a quick stop at the ice cream shop. All in a morning’s ride!”
To have a dedicated, safe, paved trail to ride makes it easy for out-of-town cyclists who may not wish to contend with unfamiliar traffic patterns on street and road routes in the area. Being mostly level as it follows the river, a healthy 16 mile out-and-back bike ride without the possibility of any passing vehicles makes the Riverfront Trail a refuge for cyclists. Please remember to ride
with care and respect for pedestrians.
See you on the trail.
“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” — Eddy Merckx, legendary Belgian pro racer
Trail notes are brought to you by the Riverfront Trail Board, a group of local volunteers who manage, help maintain and promote The Dalles Riverfront Trail. To sponsor this regular feature please contact us: 541-386-1234 Ext. 100 or email, Info@Gorgenews.com
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