Blackberry - Riverview Loop

Distance: 3.0 miles

Elevation Gain: 160 feet.

The Deschutes State Recreation Area lies right at the mouth of the Deschutes River where it dumps into the Columbia River. This area offers numerous campsites in a wonderful, grassy shaded area along the river, in an area that can get brutally hot in the summer. There are also several trails that head out up the Deschutes from this spot and the Blackberry-Riverview Loop is a beautiful and relatively easy expedition up the canyon.

The trailhead for the Blackberry-Riverview Loop is found at the far southern end of the campground area. There is a large, rectangular parking area and the trail will head out across a grassy field at the southern end of the parking lot.

Its less than a quarter mile until you reach loop junction. You can head either way, but we stayed to the right and headed up the Blackberry Trail. This trail hugs the riverbank as you duck and weave your way through alternative clumps of alders and grasses. The trail will pass by the USGS gaging station and cable crossing and then, a little further on, a restroom. There will be a cutoff trail headed up towards the Riverview trail here but keep tromping a little further.

A quarter mile or so past the outhouse, the trail will split again. This time, head up the steep slope towards the Riverview Trail. While steep, you only have to push on for about 100 vertical feet, so don’t fret. Just watch your step because it can get a little loose here. Once up, bear to the left and begin hiking down river.

While not right next to the river anymore, the views from the Riverview Trail are much for dramatic. The trail also undulates along the canyon side, gently rising and falling as you stroll with waist high grass along the sides. During the early spring months, the canyon sides can be alive with yellow as arrowleaf balsamroot blooms everywhere. The trail continues for about 1.5 miles until you drop back down to the Blackberry Trail once again. Head right and stroll back to your waiting vehicle. Or, if you had fun, head left and do it again.

Directions

To reach the trailhead for the Blackberry- Riverview Loop, take I-84 11.4 miles east of The Dalles if you are headed from the west and take Exit 97 towards Celilo and Deschutes State Park. Continue to Highway 206 for 3.3 miles and make a right into the Deschutes State Recreation Area Campground. If you are headed from the east, once you reach Biggs Junction, head west on Highway 206 for 4.4 miles and the rec area will be on your left. Once in the Deschutes Recreation Area, head down the main road past all the campground for 0.3 miles until you reach the trailhead parking area. You will know your there because the road ends there.

Things to Know

Passes: None.

Dogs: Allowed and must be on leash or under voice command at all times.

Usage: Can be high in the Spring, but pretty low the rest of the year.

Open Season: The area is accessible all year round. The canyon can be very hot and dry during the summer months.

Flowers: Visit in April to see the best blooms

Hazards: Rattlesnakes are very common in this area from late spring until the fall or so. You are probalby more likely than not to see one, so watch your step. Ticks also thrive along the river banks during the spring.