Sams Walker Loop

This is a level, interpretive loop on the Washington side of the western Columbia Gorge, directly across the river from St. Peter's Dome and Horsetail Falls. The land was the old Sams family farm until Skamania County approved a suburban subdivision — Hidden Harbor — in 1983. A Friends of the Columbia Gorge lawsuit halted construction, and the Trust for Public Land acquired the property and transferred it to the Forest Service in 1988. Without that effort, this stretch of riverfront would be housing.

From the parking area's walnut-shaded picnic tables, the path crosses Grace's Meadow and forks into the loop. Spurs drop to cottonwood-shaded river overlooks with views across to Horsetail Falls, Hamilton Mountain, and Hardy Ridge. The loop threads through a mix of oak, Oregon ash, big cottonwoods, a small cedar grove, and meadows that form the boundary with the Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge. An old spreading ash near the woods-edge is worth a pause. Interpretive signs explain the farm history, the plant communities, and the conservation story.

Distance is 1.1 miles with 15 feet of gain — appropriate for small children, strollers on firm days, and anyone looking for a short riverside stretch close to a Gorge highlight. Invasive knapweed blooms across the meadows in summer. Acorns underfoot in fall make a satisfying crunch. The vault toilet and picnic area make it easy to combine with nearby Gorge stops.