Klickitat County: Museums, River Landscapes, and Trails

Klickitat County lies where the Columbia River Gorge cuts through the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Reasons to visit include museums and memorials, as well as wetlands, riverside trails, and winter activities. If you’re looking for a hotel, start by organizing your trip around the places and activities that matter most to you: options range from art and history to hiking, wildlife watching, and winter sports.

Art and History Around Maryhill and Goldendale

The Maryhill Museum of Art is near Goldendale in central Klickitat County. It is housed in a Beaux-Arts mansion on 5,300 acres high above the Columbia River. One gallery displays 80 works by Auguste Rodin. At the William and Catherine Dickson Sculpture Park, visitors can see large-scale sculptures from the permanent collection; the Lewis and Clark Overlook is also part of the grounds immediately outside the museum. The museum is also an official site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Three miles east of the museum, near the community of Maryhill, stands the Stonehenge Memorial: a full-scale replica dedicated in 1918 as a memorial to Klickitat County soldiers killed in World War I. The Stonehenge Memorial and the Klickitat County Veterans Memorial are open daily from 7 a.m. until dusk; check the information again before your trip. Another historic landmark is Maryhill Loops Road, the first macadam-paved road in the Pacific Northwest.

In Goldendale, Presby Mansion houses the Presby Museum, which was dedicated on August 18, 1962. In Bickleton, the Carousel Museum displays 24 horses and four chariots from a Herschell-Spillman traveling carousel dating from 1890 to 1906. Bickleton is also known as the “Bluebird Capital of the World”: the community is renowned for its blue and white birdhouses along the fences.

Stargazing and Experiences at Columbia Hills Historical State Park

Goldendale Observatory houses one of the largest publicly accessible telescopes in the United States. An appointment is required to access the visitor center and observatory; confirm the appointment requirement again before you arrive. The appointment rule for these two areas is separate from taking a walk around the grounds.

Columbia Hills Historical State Park offers about seven miles of trails from the Crawford Oaks and Dalles Mountain Ranch trailheads. Tours to Tsagaglalal (“She Who Watches”) are held Fridays and Saturdays at 9 a.m. from April through October. Advance registration is required; confirm availability before your trip. The Temani-Pesh-Wa exhibit is open during daylight hours from April through October. Check seasonal access again. During peak season, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks are available to rent at Horsethief Lake; confirm this seasonal availability before you arrive, too.

Wetlands, Viewpoints, and Trails

Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge encompasses extensive wetlands that provide habitat for numerous migratory birds and resident elk. The Willard Springs Trail is a two-mile loop along the edge of the open marsh and passes through pine trees. From there, views stretch across the former bed of Conboy Lake toward Mount Adams. The refuge headquarters has a wildlife-viewing platform, parking, and restrooms; confirm the availability of facilities before your trip. The refuge is open for day use only, from sunrise to sunset. Check the current rules again before your visit.

The Klickitat Trail is a 31-mile former railroad corridor connecting the communities of Lyle and Goldendale. Trail conditions and possible closures can change and should be checked before a longer trip. The Klickitat State Park Trail is a separate trail that follows the Klickitat River through Swale Canyon. There is generally no cell service or drinking water at its access points; the trailhead in Lyle is an exception. Check trail conditions and facilities before longer hikes.

There is windsurfing access along the north shore of the Columbia River in Klickitat County. Trout Lake offers access to the Mount Adams Recreation Area and snow-park areas for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. So, along with museum visits and hiking trails, there are water-based and winter activities to choose from.

Choose the Right Base

Consider which of these destinations will shape your trip, and tailor your hotel search accordingly.

Explore more destinations: Goldendale, Lyle, Bingen, White Salmon, Trout Lake

Explore other destinations, too: Grant County, Franklin County, Lewis

Go to the main travel overview: Washington.