Weldon Wagon Road

Oregon white oak woodlands with open ridgetop meadows, wildflowers, and views of the White Salmon Valley make this a delightful hike that is off the beaten track.

The trail is on an abandoned county road that was built in the early 1900s so settlers on the heights above the White Salmon valley could get their produce to market. Apples were the prime product. It is named for one of the road builders, Elwin Weldon.

The hike begins by walking around a sturdy metal gate on a gravel logging road, stopping to use the boot brush enroute. Walk about 0.2 mile up the road to a sign on a tree on the right where the Weldon Wagon Road Trail takes off. 

The trail ascends the ridge through mixed fir-pine-oak forest on a Klickitat County right-of-way across private property, so stay on the trail and respect the private owners' rights. Another reason to stay on the trail is the abundant poison oak that grows to the very edge of the trail tread.

At about .7 mile, the forest begins to give way to meadows as the trail narrows to a wide foot-path climbing higher and higher up the ridge. Views grow wider, too, as the trail enters sunny slopes blooming with wildflowers in April and May.

The grade steepens as oak trees are left behind and Mount Hood comes into view. At 1.8 miles, the trail enters the White Salmon Oak Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources. The twisting and curvy oaks are like a sculpture garden and the broad sloping meadows are beautiful in springtime.

At 2.2 miles, the trail switchbacks up into oak forest. This is a good turnaround point if you came for the views. The trail continues through forest, skirting private property with No Trespassing signs and houses visible through the trees. At 2.5 miles, the trail crests the ridge, leaves the NRCA, and descends to the upper trailhead at Sanborn Road at 2.7 miles. A collection of rusting old farm equipment forms a mini outdoor museum next to the trail.

WTA Pro Tip: This trail may not be good for those with fear of exposure where it crosses the open slopes.