Labyrinth-Coyote Wall Loop

Sadly because of the devastating Eagle Creek fire on the Oregon side of the Gorge, most of the trails are closed for restoration. As a result more hikers are heading to the Washington side and heading further east for Gorge day hikes. Heading east gets you some sunnier skies and prime wildflower blooms.

This 7.3 mile loop takes you through the busy Coyote Wall area, but starts on a much quieter side of the area at Labyrinth Trailhead. 

The Labyrinth is the area between Coyote Wall and the Rowland Basin, named for the mazelike characteristics of the narrow canyons between the rocky cliffs, essentially basalt scablands that were scoured of soil by the Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age.

The area is filled with geological features, waterfalls, grassy meadows, oak woods, and the imposing cliffs of Coyote Wall -- known to geologists as the Bingen Anticline. There as many as 70 types of wildflowers that grow in this area.

The last leg of the loop takes you down the Little Maui Trail, winding along the western edges of the Labyrinth. 

Loop description: 

Starting at Labyrinth Trailhead, walk west along the former Highway 8 below basalt cliffs. Cross a rock slide, and pass Lower Labyrinth Falls. You'll soon come to the Labyrinth Trail #4423 on the right side. Head up to pass through basalt outcroppings, under a big ponderosa pine, past Labyrinth Cave on your left, to come to Labyrinth Falls. 

From here you'll start heading up to the meadows and a panoramic view of the Columbia River. The trail will eventually come to a T-Junction as a fence, go left. You'll rise to the Rowland Basin Viewpoint at the crest of hill. From here the trail winds up in and out of oak trees and across open meadows to the Atwood Road-Upper Labyrinth Trail Junction. Follow Atwood Road to a junction with the Old Ranch Road Trail. 

Go left on Old Ranch across the hillside to the Coyote Wall Traverse Trail Junction, go right to cross along an open meadow with views of Mt Hood directly in front. You'll soon come to the Coyote Wall Upper Viewpoint. 

To complete the loop, take the southern section of the Crybaby Trail that follows the edge of the wall, and just follow the natural rails down the slope, which will put you on Old Ranch Road. Stay on Old Ranch until the junction with Little Maui Trail. Take this all the way back down to Hwy 8. You’ll pass near Little Maui Falls on your way down.