Horsethief Butte Trail

Horsethief Butte Trail loops around and over a dramatic basalt formation in the Columbia River Gorge, combining spectacular geology, stunning river views, and proximity to some of the most significant Native American rock art in the Pacific Northwest. The butte rises abruptly from the surrounding sage-steppe plateau, its columnar basalt walls creating a natural fortress that has attracted human habitation for thousands of years. The trail climbs to the top of the butte through a gap in the basalt walls, revealing sweeping panoramas across the Columbia River to the Oregon shore and east and west along the gorge. The area is famous for Tsagaglalal, known as She Who Watches, a remarkable petroglyph depicting a large-eyed human face carved into the basalt by Native peoples of the Columbia Plateau. While She Who Watches requires a guided tour for access, numerous other petroglyphs and pictographs are visible from the trail and interpretive displays explain their cultural significance. The surrounding sage-steppe habitat supports a remarkable diversity of wildlife including rattlesnakes, Townsend's ground squirrels, horned larks, and golden eagles. Spring wildflowers including desert parsley, bitterroot, and balsamroot transform the plateau in April and May. The Columbia River Gorge scenery provides a magnificent backdrop for the entire hike.