The Wygant State Natural Area — six miles west of Hood River — was a gift to Oregon honoring the memory of the Wygant family. This park adjoins two other state parks near Mitchell Point 5 miles west of Hood River on Interstate 84. A trail strikes through the park in a dense, hilly wilderness area that was once the old Oregon Trail and later the Historic Columbia River Highway. The first mile of this trail is on pavement that hasn't had an automobile on it for 50 years (it still has the yellow divider stripe). As it moves into the wilderness, Wygant Trail penetrates a dense forest hillside along a gurgling creek. It is an ideal spot for backpackers who are looking for a little solitude.
Trails within the Mitchell Point trail system have had many issues associated with a winter storm that occurred in 2012. Click here for a current synopsis of trail conditions in the area.
Please secure your valuable when enjoying parks. Thank you!
