West TD deep in the mellow yellow; dreamlike landscape offers acres of escape
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., April 2, 2024 — Balsamroot near Murray Addition in Chenowith was pouring out like yellow paint at Four Sisters Natural Area on Starlight Drive this morning.
Neighbors to the spectacular display said the acres of blooms which also include white and purple lupin, lilies and lavender camas stretch for multiple acres, giving hikers a feast of flowers through a good part of April.
The only problem?
It only lasts a few weeks.
If you live in The Dalles it is low hanging fruit. The hike is steep in its beginning and the trail is not well marked, so be careful to overstep the petaled beauties. And be sure to park along the shoulder of 1163 Starlight Drive and walk up to the trail.
There are quite a few rules for the area intended to protect the flora and fauna for you and others and generations to come. We included photos of the map and information below.
The land is held by the Columbia Land Trust, which is headquartered in Vancouver, Wash., and has some 553 acres of preserves in three different projects in the the Columbia River Gorge.
“Native grasses and wildflower meadows abound, as do rare Oregon white oak-and-pine woodlands, which shelter a wide array of wildlife, including neo-tropical migratory songbirds and species such as Vaux’s swift and Lewis’s woodpecker,” according to the Columbia Trust website. “Vernal (or seasonal) wetlands in The Dalles area are fragile habitats; each supports a unique community of plants and animals.”
Locator map for Four Sisters Hiking Trail. Click to enlarge.
Map of Four Sisters Natural Area - click image to enlarge.
Native Americans have used balsamroot historically in a variety of different ways. The roots and young shoots were baked and steamed. The immature flower stems were peeled and eaten. Balsamroot seeds are oil-rich and a good food source. The plants were also used medicinally. Specifically, the Blackfoot, Gosiute, Kutenai, Paiute, Sanpoil, and Shoshoni used the roots as a compress to treat sores, blisters, insect bites, bruises, and wounds. The Cheyenne and Flathead tribes used root infusions to treat fevers, whooping cough, and tuberculosis. Animals such as deer, elk, and bighorn sheep also enjoy munching on the stems, leaves, and flowers. - Erin Peters
Rules for Four Sisters Natural Area - click image to enlarge.
Historical Photo of Murray Addition. Photo Courtesy the Wasco County Pioneer Association
