From there, several short dirt roads provide access to the Badlands. The Dry River Trail is the only named route, ascending 5 miles to the head of the gorge. The high point is just above 4,000 feet. Sunrise over the desert plains when snow lightly dusts the juniper and sage. You might forget all about summer in the Cascades.
Winter is quietest.
Spring is good, too, but in fall there's a heavy concentration of hunters. Avoid getting too close to eagle and owl nesting areas in the canyon walls of Dry River Gorge.