Wahclella Falls | Columbia River Gorge Oregon

Hiking Wahclella Falls - Columbia River Gorge Oregon Hiking Wahclella Falls

Columbia River Gorge Oregon

Overview

RATING: Easy Hiking
MAPS: Bonneville Dam, OR; Tanner Butte, OR;

Thu

Partly sunny, with a high near 42. East northeast wind around 6 mph.

42 | 31

Fri

A slight chance of rain after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

46 | 34

Sat

Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 48.

48 | 40

Sun

Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.

42 | 39

Mon

Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 35

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Any
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear

Thu

Partly sunny, with a high near 42. East northeast wind around 6 mph.

42 | 31

Fri

A slight chance of rain after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

46 | 34

Sat

Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 48.

48 | 40

Sun

Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.

42 | 39

Mon

Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 35

View Full Weather Details
Wahclella Falls

Wahclella Falls

Wahclella Falls offers an excellent family friendly hike to two stunning waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge. The hike is very popular, but (in my opinion) offers an excellent hike that is just far enough to not see the swarms of people the closer falls see.

The path is well travelled and easy, this is a very family friendly hike. Be sure to bring a camera, the scenery is exquisite!

Lower Munra Falls

Lower Munra Falls

The Falls from a distance

The Falls from a distance

Getting There

The trailhead is reached from exit 40 on I-84 in the Columbia River Gorge. This is about 35 miles east of Portland. Take exit 40, and go south. Just after the highway, the road forks. Right goes into the Yeon State Park / Wahclella Falls trailhead. There is a fee to park at the trailhead.

The stunning lower Tanner Creek

The stunning lower Tanner Creek

Wahclella Falls

Wahclella Falls

Route

To Munra Falls (0.3 miles)
From the trailhead, follow the well used trail south into Tanner Creek. After 0.3 miles (5 minutes), the Lower Munra Falls comes in on the left and is quite pretty and striking. The bridge on the path way goes right up near the falls.

To Wahclella Falls (0.7 miles)
Continuing up from Munra, the trail climbs a litte, but never steeply. As it nears Wahclella, it splits. This split creates a loop, so either choice is fine, though I think going left offers the most dramatic view of the falls.

When it comes into view, the lower falls is about 20 m ( 66 ft. ), while a more hidden upper section is about 15 m ( 50 ft. ). This is a stunning place to have lunch and take in the scenery. I have not visited in the winter, but there is a third falls that is sometimes visible in the winter above the usual two that is actually higher than Wahclella.

Follow the loop around to the junction and the back to the trailhead.


Maps

Route / 1.73 miles / Elevation Range 78 - 290 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead

10T 581524mE 5053505mN

N45° 37' 49" W121° 57' 15"

Munra Falls

10T 581581mE 5053057mN

N45° 37' 35" W121° 57' 12"

Wahclella Falls

10T 581762mE 5052166mN

N45° 37' 06" W121° 57' 05"

Comments

Want to make a comment? Login and let yourself be heard.