Hiking Wahclella Falls
Columbia River Gorge Oregon
Overview
Thu 42 | 31 |
Fri 46 | 34 |
Sat 48 | 40 |
Sun 42 | 39 |
Mon 43 | 35 |
View Full Weather Details |
Thu 42 | 31 |
Fri 46 | 34 |
Sat 48 | 40 |
Sun 42 | 39 |
Mon 43 | 35 |
View Full Weather Details |
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!
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.
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.
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" |