Wahclella Falls receives far fewer visitors than the average Columbia River Gorge waterfall, perhaps due to the falls’ lack of stature and visibility, as well as length of the hike. The second and most visible 60-foot drop of the falls occupies a peaceful grotto at the end of a deep canyon. Although hikers feeling the need for more exercise often overlook it, Wahclella rates as high as any hike in the area in terms of beauty if not distance.
Distance: 2.0-mile lollipop
Difficulty: Easy
Trail surface: Gravel, hard-packed dirt; rocky
Hiking time: 1 to 2 hours
County: Multnomah
Land status: State park
Seasons: All
Fees and permits: Northwest Forest Pass or day-use fee
Trail contact: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, (800) 551-6949; oregonstateparks.org
Maps: Oregon Road & Recreation Atlas: Page 37 E8
Finding the trailhead: From Portland, take I-84 East to exit 40 for the Bonneville Dam. Turn right and go 100 yards to the turnaround and parking area. GPS: N45° 37.817' / W121° 57.235'
The Hike
This easy lollipop hike allows hikers of almost any age and aptitude the opportunity to explore and enjoy the canyon’s many attributes. The trail starts alongside Tanner Creek on a roadbed until the road ends near a small dam that diverts water to a fish hatchery downstream. From here the trail begins to head upstream, but not before a bridge takes you within arm’s reach of another 68-foot waterfall, Munra Falls. Munra looks as much like a water-park slide as it does a naturally occurring cascade, and it will often give you a light misting in late winter and spring.
The trail forks around the 0.8-mile mark. Either direction leads to the falls, but take the trail to the right that descends back down to the creek and a long wooden bridge. This is a great spot to observe the gigantic boulders that re-formed the creek after a landslide in 1973. The building-size obstructions created a series of mini-falls and pools. Continuing upstream, the sound of Wahclella can soon be heard echoing through the canyon; you’ll catch your first glimpse of the falls soon after. Now the area opens up and becomes endlessly explorable. There are boulders to climb and small pools to wade through. Be mindful, however, that this is still a dangerously fast-moving creek in spots. There is even a mini-cave just before a bridge that recrosses the creek on its way to the falls. You can’t go back too far, but younger hikers often refuse to pass by without inspecting the darkness.
After the bridge the trail leads up to a rocky viewpoint of the falls. While the main tier of the falls is only 60 feet high, the water is forced out of a narrow slot that produces an impressive thundering water-hose effect. From here there are a number of convoluted trail options to follow, but all bootpaths lead back to the main trail. Follow the trail along the east side of the creek back downstream to the trailhead.
Miles and Directions
0.0 Start at the trailhead and head upstream on a wide gravel road. Continue past a water intake dam and cross a footbridge next to Munra Falls (N45° 37.575' / W121° 57.208'). Proceed along the trail to a junction.
0.8 Either route will lead to the falls before looping back to the junction. For the described hike, bear right and descend to a long footbridge crossing Tanner Creek. Continue along the trail, crossing another bridge before arriving at Wahclella Falls.
1.0 Arrive at Wahclella Falls (N45° 37.104' / W121° 57.084'). The trail leads up to the falls and then ascends the canyon wall, heading downstream on the east side of Tanner Creek. Stay straight at the trail junction and continue back to the trailhead.
2.0 Arrive back at the trailhead.