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Wahkeena Falls {Hike}

June 17 By Renée 3 Comments

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge.

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

The Columbia River Gorge offers visitors almost an infinite hiking opportunities. Some of our favorite day hikes can be found along the string of waterfalls on Oregon’s Historic Columbia River Highway known as the “Waterfall Loop,” where well-maintained trails are abundant and the scenery is spectacular. The hike to Wahkeena Falls is especially beautiful, with something to see around every bend in the trail.

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Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

Unlike Multnomah Falls and many of the other falls on the waterfall loop, Wahkeena Falls is not a single, straight fall, but rather a series of steps, horsetails, and plunges between basalt outcroppings as Wahkeena Creek makes its way down to the base of the falls and on to the Columbia River.

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

Wahkeena Falls, once known as Gordon Falls (for F.E. Gordon, a pioneer landowner), was renamed in 1915, after the completion of the Columbia River Highway. Wahkeena – a Yakima Indian word meaning “most beautiful” – is a fitting name.

From the Oregon State Archives “A 1940 Journey Across Oregon”:

… WAHKEENA FALLS, 159.6 m., named for the daughter of a Yakima Indian chief, are considered by some the most beautiful of the many falls in the gorge. There is no sheer drop, but the waters hurl themselves in a series of fantastic cascades down the steep declivity. Wahkeena Creek has its source in Wahkeena Springs only a mile and a half above the cliff over which the waters plunge. …

Even the Wahkeena Falls trailhead is stunning. (I’m just going to say it – I’m really proud of this photograph.)

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

The hike to Wahkeena Falls is moderately easy, and although the trail offers a bit of an upward climb going in – a 400 feet gain in about a half mile – it is well worth the effort.

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

From beginning to end, the Wahkeena Trail (#420) rewards day hikers with beautiful views. There is a short .2 mile paved hike to the lowest stage of the falls that’s popular with families and folks who aren’t up to hiking to the top. There is even a nice little stone bench if you want to sit down and take a break. From there, the trail takes you through about a dozen switchbacks with a steep rise in elevation that will seriously challenge your calves if you’ve avoiding the gym lately.

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

The trail is wide enough to walk side-by-side with a hiking buddy, and very well maintained. Like most of the trails in the waterfall loop, there are many interconnecting links, so be sure to mind the “street signs” that you see along the way.

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

Am I the only one who thinks this is funny?

Know Before You Go

Distance: 1.4 miles round trip to the top, 0.4 round trip to the bridge
Hike Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Hike Type: Out and back
Trail Condition: Well maintained trail
Start point: Wahkeena Trailhead Road
Family & dog-friendly (Dogs must be on a leash)

Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman

Waterfall Loop Map 

Read what others have to say about Wahkeena Falls on TripAdvisor.

Getting there:
From Portland head east on I-84 and take the Bridal Veil (Exit 28). At the Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway, take a left heading east and go approximately 3 miles, just before Multnomah Falls. There is parking on both sides of the highway, and the trail head is on the south side of the highway, heading west. There is another trail that connects this trail head to Multnomah Falls, heading east.

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Beautiful and easy to access, Wahkeena Falls is one of the most popular destinations in the Columbia River Gorge. | The Good Hearted Woman
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Filed Under: Hikes, Pacific Northwest Tagged With: Columbia Gorge

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About Renée

Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

Comments

  1. blankMarlynn @ UrbanBlissLife says

    June 17 at

    That’s a great day hike! I love the helpful tips and details you’ve included in this post. And you *should* be proud of that photo — it’s stunning! Great capture, Renée!

    Reply
  2. blankJen says

    June 18 at

    You *should* be proud of that photo – all of them, in fact! Wahkeena was one of my first hikes when I moved to Portland. It’s a special place for me.

    Reply
  3. blankRobert Lopez says

    June 19 at

    Whoa.. I’d like to hike that falls myself..

    Reply

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