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The 242 foot high,
15 foot wide Wahkeena Falls drops down the north side of Larch Mountain
in neat steps like following a curved staircase. Fed by Wahkeena Spring,
the water flow, though much slighter than its neighbor, Multnomah Falls,
is year round. Of course, it is more abundant in the late Winter and
Spring months when snow melts increase the amount of ground water.
Though you can view
Wahkeena Falls from the highway, a short, easy footpath takes you to the
base of the falls. Folks inclined to traverse more challenging trails
can continue on, up the steep slope, to the top of Wahkeena Falls and,
if desired, several other falls.
Wahkeena Falls
is only a half mile from the famous Wahkeena Falls Lodge, a historic
landmark, and now functioning as a Forest Service Information center.
Rock hounds will be interested that every type of rock found in the
Columbia River Gorge is represented in the Lodge.
In the upper
portion of the lodge is a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and
dinner. The restaurant is assessible by elevator for people with
disabilities.
The U.S. Forest
Service maintains what they call a 'Day Use Area' at the Wahkeena Falls
including a picnic area with many picnic tables and barbecue grills, 2
restroom facilities with flush toilets, potable water, and a large
picnic shelter with a stone fireplace.
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in column 2) |
(continued
from column 1)
How to get
there:
I-84 at exit 31
(Wahkeena
Falls)
and go 0.5 miles past (west) the
Wahkeena Falls
Lodge to the parking area.
For photos of
Bridal Veil Falls, see:
For more
information about
Wahkeena
Falls you
may phone the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Hood River at
800-551-6949 (toll-free) or 503-695-2261. |
