Wahclella Falls
Wahclella Falls is a waterfall along Tanner Creek, a tributary of the Columbia River, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. It enters the river within the Columbia River Gorge.[1]
| Wahclella Falls | |
|---|---|
 Wahclella Falls, by Max Benbassat, October 2016 | |
| Location | Columbia River Gorge Multnomah Falls, Oregon United States |
| Coordinates | 45°37′4.5″N 121°56′59.7″W |
| Type | Tiered |
| Total height | 350 ft (107 m) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
| Longest drop | 60 ft (18 m) |
Description
The Columbia River Highway splits around Exit #40 that leads to the Bonneville Dam. The parking and access area for Wahclella Falls is slightly down the hill and to the right (for eastbound traffic) of the entrance to the dam.
Wahclella is at the midpoint of the well maintained trail number 436 loop that forms a 1.8-mile (2.9 km) roundtrip.[2] The falls are divided into upper and lower segments with a combined height of 350 ft (107 m), the upper section is not completely visible while the fully visible lower segment stands 60 feet (18 m) in height as it thunders out of a narrow gorge carved through dark gray basalt.[2][3][4]
The plunge pool has a picturesque quality due to the surrounding natural walls that form a semi-circular rotunda extending from the falls to the main vantage point. As with most waterfalls, Wahclella does exhibit some seasonality of water flow. However, because Tanner Creek is sourced primarily by an underground spring, the flow is never dramatically affected by adverse weather.
Wahclella Falls was named after a nearby village of Native Americans by the Mazama mountaineering club in 1915.
The United States Forest Service charges a fee or requires a pass for parking at the trail head.
See also
References
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wahclella Falls
- "Wahclella Falls Trail (#436)". fs.fed.us. United States Forest Service. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- "Wahclella Falls Trail". alltrails.com. AllTrails, LLC. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- "Wahclella Falls Hike". oregonhikers.org. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
