Wahclella Falls.

Wahclella Falls is the only hike I've now completed twice. And I might take my dad there when he visits next week and complete it thrice! Although I haven't decided yet. Normally with hikes, as with books and other things, no matter how much I liked one, there are so many amazing and tantalizing OPTIONS out there that it's hard for me to repeat. But Wahclella Falls is so simple and easy and lovely that it's hard to resist.

It's in my beloved Columbia River Gorge, although a little further out from Portland than the cluster of ridiculously beautiful and ridiculously popular hikes in the Multnomah Falls area. To get there, you push on on I-84, past Eagle Creek, until you reach the exit for the Bonneville Dam, roughly 30 miles from Hood River. This is still only an hour or so from Portland. There is not much off of this exit, except for the Bonneville Dam--and if you have an interest in fish ladders and big scary dams, go to it!--and the parking lot for this hike.

It starts off on a wide flat path right along this lovely little stream.

And who doesn't love flat paths alongside lovely little streams?? THEY ARE THE BEST! Although, is "stream" the right word? I always feel flummoxed about the correct river-ish word usage anytime I'm next to a river-ish thing. Is it a stream? Is it a creek? Is it JUST A RIVER?

Anyway.

When you haven't even been walking along this stream/creek/river very long, all of a sudden you are walking by this rather impressive mini waterfall shooting down over some sheer rock to your left. This is mainly impressive because you are literally right next to it, could reach out your hand and get wet, and it almost feels bizarre. This picture doesn't really do it justice, but believe me--it is RIGHT THERE!

WHATTUP, WATERFALL RIGHT IN MY FACE!

Wahclella is a balloon trail, meaning, it looks like a balloon--starts off as a straight trail with a loop trail at the end. Once the peaceful, stream-following path (seriously, so peaceful!) diverges off into the two trails leading to the left and right side of the balloon, it does start to get slightly steeper, and rockier, and thinner, but it still isn't too horrible. While it's a loop, and you can start it whatever way you want, I recommend heading left. This trail goes up, and up, and up away from that river-ish thing. Most of the time through the trees you can see the trail on the other side which you will be following back around in a little bit, and it seems pretty far below you at times.

Oh hey, gurl! We're going to be walking where you are soon!

There's also one brief set of stairs on this path. I always really enjoy these things on a hike: 1) stairs, 2) bridges, and 3) if you're really lucky, a boardwalk over soggy or sensitive vegetation. Boardwalks are the best! But stairs and bridges are always good too. They're good landmarks and help break up the hike, and also makes you wonder each time, "Who the hell built these things?"

As with all good waterfall hikes, the best part about coming up to the Main Event is that you can HEAR it before you see it. And Wahclella Falls, as with most waterfalls in the Gorge in the spring, was really roaring this day. It's also surrounded by a semi-circle of huge rock walls and a great little waterfall pool, all of which elevate the sound of cascading water. (Such a great sound! Although kinda scary sometimes too!) The waterfall was so full this day that most of the rocks around the whole area--which you do have to somewhat trickily navigate to make your way to the other side of the stream--were pretty soaked. But I was able to precariously set up my camera and successfully self-time a picture of Kathy, myself, and my mom. Success!

Such a great waterfall.

While somewhat rocky, this whole area around the waterfall and its pond also has a decent amount of open area, and it just screams, "I'm the perfect place for a pic-a-nic!" If you feel inclined to bring along a pic-a-nic basket. I haven't, in either of my two times there, but I've envisioned it.

After scrambling over some rocks you walk over a small but sturdily built bridge to the other side of the pond, to start your walk around the other side of the balloon to get back to the string.

Once over the bridge, the stream is full of HUGE boulders, but is also relatively shallow and calm, and it's a perfect place for wading around, or letting your dogs wade around. If your dog isn't old and arthritic like ours, and can go on hikes. :(

Continuing on the trail, this side is almost the opposite of the trail you were just on. Instead of being surrounded by trees, you're out in the open, a huge wall of rock to your left. This is my favorite part of the trail. The landscape is so interesting and wonderful, and since it's not as steep, you also really have the chance to look around and enjoy it.

What was so lovely about this walk too as opposed to the first time I walked it was that the trail this time was covered in little pinkish purple wildflowers EVERYWHERE. On this side of the trail, they peeked up on the riverbank and between every rock near the cliff wall, and there were LOTS of rocks, and lots of flowers.

Too quickly, you're at another bridge, which connects you back to the main, more forested part of the trail which will lead you back to the parking lot. This bridge is a lot higher than the little one near the falls, and the view of the steam from it is pretty awesome.

There is one tricky part once you're over the bridge, where the trail seems to fork, and you swear you're back at the fork at the beginning of the balloon, and should go left--but going left actually just leads you to a kind of scary edge-of-a-cliff dead end. After going right and switchbacking just once or twice, you're back at the actual fork.

It's only a mile to the falls and a mile back, so all in all this hike shouldn't take more than an hour. But there's so much bang for your buck to it. I think it's the perfect waterfall to take visitors, or people who aren't in the mood for a mega-hike. The fact that apparently not as many people know about it is just an added bonus.

Lesson learned: There's no restroom at this trailhead, which was okay since it is a relatively short hike and we could survive until we drove to Hood River for lunch. However, peeing before you leave for a hike, or stopping somewhere before the trailhead where you CAN pee, just in case? Always a good idea.

Highlight: I did this hike the first time by myself, so it was really fun to take Kathy and my mom there. And, the aforementioned wildflowers.

Info: Heading east on I-84, take exit 40 for the Bonneville Dam. At the stop sign, take a right. There are actually two different trailheads here--head right for the parking lot for Wahclella Falls. The Northwest Forest Pass is required here; if you don't have it you can drop off a $5 fee in an envelope in a box at the entrance. Since there's not actually a forest ranger patrolling here or anything, these fees, as with most state parks and forests in Oregon, operate on trust. Since I have a guilty conscience, we paid the $5, but it's up to you if you want to take the chance. Hikers and dogs only.

Post-hike chow-down: The closest town to this hike is Cascade Locks, just slightly further east on I-84. There you'll find a number of solid American-food-esque burger joints, inns, and pubs, along with the East Wind Drive-In, a classic type of American institution. Kathy and I vet their burgers and their milkshakes. Limited seating inside, but it's the perfect type of food to grab and eat on the banks of the Columbia River, just feet away. You can also take the path we did this day, and drive on for 30 miles to Hood River, where the aforementioned Full Sail awaits, along with many, many other brewpubs and more diverse restaurants.