Wahkeena Falls

About Wahkeena Falls

Wahkeena Falls doesn't drop in one leap like its famous neighbor. Wahkeena Creek tumbles about 242 feet over several tiers, splashing and twisting down a narrow, mossy chute. The result is noisier and more chaotic than Multnomah Falls, and much less crowded.

When the Columbia River Highway was built, these were called Gordon Falls. In 1915, a committee appointed by the Mazamas, a Portland mountaineering club, renamed them Wahkeena, said to be a Yakama word meaning "most beautiful". Oregon place-name historians think it was a new name rather than an old tribal one.

The small reinforced-concrete bridge that carries the Historic Highway over Wahkeena Creek is part of the highway's National Historic Landmark district. Across the road, the Wahkeena picnic area has a large shelter with a stone fireplace. The Forest Service says it is first-come, first-served, and groups over 75 need a special use permit.

Getting there and parking

Wahkeena Falls is on the Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30), about half a mile west of Multnomah Falls. From I-84, use Exit 28 (Bridal Veil) from the west or Exit 35 (Ainsworth) from the east, then follow the Historic Highway.

The Forest Service says the parking area is on the north side of the Historic Highway and the trail starts on the south side. The lot is small. The Forest Service lists no fee, and Wahkeena is not covered by the summer Multnomah Falls timed-use permit, which applies only to the I-84 Exit 31 lot. ODOT does not allow shoulder parking on the Historic Highway, so if the lot is full, move on and come back.

The Forest Service page, updated May 1, 2026, lists the site as open year-round from sunrise to sunset. It has flush toilets but no drinking water. Its alerts list had no Wahkeena closure when we checked on October 23, 2026.

Map and nearby falls

The walk

To the stone bridge: from the trailhead, the paved Wahkeena Trail climbs about 0.2 miles to an old stone footbridge right below the upper tiers. There you stand in the spray. That's about 0.4 miles round trip.

The Wahkeena Trail: the full Wahkeena Trail #420 is 2.8 miles long. Above the bridge it climbs steep, spray-soaked switchbacks past Fairy Falls toward views of the Columbia River, with connections to Angel's Rest and Devil's Rest.

The Multnomah-Wahkeena loop: linking the Wahkeena Trail, the upper Larch Mountain Trail and the Multnomah Falls trail makes a loop of about 4.9 miles. It has about 1,600 feet of climbing. It passes several waterfalls along the way. Almost all of this loop burned in the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, and storms still cause slides and fallen trees in the burn scar.

When to visit

Spring is best, when snowmelt fills Wahkeena Creek. In summer and early fall the flow drops but the falls still run. In winter, the Forest Service notes that the trail can stay open in icy weather but the upper switchbacks get dangerous, so carry traction devices.

Because it's next to Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena works as a quieter first or last stop. Arriving early gives you the best chance at a parking space.

Safety and swimming

Photos

Wahkeena Falls FAQ

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