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Tamanawas Falls

4.8 (37 reviews)

Tamanawas Falls Photos

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Michael B.

This is where you start the hike to Tamanawas Falls. Signs at the start of the trail (at this pin) showing distances don't agree/match with signs along the trail even though they show the same route. You must pay $5 per vehicle which can be paid at the cash drop pay station onsite, then you keep the stub in your car on the dash - a national park pass waives this fee. You'll start the trail by crossing a one person wide narrow bridge and following the highway north for a while. Once at the falls, you'll feel lots of water spray and it will be loud. You can walk behind the falls if you don't mind risking slick rocks.

Quinn A.

Easy peasy 3.5 mile out and back to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oregon. Plentiful parking at the trail head if you get there before 08:00 or so. NW Forest or America the Beautiful pass required. Need a break from this crazy world? Nature has got you! Resplendent foliage, blue water rushing over rocks and swirling in clear pools, and as if that wasn't reward enough for simply being in this place, a breathtaking waterfall at the top of the trail. Modest gain along a soft path, with a bit of a rock scramble toward the top. It's short and you've got nowhere else to go and all day to get there, so take the paths along the way down to the water. Linger, contemplate, relax.

Stephanie J.

Tamanawas Falls is a "moderate" 3.4 mile hike in Mt Hood National Forest. I put moderate in quotations because if this is moderate I do not want to hike a difficult trail. In a few areas I felt like one wrong step and I was going to fall to my death, the heights definitely got to me. Once we got to the rocks, we couldn't figure out where the trail went. Luckily a party was on their way down and mentioned there was a rock slide recently so up we went. The waterfall was beautiful, you have to climb on rocks to get really good views of it. I do recommend Tamanawas Falls if you are in the area.

Jack G.

Great 2-mile hike along the stream leading to a very pretty waterfall. The first section is easy and no part is more than moderate in difficulty. This is a trail I will happily hike whenever I'm in the area.

Margaret P.

I found this specific falls through Yelp while I was looking for waterfalls to visit while in Oregon. Surprisingly, this was the first one to pop-up on my search. I knew this was definitely something I had to see, as the photos looked amazing! I didn't realize that this fall was actually further away than the rest of the falls we wanted to see. It's okay though; the trek was worth it. When we started the hike, we realized we had to pay for parking, which was about $5 (if I can remember correctly). We filled out a form and dropped it off in a box. The hike itself was pretty easy, with the exception of the rocky area right before you see the falls. We went on a pretty sunny day, but I could only imagine how hiking through this rocky area could've been difficult, as it probably would get slippery. Once we got to the falls, we were in love! It was such a gorgeous sight to see and worth the 45-minute hike to see this. One of the hikers that we had run into in passing said that we had to walk all the way to the back of the falls to get the best experience. Well, we did just that! He was absolutely correct. If you decide to do this, be very careful as the rocks to get to the back of the falls could be extremely slippery. You could seriously get injured if you don't take precaution. Also, be cautious of the rocks above your head. I was walking alongside the edge and didn't realize there was a rock above me as I was hunched over. When I stood up, I hit the edge of the rock. Luckily, I was fine, but it could've been worse! If you're in Oregon and are looking for awesome sites to see, check this place out! It'll be worth your time!

view from the base of the falls
Irena S.

To give you some context of my review for this hike: I am a 5'3'' semi-athletic female (meaning I didn't play NCAA and I'm not an Olympian, but I can hold my own when it comes to hiking and recreational sports - just to give you an idea, because sometimes Yelpers will be like "THIS WAS SOOOO EASYYY" but it's because they're a freaking marathoner or something lol) It's a 3.3 mi trail, I would say moderate hike (not impossible, but definitely not flat, decently steep at some points) Conditions: Saturday in late May, no rain, temperature low 70s, I'm wearing Nike free runs that have zero traction because I just moved to Portland and have no good hiking shoes (but it's okay, it can be done!) This is an out & back trail (not a loop), it's about If you're coming from Portland it's about a 2 hour drive to the trailhead, type "Tamanawas Falls Trailhead" into your google maps and it will lead you straight to the beginning. Parking is pretty easy along the side of the hill's highway (lots of good space), with a $5 parking fee (honor system, you write your license plate and time you're going to be there on a little pass and put it on your mirror, and drop the envelope into a box). The hike takes about 45 mins to get to the waterfall if you're going at a medium pace, with no small children. It wasn't annoyingly crowded on this day but there were enough people along the path. LOTS of cute dogs and little children doing it. The journey: The first part is like a light stroll on a small incline, and then about halfway it starts getting kind of steep. There's a few bridges you cross that give you awesome views of the raging river. There's a part that can get slippery (assuming you're doing this in the spring/summer and there's no snow) where there's crumbled large/small rocks on the path and you have to be kind of careful where you're stepping (especially if you're wearing terrible Nikes like me...) The hike is beautiful, I don't think there's anything like it in California (I now know why people who move to Oregon love it here...). There's plenty of trees, the air feels so fresh, and I love the sound of the river coming from the waterfall. It's not a boring hike at all, and it's so gorgeous the whole way. If I remember, there might be one fork in the road and I took the left on the way up. Once you get to the waterfall, it's totally worth it. There's not a ton of signage along the path telling you how much further you have to go,but it's pretty easy to follow. Basically, you should be able to follow the river on your left to go up to the waterfall. There's a point where you've been going up hill for a really long time and you might feel like giving up, BUT DON'T. THE WATERFALL IS LITERALLY RIGHT THERE AND IT'S TOTALLY WORTH. Once you get to the actual waterfall, there's a bunch of rocks you have to navigate to get up close to it/ under it. These rocks can get slippery when they're wet from the mist, so be careful. But the view is amazing and the waterfall is RAGING. It's pretty huge and you are able to get pretty close to it if you want. If you sit at the base of the waterfall, there's a few places to sit if you want to snack/ watch the waterfall and feel the cold mist on your face. Going down, it only took about 35-40 mins. The thing I appreciate about this hike is that there's some parts that aren't challenging, and then there's periods where you're definitely getting a heavy cardio/ glut work out. Highly recommend, definitely taking my friends here again!

Haneen O.

EXCELLENT. My friend took me out here and it was her first time too. We snagged a parking spot and began our hike. It was a moderate level, not too much elevation, lots of rocks, and diverse landscape. And the best part: a waterfall at the end! Absolutely beautiful. Would recommend. Saw a lot of groups and families with kids here, even dogs. The trees are soothing and rejuvenating, and it was a great way to spend the morning. 4 miles took us about 2 hours, including time spent at the waterfall.

Taylor K.

Came here on a whim, thanks to an article on Outdoor Project, and holy moly, was not disappointed by how beautiful this place is! The hike itself is ideylic and picturesque, snow covering the ground, and sun shining through the trees. This was a super easy hike to do , there and back, with moderate elevation. It was a perfect place to let our dog off leash as well, as he tends to stay on the trails, its easy for him to walk straight and not veer off too much. One of the coolest things about this hike is that you can follow the river/ creek all the way up back to the the falls. The waterfall had beautiful frozen ice pillars all around it, as well as ice carvings by the base that were beyond anything I had ever seen before. I was able to climb behind the waterfall, and see the ice pillars in person. They were a beautiful blue color, and very very slippery. I don't really recommend going behind the waterfall if you are a little skiddish, because if you slip you could fall right into the freezing water, and you have to slide down ice a bit to get there. Definitely worth it!! SOoo ooo good

Upstream
Aubrianna C.

I've been going on a lot of hikes this summer, and I've started to really like it. Tamanawas was the most recent hike I've done, and it is by far my favorite hike. Every second of the hike is beautiful, there isn't a single part where it's not. The entire hike is nestled through the woods, and you'll pass by a lot of mini waterfalls on your way. When the hike first starts, there's two really dramatic hills, but then the rest of it is pretty easy going. There's one section where it's very rocky and steep right before you get to the falls, so make sure you're prepared for that. We had to take a few breaks on the way there because I got tired, but it was a lot easier on the way back. It took us about 3 hours to complete the whole hike, and that included hanging out at the falls for about half an hour. We did this hike around 4pm, and honestly, considering I usually go hiking early in the morning, I preferred this one later in the day. We only saw about four other groups of people on the way, and we also found a geo cache by accident (!!). I'm definitely gonna be doing this hike again in the fall. It's amazing.

The view from the back, looking out.
Bob S.

My Favorite Waterfall on the east side of Mt. Hood. It takes about 90 minutes to get there from Portland, 30 minutes from Hood River. Park off Highway 35 near milepost 72 (just north of the Sherwood Campground). NW Forest Parking Pass required. It's a moderate (sometimes hot) hike, just shy of 4 miles roundtrip. About a half-mile traverse parallel to the highway and then turn up Cold Spring Creek and follow all the way up to the falls (about 1.5 miles). Beautiful creek hike, through a monster rock slide and then a giant waterfall that you can (carefully) walk behind. There's a small island in the middle of the creek, just below the falls that you can sit on. It's just at the edge of the spray zone. You can watch the swirls of mist. It's Very Cool! Bring water and good shoes, especially if you're going to climb up behind. If you get up early, you can have lunch at the falls and dinner in Hood River or even back in Portland.

Andrea W.

This is such a cool waterfall! It's really high up, and the hike there is pretty fun and quite pretty. The hike there is constantly next to water, and the hike isn't too difficult. There's some slopes up and down, but it's never too steep. Near the waterfall, I felt the mist spraying, and we actually climbed up to behind the waterfall. It was really fun and really pretty! The water is pretty cold, and we saw some dogs splashing in the water too. Really nice place to visit, and I'd definitely recommend it!

Brooke W.

Beautiful! Misty at the top so if you're not going in the dead of summer make sure to have a few layers. Easy hike overall until the last if you want to get behind the fall that part gets a little rocky. Lots to look at and enjoy. It was SO beautiful

Gorgeous!
Hannah B.

I hike this year round, and its a blast. It is the most fun in the summer of course, but if you are in great physical shape, winter isn't bad. The waterfall is beyond gorgeous, and the hike in general, has easy access.

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8 years ago

Amazing hike ! Definitely bring a jacket, near the waterfall can be chilly. I'd hike this place again !

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Ask the Community - Tamanawas Falls

Review Highlights - Tamanawas Falls

We went on a pretty sunny day, but I could only imagine how hiking through this rocky area could've been difficult, as it probably would get slippery.

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Mosier Creek Falls - Wildflower time

Mosier Creek Falls

4.3(8 reviews)
13.4 mi

Best time for this hike is end of April and May when the wildflowers are in bloom and cover the…read morehillsides with purple widow's grass, yellow balsam root, blue lupine and lavendar bachelor buttons. It's my favorite time to be in this area! Best place to park is right before the Mosier Creek Bridge as you leave the tiny two block downtown area. As you begin the hike you come to the cemetery of the founding father's of this charming town. Continue for another 10 minutes to the falls and the swimming hole below. The falls are small, not like the 7 popular falls you see along the Old Historic Highway by Multnomah Falls, but still lovely. Continue on and up where views of the Columbia River from this vantage point are breathtaking. The river widens In this area and slight turns as it makes it's way through Mosier and onto Rowena making for a beautiful vista to take in and photo ops. Unlike at Rowena Plateau and Tom McCall Preserve, dogs are allowed on these trails.

Pretty fun trail with a variety of sites!…read more There's a small parking area right in town just on the other side of the bridge from where the trail begins. You can make a very short hike of it and just go to the falls. Or you can continue on from there and complete the approximately 3 mile out and back with a small loop at the top...I recommend the latter. There's nice signage at the start explaining some trail details. You'll pass by a cool, tiny cemetery and venture on to the falls. Mosier Falls was a bit more substantial than I'd expected, set in a pretty canyon with an overlook for your viewing pleasure. Should you wish to continue on the trail...and you really should...you'll start up the side of the hill on switchbacks and stairs to the top. Tiny flowers popping up were blanketing the entire hillside, and I'm guessing it'll be quite a show in couple of weeks. After zigging and zagging multiple times you'll reach the top and come to an overview with spectacular views of the gorge. There's a bench there should you need a little rest or just wish to sit and take in the view for a bit. From the viewpoint you'll see the dirt trail continue on. It meanders further down to the end of the line...a short loop that offers even more gorge views. The trail is quite narrow and fairly unshaded most of the way and there are regular signs warning hikers of private property lines. We enjoyed it on a Saturday morning, along with quite a few other hikers. It's a decent workout, a pretty waterfall, and some beautiful gorge views...not too shabby!

Photos
Mosier Creek Falls
Mosier Creek Falls
Mosier Creek Falls - Mosier Creek Falls - Feb 2024

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Mosier Creek Falls - Feb 2024

Ramona Falls

Ramona Falls

4.5(35 reviews)
16.3 mi

Moderately easy 7+ mile loop. Got there just before 8am and there were 8 cars in the lot. 3 hours…read morelater there was no parking. Early! Always get there early! The river crossing is a real thing, but I saw all levels of age/fitness/size/canine/hooman making it, so you can too! Today there was one log. Not a selection of logs, just one. And it was alone, there was no log acting as a railing. You're in the air, friends. Or in the river, but at least it's only 1 mile back to your car in icy clothing if you tumble in. I slid across on my ass, shameless! On the way back I slowly balanced my way across. Made it. So can you! You will be rewarded. The falls are in my Oregon top 5, and I've been to Silver Falls so now you know. The walk is through old growth, lots of storm down trees but they've all been cut so they aren't blocking the trail. It was cold today, in the 40s, so the usual advice about layering holds. Even on a nice day you'll be in shade a lot of the way. Boots if you have 'em. Oh and hey! Today the parking lot trashcan was full and overflowing. If I had remembered to bring a big trash bag, which I often do, I would have picked it up. If you're feeling love for the outdoors, will you consider bringing a big gladd trashbag just in case? Mother earth thanks you.

Stunning second half. Did the loop and was very happy we didn't double back. The falls are…read moregorgeous, the river crossing was pretty easy this time of year. I found it a pleasant hike, we clocked 7.5 miles. Plenty of parking.

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Ramona Falls
Ramona Falls
Ramona Falls

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Dry Creek Falls Hike

Dry Creek Falls Hike

4.8(10 reviews)
18.2 mi

Beautiful hike. How to get to the hike you have to drive down a long gravel road I recommend…read moredriving a suv or a car you don't care about it's a tight trail at some points so you will get scratches on ur vehicle but the hike is amazing one of my new favorites

This is a beautiful hike! If you follow all trails map, it will start you at the bridge of the…read moregods trailhead. There is another lot a couple of blocks away. The bridge of the gods trailhead does not have a lot of parking. If you do park there, cost is $5 cash for the day be sure to bring that with you. Bathrooms are open. There are trash cans at the parking lot. The views of the bridge of the gods are stunning from the parking lot. the first bit of the trail is a little bit loud. It is very cool to be on the PCT. Especially if you are not from the area. It is nice to have had my feet touch a small portion of the PCT, hopefully someday there will be more. The trail is very green and lush. It is also well signed and marked. The birds were singing. I arrived at 730 am and was the 2nd car in the lot. I didn't see anyone out until i was on my way back down and in my last 3/4 of a mile. From reading reviews on all trails though it can get busy so best to know where the other parking lot is in case you can't get a spot at the bridge of the gods trailhead parking lot. The trail has a gentle but steady incline from the get go. The falls at the end are of course lovely. If i were in the area again i would do this one again.

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Dry Creek Falls Hike
Dry Creek Falls Hike
Dry Creek Falls Hike

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Little Zigzag Falls - Fast moving Zigzag River. Sept 2024.

Little Zigzag Falls

4.7(19 reviews)
18.6 mi

Little Zigzag Falls, Welches, Oregon. Sept, 2024…read more What a great little hike! Located in the Mt. Hood National Forest, this is an easy-to-access trail a few paved miles off OR-26. The parking area, with space for maybe 20 or so cars, is at the end of the road. There are trail signs, as well as a porta-potty. You need a Northwest Forest Pass, or NPS pass, to park here but they are not sold on-site. (You can purchase at the Zigzag Ranger District @ 70220 E. Highway 26 in Zigzag). The Forest Service (FS) describes the trail as a "gentle uphill trail located in a narrow canyon next to the Little Zigzag River." The shaded and mostly smooth trail ends at the falls. There are some rocks and roots but overall it's quite smooth. Also, per the Forest Service, it's a great hike for kids, but supervision along the riverside is a must. We note that the stream was exceptionally fast-moving and the falls he a lot of water in mid-September The FS describes the trail as having a distance of 0.5 miles (one way), but All Trails lists it as 0.6 for BOTH ways and my watch recorded 0.7 for both. The trail is at an elevation of around 3,250 feet, and is snow-free from June to November. There's a nice shaded picnic table near the start of the trail. There's also a wooden bench near the falls. The trail is not wheelchair accessible.

Nice, easy hike with an awesome payoff at the end. The parking lot is pretty spacious. The hike is…read morevery short itself so perfect for families. Great views at the end.

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Little Zigzag Falls - Me at the falls!

Me at the falls!

Little Zigzag Falls - Zigzag Falls.

Zigzag Falls.

Little Zigzag Falls - Top of the falls

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Top of the falls

Catherine Creek Trail

Catherine Creek Trail

4.5(10 reviews)
15.8 mi

A simple yet beautiful trail that is fully paved and meanders down towards the river providing…read morevast, expansive views of the magnificent Columbia River. If you visit during wildflower season, it's even more beautiful with colorful wildflowers covering the fields. This trail is one of the few ADA accessible, which I really appreciate. While I do not use a wheelchair, I do have a disability and my legs can not handle the dirt and rock trails that are uneven. So having a paved path means that I can enjoy the gorgeous nature in this area. Wildflower season ranges from end of March to June, but every year is different based on the weather. This year (2022) was a very cold and rainy spring which delayed and prolonged the season. In April the hills were covered in yellow balsomroot and then blue lupine. End of May and heading into June, the next wave of flowers brings shades of blue from the delicate cornflowers with California poppies providing vibrant pops of orange Along the way. It's stunning! Wildflower season is my favorite season! Along the path there are many benches for those wanting to just relax and chill; some in the shade, some in the sun. There are also placards providing info on the area, the wildflowers, and the importance of pollination. The Catherine Creek paved trail is south of the parking area, which is a gravel section along Highway 8. Cross the street, the access is just past the porta potty. If you want the Catherine Creek Arch trail, it is on the same side as the parking, just head up the hill on the dirt trail. It's an easy 1.5 mile paved path that does have some declines and inclines as you make your way down, around, and then back up. If you head clockwise, you can see the creek to your left. If you decide to go off the paved path down to the creek, know there is a lot of poison oak and ticks. I stayed on the path, which is clear and well maintained. Note for wheelchair users - the path is wide and paved, but there are some areas where it slopes down and then makes it way back up. Another great thing about Catherine Creek Trail and Catherine Creek Arch Loop is that parking is free, no day pass required. The parking area is on the smaller side and on weekends, especially during wildflower time, it does get crowded. I went midweek and there was plenty of parking and I only came across two people on the path. Great for people of all ages and skills. For expert hikers, do the Catherine Arch first then finish with Catherine Creek.

The trailhead was pretty busy Saturday afternoon, but there's a decent amount of parking along Old…read moreHwy 8 at the head. There are trails on both sides of the Hwy...according to the trail map only two above 8 and one below within Catherine Creek, but another trail leads towards Coyote Wall. We only took one uphill loop this day. The trails are quite narrow and the footing mostly uneven and rocky. The views are stunning throughout, and the flowers are emerging. As the trails wind mostly through the open ridge there is almost no shade...sunblock sunblock! It's an enjoyable spot for a hike for sure, although for me not quite AS pretty as the nearby Labyrinth Trail. We will definitely return to complete the other trails...good times.

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Catherine Creek Trail - Such an interesting and beautiful landscape, no matter the season.

Such an interesting and beautiful landscape, no matter the season.

Catherine Creek Trail
Catherine Creek Trail

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Tamanawas Falls - hiking - Updated May 2026

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