Wahclella Falls
Tanner Creek to falls
The Forest Service lists trail access through the parking lot closed October 21 and October 23 for pothole repairs. This is a dated parking-access closure, not an indefinite closure of the waterfall route.
Checked 2026-10-23 · US Forest Service · Wahclella Falls ↗The Route
The Tanner Creek trail enters a forested gorge and reaches Wahclella Falls.
- Tanner Creek TrailheadGated-road approach
- Intake DamHatchery water intake
- Tributary BridgeNarrowing canyon
- Falls LoopUpper and lower branches
- Creekside ReturnShared lower trail
Tanner Creek Canyon
The approach starts on a gated road beside Tanner Creek, passing an intake dam serving Bonneville Fish Hatchery. It enters the narrowing canyon and Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness. A tributary waterfall is visible at the first bridge. About 0.7 mile in, the trail forks into the upper and lower portions of the falls-area loop.
Falls Loop & Trailhead
The loop reaches the waterfall and its large splash pool, then returns to the shared creekside approach. The Forest Service lists 2.4 miles for the outing and documents substantial post-2017-fire slope damage and a replacement bridge installed in 2020. The trailhead has no potable water; portable toilets are seasonal. A vehicle day-use fee or accepted recreation pass applies, with no cash or check payment at the trailhead.
Terrain Along the Route
Creek-side trail, bridges and the short upper loop reach the waterfall basin.
The Forest Service lists 2.4 miles out and back; older guide totals differ. The dated parking-access notice is separate. Reference Set: 2026-10-23.
Weather
Current forecasts open at the providers below. NWS forecasts describe a terrain grid cell, not an exact summit.
Access
Wahclella Trailhead, Columbia River Gorge, OR
Trailhead & Approach
Use the Wahclella Falls trailhead near the Bonneville Dam interchange on I-84.
Parking & Entry
The route guide lists Northwest Forest Pass or accepted federal pass. This is a reference listing, not a live parking or permit availability check.
Route Choice
The falls return route, not the longer Wauna Viewpoint combination.
Facilities & Payment
The trailhead has no potable water and only seasonal portable toilets. The Forest Service lists a vehicle day-use fee or accepted recreation pass; cash and checks are not accepted at the trailhead.
Source information checked 2026-10-23. Road snapshots are dated separately.
Reports
Wahclella Agency Notices
Trailhead payment, facilities and access notices, separate from dated visitor observations.
Recent Trip Reports
Open the route-specific WTA reports and compare the hiking date, endpoint and reported conditions.
Official Access & Updates
Open the official page for current access notices, permits and seasonal information for this destination.
Links open the publishers’ report pages. Reports are not automatically imported or filtered to a forecast date.