Waterfall Magic in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington

Day 1: The trip begins with a 9:00 a.m. check in at our lodge, followed by a short orientation meeting. After the meeting, we will hike a spectacular loop trail, beginning at Multnomah Falls, the centerpiece of all the Gorge waterfalls with a 620 feet drop. Our return hike will take us past amazing Wahkeena Falls. (Total distance: 5.4 miles loop with elevation gain of 1550 feet) .

Day 2: We will begin with a 3.5 mile round trip with elevation gain of 570 feet to view Elowah Falls, a little known major waterfall, along with Upper McCord Creek waterfalls. After lunch, we will climb to the top of Beacon Rock (1.8 miles round-trip with an elevation gain of 600 feet) to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire gorge. This is the same view that Lewis and Clark saw when they came through the area more than 200 years ago. If the group desires, we could hike 2.4 miles round trip (with elevation gain of 500 feet) to visit Hardy Falls and the Pool of the Winds or we can visit the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington.

Day 3: Today we will hike up the fabulous classic, Eagle Creek Trail on the Oregon side, which has more waterfalls along it than any other Gorge trail. After reaching stunning Tunnel Falls, we return the same way. The entire trail is 12 miles round-trip with an elevation gain of 1200 feet; there will be opportunities for some or all of the group to make this a shorter hike as it is not a loop. An alternative activity for the afternoon could be a visit to the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery (home of the world famous Herman the 75 year old Sturgeon) or we can hike a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail at Dry Creek Falls (5.2 miles roundtrip).

Day 4: We'll hike the five-mile round trip with 550 feet elevation Oneonta-Horsetail Falls loop, including Triple Falls. We'll even be able to walk behind one of these falls. The afternoon could include the two mile roundtrip Wahclella Falls Trail or the two mile roundtrip Latourell Falls. For dinner tonight we will be eating at a popular local restaurant.

Day 5: On our last day together, we will need to check out of our rooms by 8:00 a.m. and then we'll eat breakfast, and be ready to leave by 9 a.m. If participants would like to visit one or two more waterfalls, we will pack all the luggage into one vehicle, which we will leave at our lodge and then carpool to Bridal Veil Falls (1.5 miles roundtrip, minimal elevation, rated easy). We may also be able to visit Coopey Falls, which is hidden away on the grounds of a convent of the Franciscan Sisters (entrance is by permission of the sisters and cannot be guaranteed in advance).

Day hikes will be determined by the leaders with the weather and participants’ needs taken into account.

Getting There

On Monday, May 22 at 9:00 a.m., we will meet at our lodge. Name of and directions to the lodge will be furnished to trip participants. The closest airport to fly into is Portland, OR. Rental car sharing and carpooling are strongly recommended. Not only does it share the cost but reduces our carbon footprint -- a future outing bulletin will include detailed driving directions and a roster of participants for arranging transportation. The trip will officially end Friday, May 26th at 9:00 a.m. (check out of rooms at 8:00 a.m.) There will be an optional short hike offered (see Day 5). Participants will carpool daily in their vehicles to drive to trailheads for hikes. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying at a peaceful retreat and conference center located on the south side of the Columbia River Gorge inside the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Participants will share a room with one other person and there are no bunk beds. All meals will be provided by the retreat center at their dining hall; lunches will be brown bag affairs with food items available at breakfast for participants to assemble their own lunches. Alternate dietary requests such as gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan/vegetarian can be accommodated with advance notice.

Trip Difficulty

While there will be one or two trails in the itinerary that are rated “Easy”, the majority are rated “Moderate” by trail guides. Daily hike lengths range from 5 to 12 miles, with up to 2,900 feet of elevation gain. Trails can be rough, rocky and rooty. Hiking poles are recommended. A program of conditioning done prior to the trip will assure you'll be able to do all the hikes.

Generally, only one set of trails will be offered each day, mostly rated moderate; the group will NOT be splitting into a “moderate trail group” and an “easy trail group” for the simple reason that there are not many “easy” trails in the Columbia River Gorge. There are non-hiking options that participants can do on their own if they do not want to hike the trails in the itinerary. These include the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, a paddlewheel boat ride on the Columbia River (not covered by the trip price), or visiting historic McMennamins Lodge.

As this is mid-spring and the peak time for waterfall flow, do come prepared for hiking in the rain with appropriate raingear and hiking boots. Some of the trails have steep drop-offs, but ample width for comfort; if you have difficulty with heights, this trip may not be for you. There is poison oak in the gorge –we will be on trail so should not be walking in it but if you have an increased sensitivity to it this may not be the trip for you.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment and clothing list will be sent to all approved participants. Basically you will need good raingear, waterproofed and well-broken-in hiking boots, layers of clothing for changing conditions, and hiking poles for rough, steep trails. You will be expected to carry a day pack with water, lunch, snacks, personal first aid items, raingear and clothes to layer with if needed. 

References

Maps:

• U.S. Forest Service Trails of the Columbia River Gorge

Books:

• Romano, Craig, Day Hiking Columbia River Gorge.
• Cook, Scott, Curious Gorge.

Websites:

• Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/forest/recreation
• Mt. Hood National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood/recreation/trails
• Friends of the Columbia Gorge: http://www.gorgefriends.org

Conservation

Sierra Club is actively involved in both conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and salaried staff, and encourages grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the club.

We will discuss the challenges that the Columbia River Gorge area has faced through the years. It has been a major transportation route for peoples and cargoes on their way to the Pacific Ocean. Logging, mining, shipping, and roads have all affected the environment. In 1986, dedicated citizens and politicians enabled the area to receive the designation of the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Area. Still the area faces challenges with a growing population, proposals for development such as the Columbia Gorge casino, wind turbines, and recent concerns about increased numbers of trains transporting coal.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and will operate under a permit from the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area