23. Tamanawas Falls

Summary

Length                                1 ¾ miles one way or 5-mile loop

Difficulty                             Easy

Season                               Late spring to autumn

Elevation range                2,920 – 3,570 feet

Human imprint                  Very high to falls (hikers); moderate on rest of loop (Highway 35 nearby)

Information                       Mount Hood National Forest (Hood River Ranger District)

Primary old growth features

Easily accessible, dry mixed-conifer old growth.

Description

Thundering Tamanawas Falls attracts a steady stream of summer visitors, offering an easily accessible riparian pathway to its scenic splendor. The direct route to the falls parallels Cold Spring Creek, a rollicking tributary with numerous appealing small falls. Hikers are shaded most of the way in streamside forest, most notably by large Douglas-fir. Hikers can return from the falls on the same path to the trailhead, but making a loop of it adds diversity to the forest ensemble and spreads out trail use.

From the Tamanawas Falls trailhead, cross the bridge over the East Fork Hood River, and turn right on the East Fork Trail (650). In about a half-mile, after passing a few notable Douglas-fir, turn left on the Tamanawas Falls Trail (650A) and cross the bridge over Cold Spring Creek. Follow the well-worn creekside path to a junction with the Tamanawas Tie Trail (650B). Stay left and cross a rocky boulder-patch towards the falls.

The trail soon finds 100’-tall Tamanawas Falls dropping abruptly over an andesite ledge. The curtain of water throws up everchanging clouds of mist. The falls are impressive in any season, and well worth a picnic break. Large western white pine and Engelmann spruce stand along the trail near the falls.

To take the loop back, return to the last junction you encountered before the falls and take a left onto the Tamanawas Tie Trail. Head northeast up the slope past impressive Douglas-fir and orange-barked ponderosa pine until topping out at the junction with the Elk Meadows Trail (645). Take a right and continue northeast across the flat and then downslope for a mile and a quarter to a trail junction near the highway. Although most of this segment is in younger forest there are old western white pine, ponderosa pine, western larch, and even a couple of large western redcedar along the way.

Turn right at the junction and head south on the East Fork Trail back towards the trailhead. A left turn heads straight down to the Polallie Trailhead, an alternative starting point for the loop. This final segment of the loop starts in young forest and ends in old forest before recrossing Cold Spring Creek for the last half mile to the trailhead.

30 years of change

No significant change, other than a vastly increased rate of visitation.

How to get there

From Highway 35, turn west into the large parking lot for the Tamanawas Falls Trailhead approximately 23 ½ miles south of Hood River, just north of Sherwood CG. The trailhead is also 14-3/4 miles north of the Highway 26/Highway 35 junction.nction.