Angels rest hike12/21/2023 Winter is the best time to get a sense of the height of Wahkeena Falls, although it is hard not to miss the prettiness of the greenery. The full scale of the falls is hard to appreciate from any one vantage point because of the surrounding undergrowth that obscures it from view. Wahkeena Falls is 242 feet tall and falls over multiple tiers and cascades before reaching the viewpoint at its base. The trail from Wahkeena Falls to Fairy Falls connects two very different, but equally wonderful waterfalls. There are steep drop-offs that can be hazardous, especially on windy days. These andesite ledges offer panoramic views of the Columbia River and the slopes of the Gorge. Continue on the trail another 1.5 miles and you’ll reach an andesite plateau made from lavas of the Boring Volcanics. It takes a short muddy scramble to get to the base of the falls, but you’ll be rewarded with a photogenic waterfall as it makes its graceful plunge to Coopey Creek below. You’ll get a partial view of Coopey Falls from a overlook along the trail, but the better waterfall scenery will be at Upper Coopey Falls, about a mile into the hike. In any case, I hesitate to turn around and suggest the hike to Angel’s Rest myself, but it is a cool hike near Multnomah Falls with a pretty waterfall along the way, so here goes.Īlthough not generally thought of as a waterfall hike, the trail to the top Angel’s Rest has a lovely waterfall on the way to the famous viewpoint. And there are so many wonderful hikes in Oregon! I digress. While these are great hikes in beautiful places, they get really, really crowded. Soon I stopped asking because I kept getting the same answers: Angel’s Rest and Dog Mountain. When I moved to Portland years ago, I asked a lot of people for hiking recommendations. You can combine both short trails for a total distance of about a mile. You’ll see some picnic tables along the trail that can be good places to stop for a snack. If you take a left at the junction near the trailhead, you’ll follow a flat, even, paved trail to reach a couple of viewpoints that overlook the Columbia Gorge. The trail makes a couple of switchbacks, crosses a creek on a wooden footbridge, and then climbs a few stairs to reach a fenced viewpoint for the falls. If you keep right at the trail junction, you’ll follow an unpaved trail downhill to the stunning, two-tiered Bridal Veil Falls. Look for the trail junction near the restroom building by the parking lot. Both are good for beginners and family friendly. There are two trails that start from the Bridal Veil Trailhead, each about 0.5 miles in length. It’s a good destination if you have a some energy left after a longer hike or if you’re looking for a short excursion with a satisfying payoff. The trail to Bridal Veil Falls is one of the shortest and sweetest waterfall hikes near Multnomah Falls. Read more about the Latourell Falls hike here. This hike is a good place to spot trillium blooms in late spring. After admiring the waterfall, cross the footbridge in front of Upper Latourell Falls and take the return trail that follows Latourell Creek along its other side. Upper Latourell Falls is easier to explore up close and you can get behind the falls if you tread carefully over some slippery rocks. The trail continues to reach Upper Latourell Falls, a lovely 2-tiered waterfall that plunges over a smaller but equally intriguing basalt cliff. These columns suggest that basaltic lava cooled evenly as it hardened into rock. From here, you can take the loop trail to explore the base of Latourell Falls, remarkable for the basalt columns that make up the cliff near its base. You’ll find a viewpoint for the falls only a few steps away from the parking lot. The first is majestic Latourell Falls, which plunges 224 feet over a lichen-adorned basalt cliff. The hike at Latourell Falls connects two incredible waterfalls along Latourell Creek.
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