Tamanawas Falls

Tamanawas Falls

Mount Hood National Forest 

 

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 300 feet
 

About this Hike

One hundred foot tall Tamanawas Falls is less known than its rivals in the Gorge, but is equally as breathtaking. The water that spills over Tamanawas Falls is from Cold Spring Creek; a clear, cold creek that is a tributary to the Wild & Scenic East Fork Hood River. The hike is a quick 4 miles on relatively flat terrain. 

About this Area

This area, which includes nearby scenic Polallie Creek, hosts winter and summer steelhead runs. While you're noticing the creek's ideal steelhead habitat, be sure to look up and notice the area's diverse vegetation. The Tamanawas Falls area has remnant old-growth Pondersa pines along with a mix of Western Red Cedar and Douglas fir trees. Unfortunately, Tamanawas Falls was left out of the final Mount Hood Wilderness bill in 2009, so this special area remains unprotected. The forests surrounding Tamanawas Falls are proposed for Wilderness protections, the gold standard for protecting our public lands.

Come see why Oregon Wild has been working to permanently protect Tamanawas Falls for over a decade.

Getting There

1. Starting at the traffic light in Sandy (right past the ARCO station), drive approximately 40 miles through a Government Camp and exit right onto Highway 35 for Hood River. 

2. Continue for 15.4 miles, pass the Sherwood Campground, and then turn left into the parking area at the Tamanawas Falls Trailhead. 

 

Photo by Tula Top