|
Wauna Falls is the first major waterfall that occurs within the Eagle Creek drainage as one progresses upstream. Unfortunately, the falls are essentially entirely obstructed from trailside view. Slivers of the chain of plunges and cascades can be seen through holes between the trees, but for the most part, one has to actually ford Eagle Creek in order to view the falls in any acceptable manor. Furthering the inconspicuosity is the fact that as the trail passes the falls across the canyon, it climbs along one of its most interesting sections - the first section of trail blasted into the side of the canyon wall, and added to that several small streams spray down from the cliffs above creating a wall of showers all along the trail. Its no wonder more people don't focus on the waterfall on the other side of the valley.
- Wauna Falls is the Unofficial name of this waterfall.
This fall is located along the Eagle Creek trail in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area. Driving east along Interstate 84, exit at the Eagle Creek exit, one mile past the Bonneville Dam exit (immediately after a short tunnel). The parking area is only accessible to eastbound traffic (if you are driving west, exit and turn around at Exit 40 (Bonneville Dam), then to return to your westbound direction, do the same at Cascade Locks). Turn right at the first stop and proceed to the trailhead in about 1/2 mile. Park and begin up the very creatively constructed trail. In places, the cliffs have been blasted out so that the trail could bypass several deep canyons. Wauna Falls are located about 1 mile from the trailhead on the opposite side of the creek (at a large clearing area). Chances are you won't see it. Seeing the falls clearly involves scrambling down to Eagle Creek the fording the creek (river as it may be) and climbing up to the bottom of the final drop of the falls. I don't recommend this unless Eagle Creek is running very low.
|
