Tamanawas Falls Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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- Start point: Tamanawas Falls Trailhead
- End point: Tamanawas Falls
- Trail log: Trail Log
- Hike type: Out and Back
- Distance: 3.4 miles
- Elevation gain: 560 feet
- High point: 3,445 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: Late spring into late fall
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
Tamanawas Falls forms a broad curtain where Cold Spring Creek thunders over a 110-foot lava cliff near the eastern base of Mount Hood. This hike along scenic Cold Spring Creek has been a traditional trek for families and can be enjoyed any time of the year with the right preparation. The waterfall is reduced to a thin veil in late summer and fall, but summer wildflowers and fall colors make the hike up the creek a worthy excursion. It's possible to see the falls in winter, when the spray freezes over and forms a massive ice grotto in the amphitheater, but snowshoes may be required.
The hike begins at the Tamanawas Falls Trailhead. From the large parking area, take the trail through the woods toward the roaring East Fork of the Hood River. You'll cross the raging stream on a massive log bridge. Turn right after crossing the bridge, and follow the East Fork Trail #650 north as it gradually climbs high above the river and highway. At the half-mile mark, pass a viewpoint and round the corner into Cold Spring Creek canyon, passing the East Fork-Tamanawas Falls Trail Junction. Keep left and drop down the slope towards a bridge over Cold Spring Creek. The continuation of the East Fork Trail heads north (right), and is an alternate route to the falls from the Polallie Trailhead (see the Tamanawas Falls Loop Hike).
After crossing the creek, the Tamanawas Falls Trail ambles upstream, always within sight of the rushing stream, which tumbles over a series of tiny waterfalls. Engelmann spruce, western red-cedar, and Douglas-fir form the forest canopy. At 1.5 miles, begin climbing above the creek. Pass the signed Tamanawas Falls-Tamanawas Tie Trail Junction on the right and look up to admire the andesite cliff faces. Below, Cold Spring Creek rushes through Sitka alder thickets. Switchback up through a large boulder field. Beyond the rockfall, the trail enters forest and soon arrives at a fine view upstream to Tamanawas Falls. From here, you can simply enjoy the falls from the trail, or follow one of the use paths for a closer look. Sure-footed hikers can climb the talus to the right of the falls to reach the grotto behind the falls.
To complete the hike, simply return along the same route.
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- $5 day pass, Northwest Forest Pass, or Interagency Pass required from May 15th to October 1st.
- Restrooms, picnic tables, information kiosk
- Dogs on leash
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
- Green Trails Maps: Mt. Hood, OR #462
- Adventure Maps: Mt. Hood Area
- Adventure Maps: Hood River, Oregon, Trail Map
- Adventure Maps: 44 Trails Area plus the best of the G.P.N.F.
- Geo-Graphics: Mount Hood Wilderness Map
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Mt. Hood National Forest
- Discover Your Northwest: Mt. Hood National Forest North: Trail Map & Hiking Guide
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service: Hood River Ranger District
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood Wilderness
- National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map: Mount Hood
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Tamanawas Falls Hike
- Tamanawas Falls 11/8/2020
- Tamanawas Falls 2.1.2019
- Tamanawas Falls Hike 12/22/18
- Tamanawas Falls (no) Snowshoe Hike • March 3
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Tamanawas Falls Hike
- Tamanawas Falls
- Huge rockslide on Tamanawas Falls Trail
Guidebooks that cover this destination
- Urban Hikes Oregon by Adam Sawyer
- Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon by Adam Sawyer
- Best Hikes With Kids: Oregon by Bonnie Henderson & Zach Urness
- Best Hikes with Children: Western & Central Oregon by Bonnie Henderson
- Day Hiking Mount Hood: A Year-Round Guide by Eli Boschetto
- Day Hikes in the Pacific Northwest by Don J. Scarmuzzi
- 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland by Paul Gerald
- 100 Hikes: Northwest Oregon by William L. Sullivan
- PDX Hiking 365 by Matt Reeder
- Wine Hiking Oregon by Jack Costa
- I Heart Oregon (& Washington) by Lisa D. Holmes
- Take a Hike: Portland by Barbara I. Bond
- Oregon: The Creaky Knees Guide by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Day Hike! Columbia Gorge by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Portland Hikes by Art Bernstein & Andrew Jackman
- Hiking Oregon's Mount Hood & Badger Creek Wilderness by Fred Barstad
- Best Short Hikes in Northwest Oregon by Rhonda & George Ostertag
- 50 Hikes in Oregon by David L. Anderson
- 105 Virtual Hikes of the Mt. Hood National Forest by Northwest Hiker
- Oregon's Columbia River Gorge: Camping & Hiking by Tom Stienstra & Sean Patrick Hill
- Pacific Northwest Hiking by Scott Leonard & Sean Patrick Hill
- Oregon Hiking by Sean Patrick Hill
- 62 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- 70 Hiking Trails: Northern Oregon Cascades by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Waterfall Lover’s Guide: Pacific Northwest by Gregory A. Plumb
- Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest by David L. Anderson
- Canine Oregon by Lizann Dunegan
More Links
- Tamanawas Falls Trail #650 A (USFS)
- East Fork Trail #650 (USFS)
- Tamanawas Falls Hike (Northwest Hiker)
- 8.13.19 Tamanawas Falls (Tyler Mode)
- Tamanawas Falls: A Mount Hood Hike for the Whole Family (Paul Gerald)
- Hike to Tamanawas Falls (The Outbound Collective)
- Tamanawas Falls (Hiking Project)
- Tamanawas Falls Hike (Outdoor Project)
- Tamanawas Falls Snowshoe (Outdoor Project)
- Winter Hiking to Mount Hood's Tamanawas Falls (Traveler Ted)
- Tamanawas Falls (World of Waterfalls)
- Tamanawas Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)
Page Contributors
- Splintercat (Tom Kloster) (primary)
- Greglief (Greg Lief) (additional photos)