Wahclella Falls is located along the Columbia River Gorge near the Bonneville Dam, and is on the south side of I-84. In 1915, it received its name from the Mazama Mountaineering Club. They named the falls, Wahclella Falls, after a village of nearby Native Americans. However, the United States Geological survey still has the recorded name of the waterfall as Tanner Creek Falls. Most waterfalls exhibit some seasonality of water flow or lack thereof.  Wahclella is unique because it does not suffer from seasonal flow; because, Tanner Creek is sourced primarily by an underground spring.

The hike to Wahclella is 1.8-miles roundtrip, which was an easy afternoon hike for the four of us, two adults and two tweens. There are narrow areas along the trail, steep drops, and it can be very slippery. So, be sure to wear the proper shoes, and don’t take anyone who may not be able to handle the conditions. Be sure to hold young children’s hands, for safety, if you bring them on this very pleasant hike.

The lower, and most easily visible segment of the falls, stands 60 feet in height. It pours out of a narrow gorge. This portion is the longest drop in the falls. Wahcella is a total height of 350 feet and has multiple tiers. The collection pool at the bottom is surrounded by natural walls that form a semi-circle around it. It creates a lot of mist, and rainbows on a sunny day. This only contributes to the natural beauty of the falls.

On the trail there are two different bridges to cross, a stream and many little falls along the way. We saw people that climbed down an embankment to have lunch next to the stream. We climbed on the giant rocks near the main fall area. The weather was nice, but we were glad to have layered our clothing. Some people swam in the pool below the falls, but the water was too cold for me even though it was pleasant weather wise.

Please remember that a National Forest Pass is required at a cost of approximately $5 per day. Your vehicle can be ticketed if you do not have the pass visibly displayed. The National Forest does have a few free days each year. National Public Lands Day September 26, 2009 is a free day. Veteran's Day November 11, 2009 is also a free usage day.  There is NO restroom available anywhere in the area. So, be sure to use facilities prior to arriving at the trail head. If you have the time, this is the perfect spot for an afternoon picnic. We had a great afternoon, got some good exercise, fresh air, and time with our tween girls, all in a spectacular setting.