Tamanawas Falls
If one can swing it, a midweek waterfall adventure is definitely recommended. I recently realized that our unique place in history, dealing with COVID19 and all, means I have practically grown-up kids just a bit too idle at home. Some of them have jobs, but part time. One is about to start at Portland State, but online. Another (our exchange student) has finished high school and awaits her return to her home country once the border reopens. Sounds like a great recipe to knock off some of those bucket list hikes.
While in the Hood River area this past weekend I came across a book, Curious Gorge. After pouring through it, I had to have my own copy; my own treasure map, really. So Tamanawas Falls marks my first use of this guidebook and it already has paid for itself.
Originally I used AllTrails to guide me to the very easy-to-find highway pull-off trailhead. But after squeezing between two cars in a completely packed parking lot (and this was a warm mid-day hike arriving at late lunch time) I remembered to read the guidebook and find the local insider way of doing things. Happily, we pulled right out of that parking lot and headed to a nearly empty spot that allowed us to add on a bit more mileage and avoid 90% of the crowd. It was only our last 1.5 miles in which we encountered other people. The rest of our hike was peaceful and we didn’t have to keep giving way, struggle with buffs/masks, etc.
Once we reached the falls it was really fun to explore behind, getting completely soaked in the process. Unfortunately I didn’t find any caves, though I came prepared with a flashlight just in case. The walk back per guidebook recommendation was an easy downhill through tall forested pines, and shorter than our arrival half.
Since we had arrived from HWY 24, south of the trailhead, we were treated to a lovely view of Mt Hood once the clouds cleared up.
