Wahkeena Falls

Wahkeena Falls
Location	Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Coordinates	45.5745°N 122.1276°W / 45.5745; -122.1276
Type	Tiered
Elevation	560 feet (170 m)
Total height	242 feet (72 m)
Number of drops	6

Wahkeena Falls is the name of a 242 foot (73 m) waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge in the state of Oregon. Spellings of this word are dubious, because the word is merely an English transliteration of a Pacific Northwest Native American (reportedly Yakama) phrase meaning "most beautiful".

From farther left, showing upper falls

Wahkeena Falls

The waterfall is unlike Multnomah Falls, in that the water does not just 'plunge' into the ground. Wahkeena Falls, rather, has a more subtle cascading flow. These falls have been featured in numerous travel guides and in photography books.

Wahkeena Falls is along the Historic Columbia River Highway, about 13 miles (21 km) east of Troutdale, Oregon. A short hike uphill from the parking lot at the base leads to the stone bridge that crosses the main part of the falls. That trail continues on east to Multnomah Falls, the next falls down the road.

Wahkeena Falls Footbridge

Wahkeena Falls Bridge on the Historic Columbia River Highway

This waterfall is visible directly from the Historic Columbia River Highway. Visitors often slow down to view this cascading waterfall directly from their car.

References

• Plumb, Gregory A. (2005), A Waterfall Lover's Guide to the Pacific Northwest (4th ed.), Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, http://www.mymaps.com/nwfalls/toc.htm