Difference between revisions of "Devils Rest via Wahkeena Hike"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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{{Start point|Wahkeena Trailhead}} | {{Start point|Wahkeena Trailhead}} | ||
| − | * End Point: [[ | + | * End Point: [[Devils Rest]] |
* Trail Log: [[Devil's Rest via Wahkeena Hike/Log | Trail Log]] | * Trail Log: [[Devil's Rest via Wahkeena Hike/Log | Trail Log]] | ||
* Hike Type: Dogbone (Out to a loop and back) | * Hike Type: Dogbone (Out to a loop and back) | ||
Revision as of 00:11, 18 January 2019
- Start point: Wahkeena Trailhead
- End Point: Devils Rest
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Dogbone (Out to a loop and back)
- Distance: 7.5 miles
- Elevation gain: 2550 feet
- High point: 2,435 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Year round (periods of snow during winter)
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Initially yes, but quieter as you go higher
Contents |
Hike Description
NOTICE: This trail was impacted by the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017. The Forest Service has reopened the trail, but warns hikers to enter at their own risk because of hazardous conditions, including loose rocks, falling trees and limbs, debris flows, and damaged or blocked trails. There may be vegetation carpeting the trail tread in places. Less experienced hikers should consider an alternative to this hike while these conditions exist, and all hikers with dogs or small children should consider safer alternatives. Note that the loop option described below is not permitted at this time as it uses unofficial trails that have not been assessed.
The Wahkeena Trail can be explored at many levels, depending on your fitness level. A couple of shorter hikes that are possible are the Wahkeena Falls Hike and the Fairy Falls Hike. This hike goes all of the way to Devils Rest, a forested Boring volcano 850 feet above Angels Rest. You'll see a couple of pretty waterfalls, get some Columbia River Gorge views, and appreciate a few large old growth trees in the Wahkeena Bowl. You can return the way you came or, if you're up for a loop using the user network below Devils Rest, you can come back via the Angels Rest Trail. Bear in mind that the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire affected almost the entire area of this hike and parts of the optional user loop have not been maintained.
Walk up to the viewing plaza just above the parking area on the highway. You can appreciate the tiers of Wahkeena Falls from here, but in spring and summer, the view is partially obscured by trees leafed out. Head to your right, and cross a footbridge over Wahkeena Creek. Then make a traverse on a paved trail into Douglas-fir/hemlock woods before making a switchback up. The trail traverses to cross the stone bridge in front of Wahkeena Falls, which may douse you with heavy spray. After admiring the falls, continue west the former junction with the closed Perdition Trail at a large Douglas-fir. From here, the pathway, which is still paved, rises in 11 stone-walled switchbacks to a junction. Take the short spur to the right to reach Lemmons Viewpoint, named after a fire fighter who lost his life in the line of duty. Vistas extend across the Columbia River to Cape Horn, the Prindle Cliffs, Archer Mountain, Hamilton Mountain, and Beacon Rock (For a description of a short but sketchy off trail excursion near the viewpoint, see The Necktie).
This is the end of the pavement. Enter a defile with a massive dome of basalt to your right. Sometimes a seasonal waterfall splashes down this face. Cross a footbridge, and hike up the west side of Wahkeena Creek. Recross the creek on a new footbridge at an open mossy face. Six more steep switchbacks take you up rushing Wahkeena Creek and cedar-shaded Wahkeena Canyon. You'll arrive at Fairy Falls, a beautiful fan waterfall right next to the trail. Day hikers often tarry here to take photos and imbibe the positive ions. Now make five switchbacks up a burned slope with the conifer canopy still intact to reach the junction with the Vista Point Trail #419.
Turn left here and take the 419 trail. You'll be ascending about a mile to the next junction. Pass a couple of large but scorched Douglas-firs, and make a traverse in shady Douglas-fir/hemlock woods. The spur to Vista Point leads left, but there are limited views. Round the nose of a ridge, and keep rising. On a clear day, you can see the top of Silver Star Mountain and also Sturgeon Rock peeking above Archer Mountain. Reach the upper junction with the Wahkeena Trail at about 1600' elevation.
Go right here and, in 25 yards, come to the junction with the Devils Rest Trail #420C.
You can go back the way you came, but it's more interesting to make a loop by starting down on the Foxglove Trail. This trail isn't on many maps and it's maintained by volunteers (like us). It's well signed and usually pretty obvious. From the Devil's Rest summit, go back the way you came about 100 feet to the signed junction. The Foxglove Trail goes right. About 4/10 of a mile down the trail, you'll come to a junction in a boggy area filled with large berry plants. There are signs high on a couple of nearby trees. To take the shorter, recommended hike, turn right here. The straight path would take you to Angel's Rest. You'll continue dropping on the Foxglove Trail. In about another half mile, you'll come to the Angel's Rest Trail #415 and hang a right.
The Angel's Rest trail is all flat and downhill, until a short, final climb to Wahkeena Spring. You'll cross Mist Creek on a small log bridge, pass Wahkeena Spring (a great resting spot), and you'll come to the Wahkeena Trail #420. Turn left, walk down past the Vista Ridge Trail junction, Fairy Falls, Lemmon's Viewpoint and on to your car.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- None
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Devil's Rest from Wahkeena
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Devil's Rest from Wahkeena
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Day Hike! Columbia Gorge, by Seabury Blair, Jr.
- Afoot and Afield Portland/Vancouver, by Douglas Lorain
- 35 Hiking Trails, Columbia River Gorge, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Columbia River Gorge, 42 Scenic Hikes, by Don & Roberta Lowe
- Hiking the Columbia River Gorge - 1st and 2nd Editions, by Russ Schneider
- 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon - 3rd Edition, by William L Sullivan
More Links
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)