Munra Point from Wahclella Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start Point: Wahclella Falls Trailhead
- End Point: Munra Point
- Trail Log : Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 5.6 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 1800 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult (scramble, exposure)
- Seasons: Year Round
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
This hike up to Munra Point is one of the funnest in the Columbia River Gorge if you enjoy a hand-over-foot-scramble! Your reward will be one of the best viewpoints in the Gorge, and a very unique three-ridgeline formation. There is one unmaintained trail to the summit, but there are two approaches to the start of the trail. One approach starts at the John B Yeon Trailhead and passes Elowah Falls. The other one, described here, has a shorter initial approach but unapologetically parallels the freeway the entire way.
The hike starts at the Wahclella Falls Trailhead, but not on the Wahclella Falls Trail. Backtrack toward the freeway and turn left on the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail. Cross Tanner Creek on the old highway bridge and look closely for a dirt path diverted from the road. You should see a sign indicating Trail #400. Turn left on this trail and head up a small hill on Trail #400. At first you parallel pretty Tanner Creek as you head south a ways and gain elevation. After one switchback and about 200 feet of elevation gain you wrap back around the front of the ridge and level out.
From here, the scenery is pretty lackluster. Before long the trail picks up the powerline service road. There's a lot of english ivy clinging to trees and power line poles as the road gets better and closer to the freeway. The road ends at a freeway access point (which could be used to shorten the hike). From here, follow the trail that continues westerly. This section of trail can be brushy at times and is famous for overgrown blackberry bushes (Long pants are recommneded late in the season)
The freeway is close all through here, but the hike is more pleasant with a good mp3 player! Just before the freeway bridge over Moffett Creek, the trail drops steeply for about 25 feet. At the base of this drop, you'll find an unmaintained trail heading up to the south. About 50 feet up the trail is a sign reading "Trail not maintained". If you start down to the trail bridge over Moffett Creek, you've gone a bit too far.
The unofficial Munra Point Trail starts out easy but soon starts one of the steepest climbs in the Gorge. You will welcome the quiet as you start south away from the freeway and begin winding through the young forest of oaks and Douglas firs. Watch for ripening huckleberries in late summer, but poison oak as well! For a non-maintained trail, this one stays in pretty good shape, albeit a few downed trees here and there. In fact, you may find it in better shape than your approach on trail #400! On a quiet day you'll be serenaded by Moffet Creek, which is becoming more distant to your right(west).
After about a 1/4 mile of easy-to-moderate hiking you begin to see a rock wall to your left. This rock wall marks the spot where trail starts to get steep. Through this next section, there are a few slides that effectively cut the switchbacks. If you see what looks like a trail junction you'll want to take the "low road" each time - as it will switchback shortly. (The fact that this trail is not maintained makes it that much more important for hikers to not cut switchbacks - it causes dangerous slide conditions and speeds up erosion). That being said, there are quite a few spots where "straight up" is your only option, as you cling to tree roots and rocks. Fun on a dry day, but perhaps a bit treacherous in muddy conditions.
It's not too much longer before you get your first viewpoint. There is a bit of a vertical meadow here that will be vertigo-inducing for some! Your perspective is due-west overlooking the Moffet Creek drainage. This viewpoint may give you the false impression that you are close to the top, but in reality you are probably a bit under half-way from the trail junction to the summit.
From here to the summit is one of the funnest trail sections in the Gorge - and one of the steepest! It's a mix of tight switchbacks like those seen on the Starvation Ridge Trail, rock scrambles and ridges, like those seen on the Ruckle Ridge trail, and at least one ten foot section that borders on rock-climbing!
There are viewpoints all along this stretch so those who want to give this a try but are a bit cautious - you could turn back at any point before breaching your comfort level and not feel slighted.
There are also several false summits as you go. Never is the trail too hard to follow. There will be points where you get frustrated with your trekking poles getting in the way as you climb from tree root to rock. You may want to strap them to your pack rather than stash them along the trail, as they become very handy on the way back down!
The final approach is completely exposed and not for the faint of heart! While it never dangerous per se, you do want to stay on the trail and take it slow. Dog owners are strongly cautioned.
Finally you reach the summit and are treated to three distinct ridgelines and your first views to the East. There is a knob of sorts at the vertex of the three spines. Some may feel compelled to scoot up this little knob to make the summit "official". It's not recommended, however...there is little room for error here. For a description of the summit, see the Munra Point page.
There are some Mazama hikes each year that take you across the rocky spine heading due south. You shouldn't have trouble spotting the faint trail that winds back there.
After taking a much deserved break and enjoying one of the nicest viewpoints in the Gorge, start heading back down. Take it slow in places, as the down is often more unsafe than the up! Even taking it slow you'll find yourself beating your climb time by about a 1/3! It may take you as little as 45 minutes to get back down to the trail junction with #400.
The Historic Columbia River Highway Trail parallels the freeway on the north side from Tanner Creek to Moffett Creek. While it seems like this would make a loop possible, the only way to cross the westbound lanes of I-84 is to walk across the high speed traffic lanes. This portion of the historic path is little more than a modern paved bike path anyway, with little historic value other than the Moffett Creek Bridge.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead
Trip Reports
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Related Discussions / Q&A
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Hiking in the Columbia River Gorge - 2nd Edition - Russ Scheider
- 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
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- Stevefromdodge (creator)