Difference between revisions of "Ramona Falls"
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
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[[Category:Mount Hood Area]] | [[Category:Mount Hood Area]] | ||
[[Category:Northwest Oregon]] | [[Category:Northwest Oregon]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Mt Hood National Forest]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Mount Hood Wilderness]] | ||
[[Category:Waterfalls]] | [[Category:Waterfalls]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Wilderness]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Geologic Features]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Trail Junctions]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Destinations]] | ||
[[Image:RamonaFallsCloseup.jpg|thumb|400px|The 'glowing effect' of Ramona Falls ''(Jeff Statt)'']] | [[Image:RamonaFallsCloseup.jpg|thumb|400px|The 'glowing effect' of Ramona Falls ''(Jeff Statt)'']] | ||
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* Hikes to this location: | * Hikes to this location: | ||
| − | **{{Hike ring|trailhead=Ramona Falls Trailhead|hike=Ramona Falls Hike|log=Ramona Falls Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest | + | **{{Hike ring|trailhead=Ramona Falls Trailhead|hike=Ramona Falls Loop Hike|log=Ramona Falls Loop Hike/Log|previous=Ramona Falls-Pacific Crest Trail Junction|next=Pacific Crest-Timberline Middle Trail Junction}} |
* Hikes including this location: | * Hikes including this location: | ||
| − | ** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Ramona Falls Trailhead|hike=Yocum Ridge Hike|log=Yocum Ridge Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest | + | ** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Timberline Lodge Trailhead|hike=Timberline Trail around Mount Hood Hike|log=Timberline Trail around Mount Hood Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest-Timberline Middle Trail Junction|next=Pacific Crest-Yocum Ridge Trail Junction}} |
| − | ** {{Hike ring|trailhead= | + | ** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Ramona Falls Trailhead|hike=Yocum Ridge Hike|log=Yocum Ridge Hike/Log|previous=Ramona Falls-Pacific Crest Trail Junction|next=Pacific Crest-Yocum Ridge Trail Junction}} |
| − | {{maplinkinfo|latitude=45. | + | ** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Ramona Falls Trailhead|hike=Muddy Fork Loop Hike|log=Muddy Fork Loop Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest-Yocum Ridge Trail Junction|next=Pacific Crest-Timberline Middle Trail Junction}} |
| − | * Height: | + | |
| − | + | {{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.37999|longitude=-121.77622}} | |
| + | * Height: 100 feet | ||
| + | * Elevation: 3250 feet at base | ||
=== Description === | === Description === | ||
| − | The dazzling, picturesque Ramona Falls stands like a fountain centerpiece at the front of a wooded cathedral. The water appears as if from nowhere a hundred feet above you and fans out like a wedding veil to the creek bed below. As it trickles and ricochets off the basaltic rock-face, it gives it a glowing, almost phosphorescent appearance. This illusion is especially noticeable when the alder canopy allows the evening sun rays to pass through, like a spotlight on a great work of art. Its wooded setting provides a cool escape from the summer heat and is an obvious resting spot before turning around or heading to points beyond. | + | The dazzling, picturesque Ramona Falls stands like a fountain centerpiece at the front of a wooded cathedral. The water appears as if from nowhere a hundred feet above you and fans out like a wedding veil to the creek bed below. As it trickles and ricochets off the basaltic rock-face, it gives it a glowing, almost phosphorescent, appearance. This illusion is especially noticeable when the alder canopy allows the evening sun rays to pass through, like a spotlight on a great work of art. Its wooded setting provides a cool escape from the summer heat and is an obvious resting spot before turning around or heading to points beyond. |
| − | This is a popular location however. Not only do day-hikers from Portland visit the area, but backpackers traversing the [[Timberline Trail around Mount Hood Hike|Timberline Trail | + | This is a popular location however. Not only do day-hikers from Portland visit the area, but backpackers traversing the [[Timberline Trail around Mount Hood Hike|Timberline Trail]] or [[Yocum Ridge Hike|Yocum Ridge]]) will pass through here, often taking up camp at a nearby site. |
| − | + | However, don't let the crowds deter you. This is required fare for outdoor enthusiasts, and it's on many guidebook authors' must-see lists! | |
| − | + | This is also the junction of the Timberline and Ramona Falls Trails, the latter coming up Ramona Creek from the Pacific Crest Trail. | |
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| − | + | ||
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| − | + | According to McArthur and McArthur's ''Oregon Geographic Names'', Ramona Falls was discovered and named by John E. Mills, a Forest Service employee who oversaw Civilian Conservation Corps crews constructing the Skyline Trail, later the Pacific Crest Trail, in the area. Mills found the waterfall in August 1933, while he was scouting ahead to fix the trail's course. He was engaged to be married and was enamored of the well-known love song "Ramona." The song and several silent and early talky movies were derived from the extremely popular romantic novel ''Ramona'' by Helen Hunt Jackson, a dedicated activist for Native American rights. The main character in the 1884 novel is Ramona, a half Indian woman who struggled against the racism of the time in Spanish Southern California. | |
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| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
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| − | === | + | === Camping === |
| − | + | On the one hand you wouldn't think to camp here because it's fairly close to the trailhead and is very popular, but there are a lot of places to camp in the vicinity. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | From Ramona Falls there are two trails - one goes west and the other northwest. The northwest immediately splits into two trails that are both going approximately northwest. The west trail, within about 0.1 miles of the falls, has several side trails going to campsites. These are probably the most used. You can get drinking water from below Ramona Falls. | |
| − | + | ||
| + | Keep going on the West trail about 0.4 miles to a junction, and then take the PCT South down to the Sandy River. In about 0.1 mile is a large flat area with a couple of campsites. Go uphill on a steep trail a short distance to the [[Upper Sandy Guard Station]]: there are places to camp up there. Alternatively, on the other side of the PCT, there's a side trail that leads to some other campsites. If you keep going a short distance more on the PCT, there's a nice clear stream for drinking water. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Keep going on the PCT towards the Sandy River, and there are many flat places that would make a good camp. A sudden increase in stream flow is always possible so maybe don't camp next to the river itself. If you cross the Sandy River, the crowds considerably diminish, and there are a couple of campsites on the other side. | ||
| + | |||
| + | On the northwest trail from Ramona Falls that follows along Ramona Creek, there are nice places to camp. This is nice when the weather is hot - it's much cooler next to Ramona Creek. In particular, there is a place where the trail has been routed away from the creek, and the old trail next to the creek hits some nice spots. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Between the two trails of the loop you can walk away from the trail and find nice spots. It's about 1.5 miles from Ramona Falls to the other end of the loop, and the two sides of the loop are between 0.1 and 0.4 miles apart so there are many possibilities. | ||
=== More Links === | === More Links === | ||
* [http://www.johann-sandra.com/hiking/ramona-falls.htm Johann and Sandra's Ramona Falls page] | * [http://www.johann-sandra.com/hiking/ramona-falls.htm Johann and Sandra's Ramona Falls page] | ||
* [http://www.nwhiker.com/MHNFHike18.html NWHiker.com Hike #18] | * [http://www.nwhiker.com/MHNFHike18.html NWHiker.com Hike #18] | ||
| + | * [http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/falls.php?num=3992 Ramona Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)] | ||
| + | * [http://www.oregon.com/recreation/ramona-falls Ramona Falls (Oregon.com)] | ||
| + | |||
=== Contributors === | === Contributors === | ||
* [[User:retiredjerry]] (creator) | * [[User:retiredjerry]] (creator) | ||
* [[User:jeffstatt]] | * [[User:jeffstatt]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:13, 27 September 2021
- Hikes to this location:
- Ramona Falls Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Hikes including this location:
- Timberline Trail around Mount Hood Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Yocum Ridge Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Muddy Fork Loop Hike (TH | <— —> | LOG)
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 45.37999, -121.77622
- Height: 100 feet
- Elevation: 3250 feet at base
Contents |
Description
The dazzling, picturesque Ramona Falls stands like a fountain centerpiece at the front of a wooded cathedral. The water appears as if from nowhere a hundred feet above you and fans out like a wedding veil to the creek bed below. As it trickles and ricochets off the basaltic rock-face, it gives it a glowing, almost phosphorescent, appearance. This illusion is especially noticeable when the alder canopy allows the evening sun rays to pass through, like a spotlight on a great work of art. Its wooded setting provides a cool escape from the summer heat and is an obvious resting spot before turning around or heading to points beyond.
This is a popular location however. Not only do day-hikers from Portland visit the area, but backpackers traversing the Timberline Trail or Yocum Ridge) will pass through here, often taking up camp at a nearby site.
However, don't let the crowds deter you. This is required fare for outdoor enthusiasts, and it's on many guidebook authors' must-see lists!
This is also the junction of the Timberline and Ramona Falls Trails, the latter coming up Ramona Creek from the Pacific Crest Trail.
According to McArthur and McArthur's Oregon Geographic Names, Ramona Falls was discovered and named by John E. Mills, a Forest Service employee who oversaw Civilian Conservation Corps crews constructing the Skyline Trail, later the Pacific Crest Trail, in the area. Mills found the waterfall in August 1933, while he was scouting ahead to fix the trail's course. He was engaged to be married and was enamored of the well-known love song "Ramona." The song and several silent and early talky movies were derived from the extremely popular romantic novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson, a dedicated activist for Native American rights. The main character in the 1884 novel is Ramona, a half Indian woman who struggled against the racism of the time in Spanish Southern California.
Camping
On the one hand you wouldn't think to camp here because it's fairly close to the trailhead and is very popular, but there are a lot of places to camp in the vicinity.
From Ramona Falls there are two trails - one goes west and the other northwest. The northwest immediately splits into two trails that are both going approximately northwest. The west trail, within about 0.1 miles of the falls, has several side trails going to campsites. These are probably the most used. You can get drinking water from below Ramona Falls.
Keep going on the West trail about 0.4 miles to a junction, and then take the PCT South down to the Sandy River. In about 0.1 mile is a large flat area with a couple of campsites. Go uphill on a steep trail a short distance to the Upper Sandy Guard Station: there are places to camp up there. Alternatively, on the other side of the PCT, there's a side trail that leads to some other campsites. If you keep going a short distance more on the PCT, there's a nice clear stream for drinking water.
Keep going on the PCT towards the Sandy River, and there are many flat places that would make a good camp. A sudden increase in stream flow is always possible so maybe don't camp next to the river itself. If you cross the Sandy River, the crowds considerably diminish, and there are a couple of campsites on the other side.
On the northwest trail from Ramona Falls that follows along Ramona Creek, there are nice places to camp. This is nice when the weather is hot - it's much cooler next to Ramona Creek. In particular, there is a place where the trail has been routed away from the creek, and the old trail next to the creek hits some nice spots.
Between the two trails of the loop you can walk away from the trail and find nice spots. It's about 1.5 miles from Ramona Falls to the other end of the loop, and the two sides of the loop are between 0.1 and 0.4 miles apart so there are many possibilities.
More Links
- Johann and Sandra's Ramona Falls page
- NWHiker.com Hike #18
- Ramona Falls (Northwest Waterfall Survey)
- Ramona Falls (Oregon.com)
Contributors
- User:retiredjerry (creator)
- User:jeffstatt