Difference between revisions of "Wauna Point Hike"
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Wauna Point is often confused with nearby [[Wauna Viewpoint]]. Imagine that! However, they're hard to confuse once you're there — Wauna Viewpoint is an easily reached spot about 1,000 feet above Bonneville Dam, while Wauna Point is the ridge above Bonneville, requiring much more time and effort to walk up — and the final section is not for pets, beginners, or the poorly equipped. Fortunately, you don't have to tackle this bushwhack/scramble in order to find a pleasant viewpoint that doesn't see a lot of visitors. | Wauna Point is often confused with nearby [[Wauna Viewpoint]]. Imagine that! However, they're hard to confuse once you're there — Wauna Viewpoint is an easily reached spot about 1,000 feet above Bonneville Dam, while Wauna Point is the ridge above Bonneville, requiring much more time and effort to walk up — and the final section is not for pets, beginners, or the poorly equipped. Fortunately, you don't have to tackle this bushwhack/scramble in order to find a pleasant viewpoint that doesn't see a lot of visitors. | ||
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Go up the Tanner Butte Trail (401). The hike now takes on a classic Gorge quality, starting with no less than four unnamed waterfalls, the first two at the confluence of two creeks (neither one Tanner Creek, as it happens). Expect to work your way across streams at least twice, when the creek pretty much becomes the trail for brief moments. More power-lines will let you know that you're about to approach another intersection with a service road — once there (around 1,500 feet), look to your left, where trail #401 continues up into the forest. | Go up the Tanner Butte Trail (401). The hike now takes on a classic Gorge quality, starting with no less than four unnamed waterfalls, the first two at the confluence of two creeks (neither one Tanner Creek, as it happens). Expect to work your way across streams at least twice, when the creek pretty much becomes the trail for brief moments. More power-lines will let you know that you're about to approach another intersection with a service road — once there (around 1,500 feet), look to your left, where trail #401 continues up into the forest. | ||
Revision as of 14:13, 20 November 2008
- Start point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
- End point: Wauna Point
- Trail Log: Trail Log
- Hike Type: Out and Back
- Distance: 9.4 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 3380 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Seasons: Apr-Nov
- Family Friendly: No
- Backpackable: Yes
- Crowded: No
Contents |
Hike Description
Wauna Point is often confused with nearby Wauna Viewpoint. Imagine that! However, they're hard to confuse once you're there — Wauna Viewpoint is an easily reached spot about 1,000 feet above Bonneville Dam, while Wauna Point is the ridge above Bonneville, requiring much more time and effort to walk up — and the final section is not for pets, beginners, or the poorly equipped. Fortunately, you don't have to tackle this bushwhack/scramble in order to find a pleasant viewpoint that doesn't see a lot of visitors.
From the Tooth Rock Trailhead, start by walking east on the paved Historic Columbia River Highway Trail. After 2/10 of a mile, you'll come to a junction with a trail going up to the right marked by a sign that says "Tanner Butte Trail." Start up the hill for another 4/10 of a mile until the trail splits. Follow the trail to the right. At this junction is a sign marked "Trail 400/Wauna Pt/Tanner Butte Tr."
Head up this steep trail for roughly 100 feet to Tanner Creek Road. This is a 4-way junction. Look for a sign that says "Gorge Trail 400" with arrows pointing left and right. Follow the trail (which is as wide as a road and goes uphill) to the right. When this road splits, bear left (the road on the right will have two signs marking it trail #400 and 034). After that, you will cross several service roads. Continue straight on the road you're on (Road 777) until you reach the old Tanner Butte Trail #401 trailhead.
Go up the Tanner Butte Trail (401). The hike now takes on a classic Gorge quality, starting with no less than four unnamed waterfalls, the first two at the confluence of two creeks (neither one Tanner Creek, as it happens). Expect to work your way across streams at least twice, when the creek pretty much becomes the trail for brief moments. More power-lines will let you know that you're about to approach another intersection with a service road — once there (around 1,500 feet), look to your left, where trail #401 continues up into the forest.
There aren't a lot of views as payback for your efforts so far, but you can look for orchids blooming in June, mostly varieties of coralroot. You also might be able to spot Munra Point through the trees to the west. The trail along this section is clear, pleasant, and moderately graded, with a couple of seasonal stream crossings. You'll crest a ridge around 2,000 feet and then continue uphill on the other side of it, with the Wauna Point ridge just visible through the trees to the east.
After hiking 2.2 miles through the forest from the Tanner Butte Trailhead, you'll come across a campsite (2,780 feet) — this also marks the junction with the unmaintained Wauna Point Trail #401D. Head along the trail past the campsite, where you'll see a sign for Wauna Point, a cairn, and another sign reading "Trail Not Maintained." The trail is easy enough to track, albeit with some overgrowth and deadfall.
After about 0.4 miles, you'll come to a sign reading "Wauna Point 1300 FT", which raises all sorts of questions. For starters, the elevation here is much closer to 2,600 feet. And this sign really marks the intersection between two unmaintained trails than Wauna Point itself (which is arguably either the outermost promontory of the ridge or the rocky, semi-timbered ridge itself).
To follow the classic route, turn left and work your way downhill, passing (actually, crawling) under a fallen tree at one point. From here, caution is critical — a brief section of the trail is nearly washed out along a steep slope, making it slow-going and challenging for all but the most experienced hikers. Journeying beyond this point is simply a scramble along the ridge itself, where suggestions of the "trail" exist at most points, but can be difficult to discern at other times. When in doubt, turn back. While partially obstructed views exist here, they certainly are not among the best in the Gorge, and the risks should be minimized.
Back uphill, if you choose to turn right at the "Wauna Point 1300 FT" sign, your work will be much easier, and possibly more rewarding — follow the unmaintained trail for about 200 yards to a flat, somewhat open area at the top of a cliff, where you can enjoy views of Cascade Locks and Mt. Adams, and even Mt. Rainier to the north when visibility is unlimited.
Maps
- Maps: Hike Finder
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Wauna Point Hike
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Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Wauna Point Hike
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Guidebooks that cover this hike
- 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
- See more information at Describe the link here
Contributors
- Stevefromdodge (creator)
- (RSDW)