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Difference between revisions of "Wauna Point Hike"

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[[Image:WaunaPoint01_rsdw.jpg|thumb|400px|View of Mt. Adams and Cascade Locks from the upper ridge of Wauna Point. (<I>RSDW</I>)]]
 
[[Image:WaunaPoint01_rsdw.jpg|thumb|400px|View of Mt. Adams and Cascade Locks from the upper ridge of Wauna Point. (<I>RSDW</I>)]]
 
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[[Image:WaunaPoint02_rsdw.jpg|thumb|300px|One of several unnamed waterfalls on the Tanner Butte Trail, en route to Wauna Point. (<I>RSDW</I>)]]
 
[[Image:WaunaPoint02_rsdw.jpg|thumb|300px|One of several unnamed waterfalls on the Tanner Butte Trail, en route to Wauna Point. (<I>RSDW</I>)]]
 
[[Image:WaunaPoint04_rsdw.jpg|thumb|300px|Overlook of Bonneville Dam from Forest Service Road 777, en route to Wauna Point. (<I>RSDW</I>)]]
 
[[Image:WaunaPoint04_rsdw.jpg|thumb|300px|Overlook of Bonneville Dam from Forest Service Road 777, en route to Wauna Point. (<I>RSDW</I>)]]
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{{Start point|Tooth Rock Trailhead}}
 
{{Start point|Tooth Rock Trailhead}}
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* Trail Log: [[Wauna Point Hike/Log|Trail Log]]
 
* Trail Log: [[Wauna Point Hike/Log|Trail Log]]
 
* Hike Type: Out and Back
 
* Hike Type: Out and Back
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{{Distance|9.4 miles}} round trip
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{{Distance|9.8 miles}} round trip
 
{{Elevation gain|3380 feet}}
 
{{Elevation gain|3380 feet}}
 
{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
 
{{Difficulty|Moderate}}
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* Crowded: No
 
* Crowded: No
  
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=== Hike Description ===
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=== Trailhead options ===
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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 &#151; 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 &#151; and the final section is not for children, pets, or beginners. Fortunately, you don't have to tackle this scramble-route in order to find a pleasant viewpoint that doesn't see a lot of visitors.
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The Wauna Point hike starts in the [[Tooth Rock Trailhead]]. After parking, walk back toward the entrance to the parking area, where a water tank and a gate (often closed) mark the start of Forest Service Road 777. The first part of the hike will be up this road for more than two miles, crossing under two power-lines and passing two intersections with Gorge Trail 400 (which follows Forest Service Road 777 for a brief distance &#151; taking 400 east will lead to Wauna Viewpoint and Eagle Creek). An unsigned service road also switches off from 777 not much father past this, but you will want to stay on the main road until you reach the [[Tanner Road-Tanner Butte Trail Junction|Tanner Butte Trail #401 Trailhead]]. This is where you leave the road behind.
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{{ToothRockCommon}}
  
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From here, the hike 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 &#151; once there (around 1,500 feet), look to your left, where trail #401 continues up into the forest.
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=== Hike Description ===
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<b><font color=red>NOTICE: This trail is closed until further notice because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. Please check the list of [https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd574101.pdf  Columbia Gorge trail closures] before you plan for a hike.</font color></b>
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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 and moderately graded, with a couple of seasonal stream crossings. You'll crest the ridge around 2,000 feet and then continue uphill on the other side of it.
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After hiking 2.2 miles from the Tanner Butte Trailhead, you'll come across a campsite (approx. 2,750 feet) &#151; this also marks the junction with the unmaintained [[Tanner Butte-Wauna Point Trail Junction|Wauna Point Trail #401D]]. Head past the campsite along the trail, where you'll see a sign for Wauna Point, a cairn, and a sign reading "Trail Not Maintained." The trail is easy enough to track, albeit with some overgrowth and deadfall.
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{{TannerCommon}}
  
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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).
 
  
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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 &#151; 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, <I>turn back</I>. While partially obstructed views exist here, they certainly are not among the best in the Gorge, and the risks should be minimized.
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Make a left onto the Tanner Butte Trail (401) toward the waterfalls.  Expect to work your way across streams at least twice. 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 [[Tanner Butte-Wauna Point Trail Junction|Wauna Point Trail #401D]]. The trail is not easy to spot. You might need to step into the middle of the campsite to see it. Once you find it, you will see a "trail not maintained" sign on a tree.
  
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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 &#151; follow the unmaintained trail for about 200 yards to a flat, semi-timbered 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.
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Follow the trail downhill. Right before the trail descends, you might spot a trail that splits off to the right, which in 200 yards leads to a flat, somewhat open area at the top of a cliff that has all the views without all the scrambling and vertigo. If you stay on the main trail, it will get more challenging as you get closer to Wauna Point, so exercise caution. When you get to Wauna Point, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the gorge.
  
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=== Maps ===
 
=== Maps ===
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{{Hikemaps|latitude=45.63261|longitude=-121.9288}}
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*GPX track available for download [https://www.openstreetmap.org/user/KrystleChung/traces/1881998 here].
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[[File:Waunapointmap.png|500px]]
  
 
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
 
=== Fees, Regulations, etc. ===
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{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}=
 
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* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=8 here] to add your own)
 
  
 
{{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 
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* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=141 here] to ask a question or start a conversation)
 
  
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this hike ===
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=== More Links ===
 
=== More Links ===
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* See more information at [http://www.somewebsite.com Describe the link here]  
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* [http://www.wikihow.com/Hike-to-Wauna-Point-%28Oregon%29 wikiHow to Hike to Wauna Point (Oregon)] (more pictures)
  
 
=== Contributors ===
 
=== Contributors ===
 
* [[User:Stevefromdodge|Stevefromdodge]] (creator)
 
* [[User:Stevefromdodge|Stevefromdodge]] (creator)
 
* (RSDW)
 
* (RSDW)
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* [[User:Krystle|Krystle]] (updated January 2015)

Revision as of 03:16, 4 January 2019

This page is marked as a Closed Hike. Some or all of this hike has been closed by a governing body and hikers may be liable for fines or even arrest. At least part of this route may be dangerous and hard to follow, or it may cross areas with sensitive plant life or wildlife habitat. Trailkeepers of Oregon does not endorse or recommend hiking this route. When restrictions are lifted, this notice will be removed.
View of Mt. Adams and Cascade Locks from the upper ridge of Wauna Point. (RSDW)
The Columbia River Gorge from the lower ridge route to Wauna Point. (RSDW)
One of several unnamed waterfalls on the Tanner Butte Trail, en route to Wauna Point. (RSDW)
Overlook of Bonneville Dam from Forest Service Road 777, en route to Wauna Point. (RSDW)
  • Start point: Tooth Rock TrailheadRoad.JPG
  • End point: Wauna Point
  • Trail Log: Trail Log
  • Hike Type: Out and Back
  • Distance: 9.8 miles round trip
  • Elevation gain: 3380 feet
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Seasons: Apr-Nov
  • Family Friendly: No
  • Backpackable: Yes
  • Crowded: No

Contents

Trailhead options

The Tooth Rock Trailhead creates the easiest and shortest version of this hike, but overnight parking is not allowed. Also, Tooth Rock Trailhead has a higher incidence of car prowling than other nearby trailheads. You can access this hike from the Wahclella Falls Trailhead by hiking about 1.5 mile of Trail 400 from there to Mile 1.1 on Road 777. From the Eagle Creek Trailhead, you can hike west on Trail 400 for about 1.2 miles to Mile 0.7 on Road 777. From the first Eagle Creek parking lot, you can walk along the road going west along the highway to the Eagle Creek Staircase. At the top, to your left, is a hidden junction with the old Portage Road. Hike up the Portage Road to its crest, where you'll find a short use path heading up the hill. This leads about 100 yards to Road 777 at mile 0.7.

These alternatives are explored (with maps) in the Many Ways to the Tanner Butte Trailhead.

Hike Description

NOTICE: This trail is closed until further notice because of damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. Please check the list of Columbia Gorge trail closures before you plan for a hike.

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.


Make a left onto the Tanner Butte Trail (401) toward the waterfalls. Expect to work your way across streams at least twice. 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. The trail is not easy to spot. You might need to step into the middle of the campsite to see it. Once you find it, you will see a "trail not maintained" sign on a tree.

Follow the trail downhill. Right before the trail descends, you might spot a trail that splits off to the right, which in 200 yards leads to a flat, somewhat open area at the top of a cliff that has all the views without all the scrambling and vertigo. If you stay on the main trail, it will get more challenging as you get closer to Wauna Point, so exercise caution. When you get to Wauna Point, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the gorge.


Maps

  • GPX track available for download here.

Waunapointmap.png

Fees, Regulations, etc.

  • Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead

Trip Reports

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Related Discussions / Q&A

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

Contributors

Retrieved from "https://www.oregonhikers.org/w/index.php?title=Wauna_Point_Hike&oldid=83246"
Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.