Bonneville Dam from Wauna Viewpoint

• Start point: Tooth Rock Trailhead
• End point: Wauna Viewpoint
• Trail Log: Trail Log
• Hike Type: Out and Back
• Distance: 4 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 1050 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Seasons: Year round
• Family Friendly: Maybe
• Backpackable: No
• Crowded: No

Hike Description

NOTICE: Most trails on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge are closed until further notice because of damage from the Eagle Creek Fire. The closure involves ALL trails between Rooster Rock State Park and Hood River. It is anticipated that most of these trails may not reopen until Spring or Summer 2018. Please check the list of Columbia Gorge trail closures before you plan for a hike.

This is a two mile hike to a 1000 foot viewpoint beneath the power lines, often confused for the much longer and higher Wauna Point hike, which also starts at 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 about 100 feet or so, to Tanner Creek Road. This is a 4-way junction. You will want to follow the trail closest to your left. Look for a sign that says "Gorge Trail 400" with arrows pointing left and right. Follow the trail to the left.

Continue on the Gorge Trail 4/10 of a mile to a junction with the Wauna Viewpoint Trail #402. The left trail goes downhill to the Eagle Creek trailhead and the right trail goes uphill to Wauna Viewpoint.

Turn right and up the hill. The trail climbs steadily but is well-graded. As of January 2015, the trail has a small detour cutting up the switchbacks to get around landslide debris. If you see the trail split and a branch strategically placed on the trail going left, head up to the right. Otherwise you'll end up scrambling over the landslide debris to find the trail again.

Enjoy Wauna Viewpoint. Even though there are powerlines, the view is expansive. Keep in mind that there isn't much room at the viewpoint.

This area was burned by a forest fire in the 1990s. That has opened up a lot of views. On the other hand with all the new light, many view plants have taken hold, including poison oak. The trail is wide enough to avoid it, but you'll want to stay out of the bushes.

Maps

• Maps: Hike Finder

Fees, Regulations, etc.

• Northwest Forest Pass required at trailhead

Trip Reports

• Search Trip Reports for Wauna Viewpoint from Tooth Rock Hike

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Related Discussions / Q&A

• Search Trail Q&A for Wauna Viewpoint from Tooth Rock Hike
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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

• wikiHow Hike to Wauna Viewpoint (Oregon) (more pictures)

Contributors

• Stevefromdodge (creator)
• Krystle - updated January 2015.