Sight · Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
A fan-shaped creek waterfall with a bench beside the trail.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this place
Wahkeena Falls“You're approaching Wahkeena Falls, where a short walk leads to tiered water in a mossy gorge. The lower overlook is the quick reward; continue uphill to the stone bridge at the foot of the falls for a closer look.”
Plays as you drive up to Fairy Falls in the Parkwolf Columbia River Gorge Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Fairy Falls is a fan-shaped waterfall on Wahkeena Creek, reached on foot from the Wahkeena Falls day-use area. It is a trail stop rather than a roadside pullout; expect roughly a mile of hiking each way on Wahkeena Trail #420. The path follows the creek through a narrow, mossy canyon, crossing two small wooden bridges.
Water spreads across a dark basalt wall, with a wooden bench beside the falls. It is a natural pause on the hike, and the longer Wahkeena–Multnomah loop continues uphill from here toward the Multnomah Creek basin. For a phone photo, include some of the dark rock around the fan; it helps show how the water spreads across the wall.
Begin at the Wahkeena Falls day-use area. Flush toilets and picnic facilities are available there, but there is no potable water, so bring what you need for the hike. Fairy Falls itself is hiking-only and has no road access. Check current Forest Service notices before setting out.
Wildlife
267 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
51 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
136 sightingsAmerican PikaMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
16 sightingsWapitiMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
195 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
74 sightingsChinook SalmonMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Columbia River Gorge. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateVista Point Trail #4190.8 mi · 30 min · 0.3 mi awayA short upper trail trades the spring stop for a river view.
ModerateWahkeena Falls Trail to Lemmons Viewpoint1.5 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.4 mi awayA stone bridge, plunging falls, and a Gorge overlook on one climb.
ChallengingDevil's Rest Trail6.7 mi · 5.3 hr · 0.4 mi awayWaterfalls and Gorge views arrive before the shaded summit.
ChallengingMultnomah Falls–Franklin Ridge Loop12.4 mi · 8.5 hr · 0.6 mi awayBig waterfalls down low, a rugged ridge crossing, and a long climb.
ChallengingMultnomah Falls to Devil’s Rest8.4 mi · 5.5 hr · 0.6 mi awayFalls, creek cascades, and a wooded summit reward the long climb.
ChallengingLarch Mountain Trail #4416.8 mi · 7 hr · 0.6 mi awayFalls crowds fade into a quiet creek and ridge climb.
ChallengingMultnomah Falls to Sherrard Point via Larch Mountain Trail14.2 mi · 10 hr · 0.6 mi awayFour waterfalls, a creek gorge, and a hard summit climb.
ModerateMultnomah Falls Trail to the Top2.4 mi · 1.8 hr · 0.6 mi awayClimb eleven switchbacks to a wooden overlook over the upper falls
Sight · 0.3 mi awayWahkeena FallsA 242-foot cascade with a stone bridge at its foot.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayMultnomah Falls LodgeA 1925 lodge for dining and visitor services beneath Multnomah Falls.Sight · 0.6 mi awayMultnomah FallsA two-tier waterfall with a 1914 footbridge between its drops.
Sight · 0.6 mi awayBenson State Recreation AreaA lake swim and a round of disc golf in one stop.
Picnic area · 2.2 mi awaySt. Cloud Day Use AreaA river picnic with views and an old apple orchard.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayTriple FallsThree creek-fed cascades reward a steep, rocky climb.
Sight · 2.6 mi awayOneonta GorgeA lichen-lined slot canyon, still closed after the 2017 fire.
Sight · 3 mi awayPonytail FallsWalk behind an 88-foot waterfall through its basalt alcove.Parkwolf’s Columbia River Gorge ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
