Wahclella Falls

The path starts on an old gated road beside Tanner Creek, then passes a small intake dam that feeds Bonneville Fish Hatchery. From there it enters the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness and the canyon narrows. A smaller tributary waterfall appears at the first bridge; farther in, the creek winds among moss-covered boulders below steep rock walls. It is a compact walk with more to look at than the final falls alone, but the footing gets uneven and rocky in places.

The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burned hot in the Tanner Creek watershed. It stripped vegetation from slopes, which led to landslides and rockfall on the upper trail and damaged a bridge. That bridge was replaced in 2020. The route now gives you a short walk into a dramatic canyon, but the burned slopes still matter when weather turns.

At the end, Wahclella Falls spills down in two tiers. The lower horsetail drop is about 60 feet and lands in a broad splash pool; the upper cascade sits above it. The enclosed walls make the falls feel close, and the pool and boulders help show the scale of the canyon. In late fall, salmon may spawn at the base of the falls. Watch the stream edges too: American dippers bob and dive in the current.

For a photo, the close view is by the second bridge near the falls. Include some of the mossy wall or boulders with the water so the picture shows the tight canyon as well as the plunge. You first see the falls from farther back as you enter the grotto, then get a much closer view near the bridge.