Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR · WA
A steep wilderness traverse to Von Ahn Rim and a tucked-away pond.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
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.
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“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Moffett Creek Trail #430 is a 5.3-mile one-way point-to-point across Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, from the Tanner Creek Trail #431 junction west to Forest Road 20-222. It is remote and primitive, with no drive-up start; allow roughly four to five hours for #430 itself. Going west climbs about 2,200 feet net. Arrange transport or a return route first: retracing #430 alone makes 10.6 miles before the access walk.
Near the east end, the route drops to a creek ford, then climbs steeply for about two miles to Von Ahn Rim above Tanner Creek Canyon. The rim's open view toward Mount Hood is the main payoff. Past it, the trail reaches a small pond with primitive campsites, crosses a powerline road, and rolls through creek valleys to the western road. A ford near the start can be hazardous at high water. At the rim, frame Mount Hood above the canyon to show its scale.
Forest Service directions point to Wahclella or Toothrock trailheads, but the connected #431 page describes a different foot approach; confirm access before you go. The west end is a forest road, not a developed trailhead. This is snow-dependent wilderness travel; motor vehicles and bikes are prohibited. Dogs are allowed if kept within sight and voice control.
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
EasyWahclella Falls Trail1.8 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.3 mi awayA shady creek walk, two waterfalls, and a real loop.
ModerateHistoric Columbia River Highway State Trail: Bonneville Segment7 mi · 3.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayPaved Gorge miles, old bridges, and Ruckel Creek's easy-to-miss falls.
ChallengingNesmith Point Trail8.4 mi · 7.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayA steep climb to an old lookout and wide Gorge views.
ChallengingTanner Butte Trail17.9 mi · 11.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayA long climb to old firetower remains and a Mount Hood view.
ModerateElowah Falls Trail1.5 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayA short, steep walk ends below a 213-foot waterfall.
ModerateUpper McCord Creek Falls1.9 mi · 1.8 hr · 3.5 mi awayTwo falls, open Gorge views, and a steep cliffside climb.
EasyTooth Rock Loop2.1 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.5 mi awayStone viaduct, river views, and a rough old road back.
EasyStrawberry Island Loop4 mi · 2.5 hr · 3.8 mi awayA meadow in the river’s narrow middle, framed by both Gorge walls.
Sight · 2.4 mi awayWahclella FallsA short canyon walk ends at a two-tiered plunge pool.
Sight · 3 mi awayUpper McCord Creek FallsA narrow cliffside trail climbs to a twin cascade above Elowah.Sight · 3.1 mi awayElowah FallsA 213-foot plunge framed by ancient lava and a green ravine.
Sight · 3.5 mi awayBonneville Fish HatcherySee Herman through an underwater viewing window.
Sight · 3.6 mi awayPunch Bowl FallsA round rock amphitheater frames the waterfall and deep pool.
Visitor center · 4 mi awayBradford Island Visitor CenterFish ladder viewing and hydropower history under one roof.
Picnic area · 4.1 mi awayEagle Creek Day Use AreaA historic picnic site where salmon return to the creek each fall.
Campground · 4.1 mi awayEagle Creek Overlook Group CampgroundA CCC-built group campground with a bluff view of Bonneville Dam.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.
