Overview

• Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Multnomah County (near Corbett)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~68 feet (21 m)

• Trail Distance: ~0.8 miles round-trip from Munra Point Trailhead or Wahclella Falls parking area

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow late winter through spring

History & Background

Munra Falls is a 68-foot horsetail waterfall in the western Columbia River Gorge near Corbett, accessible from the Wahclella Falls area trailhead. The falls are named for Daniel Munra, one of the early European-American settlers who homesteaded in the Columbia River Gorge. The Munra family name appears on multiple gorge landmarks, including Munra Point — the rocky promontory above — which provides panoramic views of the gorge. The falls are a pleasant addition to a visit to the nearby Wahclella Falls, one of the most popular short hikes in the gorge, and together they make for a rewarding half-day on the western gorge trail network.

Geology

Munra Falls horsetails 68 feet over the Columbia River Basalt at approximately 110 feet elevation in the western Columbia River Gorge. The western gorge receives abundant annual precipitation — often over 80 inches — creating the lush, perpetually moist environment of moss-draped basalt walls and towering Douglas fir and bigleaf maple that characterizes this section of the Gorge. The falls reflect the steep gradient of the gorge’s tributary streams as they descend from the forested highlands above to the river corridor below.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cascade Locks, OR (~4 miles east); Portland, OR (~35 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • Access from the Wahclella Falls parking area (I-84 Exit 40, Bonneville Dam); follow the trail toward Wahclella Falls and look for the Munra Falls spur; the falls are visited in conjunction with the Wahclella Falls loop

  • Munra Falls is most conveniently visited as part of the Wahclella Falls loop (~2 miles round-trip); for the Munra Point summit viewpoint (steep), a separate trail gains considerable elevation above the falls

• Parking:

  • Wahclella Falls parking area off I-84 Exit 40; Northwest Forest Pass required

• Accessibility:

  • Short, relatively flat approach to the falls viewpoint near the main Wahclella Falls trail; not wheelchair accessible

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows; western Gorge at its greenest and most dramatic; all gorge streams running powerfully

• Summer: Reduced flow; the shaded gorge trail provides cool hiking on warm days

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; brilliant bigleaf maple foliage in the gorge

• Winter: Full flows; trail generally accessible year-round; icy conditions possible near waterfalls

Nearby Attractions

• Wahclella Falls (65 ft, same trailhead — a gorge classic)

• Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery

• Cascade Locks (Bridge of the Gods)

• Eagle Creek Trail (~2 miles east)

• Herman Creek Trail

References

• Links:

  • Columbia River Gorge NSA – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Columbia River Gorge

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest