Overview

• Location: Hood River County, Mount Hood National Forest (Cold Spring Creek / East Fork Hood River, near Parkdale)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~150 feet (46 m)

• Trail Distance: ~3.8 miles round-trip via Tamanawas Falls Trail

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Late spring through fall; best flow June through July

History & Background

Tamanawas Falls is a spectacular 150-foot plunge on Cold Spring Creek in the Mount Hood National Forest, one of the most beautiful waterfall hikes on the east side of Mount Hood. The name Tamanawas (also spelled Tamanous) comes from the Chinook Jargon word for ‘guardian spirit’ or ‘personal spirit’ — a fitting name for a waterfall that feels like a sacred and sheltered place. The trail runs along the East Fork Hood River, which carries glacial meltwater from Mount Hood’s eastern glaciers, then follows Cold Spring Creek upstream through old-growth forest to the base of the falls. A shallow cave behind the falls allows visitors to walk partially behind the curtain. The trail has become increasingly popular among Portland-area hikers for its relative accessibility from Hood River and the east side of the mountain.

Geology

Tamanawas Falls plunges 150 feet over a cliff of High Cascades volcanic rock at approximately 3,600 feet elevation on Cold Spring Creek. The falls emerge from a broad, fan-like spread of water over the cliff face before collecting into a concentrated plunge at the base. A shallow basalt cave behind the lower portion of the falls allows visitors to experience the misty, enclosed space behind the curtain. Cold Spring Creek originates from springs and snowmelt on Mount Hood’s eastern slopes, maintaining reliable flows through the snowmelt season before diminishing in late summer.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Parkdale, OR (~5 miles west); Hood River, OR (~18 miles northwest)

• Trail Information:

  • From Parkdale, follow signs south on Cooper Spur Road to the East Fork Trailhead; hike south on the East Fork Trail along the Hood River for approximately 1.5 miles, then turn west on the Tamanawas Falls Trail for another 0.4 miles to the falls

  • The East Fork of the Hood River running ice-cold with glacial melt is a striking feature of the approach trail; the cave behind the lower falls allows careful visitors to stand partly behind the curtain; Northwest Forest Pass required

• Parking:

  • East Fork Trailhead parking area on Cooper Spur Road; Northwest Forest Pass required

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; the 3.8-mile round-trip involves some rocky and rooted terrain

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best flows from snowmelt; the East Fork runs high and vivid green in early June

• Summer: Flows moderate; the cold creek and shaded forest provide welcome relief on warm days; very popular

• Fall: Excellent conditions in September; Hood River Valley apple and pear harvest; falls quiet and beautiful

• Winter: Snow closes the upper trail; not typically accessible from November through May

Nearby Attractions

• Parkdale, Oregon (Hood River Valley orchards)

• Cooper Spur Mountain Resort (~5 miles south)

• Hood River (windsurfing, fruit loop)

• Cloud Cap Trailhead (Timberline Trail)

• Eliot Glacier

References

• Links:

  • Mt. Hood National Forest – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Mount Hood East Side

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest