Overview

• Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Hood River County (Eagle Creek tributary, near Cascade Locks)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~30 feet (9 m)

• Trail Distance: ~11 miles round-trip from Eagle Creek Trailhead — near Tunnel Falls

• Difficulty: Medium

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through fall; check current Eagle Creek trail status

History & Background

Wy’east Falls is a 30-foot plunge on a small tributary of Eagle Creek just beyond Tunnel Falls, encountered near the end of the Eagle Creek Trail’s most spectacular section. The name Wy’east is the Multnomah people’s traditional name for Mount Hood — the volcano that dominates the horizon to the south, named for a powerful spirit who battled over the Columbia River Gorge in Indigenous oral tradition and was transformed into the mountain. Placing this name on a gorge waterfall honors the deep Indigenous connection between the mountain, the river, and the landscape. At over 5.5 miles from the trailhead, Wy’east Falls rewards only the most committed hikers who push past Tunnel Falls for one final discovery before turning back.

Geology

Wy’east Falls plunges 30 feet over the Columbia River Basalt at approximately 1,100 feet elevation on a small Eagle Creek tributary just beyond Tunnel Falls. The falls occur at the same elevation band as the upper Eagle Creek corridor where the canyon terrain transitions from the dramatic vertical walls of the lower gorge to slightly more open mountain terrain. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire recovery vegetation is visible throughout this section of the trail.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cascade Locks, OR (~3 miles west); Portland, OR (~40 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • From Eagle Creek Trailhead (I-84 Exit 41), hike approximately 5.5 miles past Punch Bowl Falls, High Bridge, Loowit Falls, Skoonichuk Falls, Twister Falls, and through Tunnel Falls to reach Wy’east Falls on a side tributary

  • Wy’east Falls is one of the final waterfalls before the trail continues to Wahtum Lake; check current Eagle Creek Trail status before visiting; Northwest Forest Pass required

• Parking:

  • Eagle Creek Trailhead; Northwest Forest Pass required; arrive very early for weekend hikes

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; 5.5-mile approach on a trail with exposed cliff sections

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; post-fire recovery landscape vivid

• Summer: Lower flows; the deeply committed hike ensures solitude compared to lower Eagle Creek

• Fall: Excellent conditions; fewer crowds; fire recovery foliage golden

• Winter: Trail generally accessible; check conditions

Nearby Attractions

• Tunnel Falls (160 ft, just before Wy’east Falls)

• Twister Falls (135 ft)

• Sevenmile Falls (~0.25 miles past Wy’east)

• Skoonichuk Falls (~4.5 miles)

• Cascade Locks

References

• Links:

  • Columbia River Gorge NSA – USFS

  • Wikipedia – Eagle Creek Waterfalls (Wy’east Falls)

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest