Day 15 – Hiking the Columbia River Gorge waterfalls.

We are staying in Hood River again tonight (6/14/2017) and so it is not necessary to leave early to get to the next hotel at a decent hour.  We leave the hotel around 8:30 heading to the first waterfall.  After about a 30 mile drive west on I-84 we turn onto Historic Route 30 west. 

The first waterfall we come to in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is Horsetail Falls.  The falls were very easy to get to; actually they were right next to the roadway.  We parked in the parking lot and crossed the street.  I think the falls plunge 176 feet to the small pool at the bottom.

The falls as it cascades into the small pool of water at the bottom of Horsetail Falls. 

Around the falls, Carmen gets a picture of some of the flowers that are nearby. 

Looking up from where she took the picture of the flowers, Carmen sees the full cascade into the waters below.  This is a nice falls and happy we didn’t have to hike a mile to see it.

We pass by one of the old original tunnels used when the road was first opened.  That was back around the mid 1910’s.  The tunnel is a little narrow, but cars were not as wide as they are now.

Only a couple of miles from the tunnel we come upon Multnomah Falls.  This is a falls that I’ve always wanted to visit and can now check it off my list.  Here the top of the falls can be seen from where we parked the car.

Getting close to see the full height of the falls is magnificent.  Carmen needed to use the small camera with the really wide angle lens to get the full view of both the upper and lower falls. 

A closer view of the falls where the upper falls plunges 542 feet into a pool of water then continues another 69 feet over the second lower falls.

Here is Carmen in front of the falls.

A look at the lower falls, you can see the people walking on the upper bridge.  We are headed to the upper bridge to see the upper falls next, which is about a quarter mile hike.

During our hike up to the bridge near the upper falls, we come across trees that are full of moss like this one.  It is so wet here moss grows on anything so we will not stop in one place for too long. 

The upper Multnomah Falls water splashes into the small pool at the bottom, and then cascades along a short distance before going over the lower falls. 

Returning down the trail to the car, we take some pictures of the flowers along the path.

Carmen has gone ahead of me while I was trying to take a picture of something else when this bird flew right in front of my path.  Not sure what the bird is but the colors sure are pretty.

We have one last look at Multnomah Falls before heading back to the car and moving on to the next waterfall.  What a fantastic falls.  There also is a small restaurant at the parking lot if you want something to eat or drink. 

Continuing to the next falls, Bridal Veil Falls, we are following the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Oregon Trail and the Oregon Scenic Byway.  As you can see this is an interesting drive.  When we reach Bridal Veil, we found it closed because of construction of the trail.  Oh well, onto the next falls.

The next falls on our way is Shepperd’s Falls.  It is in the woods but there are several views that we can see between trees.  Looking from above the falls we can see the water drop into a narrow shoot before splashing out into different directions as the cascading water widens out.

As we descend along the trail path we continue to see trees with moss growing along the trunks.  There do not seem as many here as we have seen along the road on the drive here. 

Another view of the falls is presented to us as we descend the trail.  This time we begin to see an upper section of the falls and can just see the top of the larger waterfall. 

Reaching the top of the waterfall we find a small fall then the water runs a little before plunging over the side for the larger falls.  This again is a nice falls and happy we hiked the short way to the beginning of the falls.

Walking back to the beginning of the trail, we cross the same bridge but this way it looks much better.  Again you can see trees with moss along the trunk and branches. 

Now that we have seen the falls we are taking our time walking back to the car and I have plenty of time to take pictures of flowers, like this one.

I found it interesting that this plant was growing from the rock.  The moss on the rock I can understand, but the plant or flower, whichever this is, I thought interesting.

Our next stop is Latourell Falls.  Upon completion of the Scenic Byway in 1915, landowners donated lands to create scenic retreats along the route.  Scenes like those we have been privileged to see so far on this Columbia Gorge Scenic Byway is based on the contributions of lands by land owners; for which we are grateful. 

I was able to get a picture of Carmen without her knowing while she was looking at Latourell Falls.  I yelled for her to turn around and took the picture.  Using Carmen as a comparison you can see how tall the falls are.

At the bottom of the falls the water continues down to the Columbia River via this stream. You can see the falls ends in a small pool before continuing on its way.  Watching the falls is very calming and we could stay here for a long time. 

Here you can see the full fall of the water from the time if flows over the lip of the falls to where it plunges into the poll of water at the bottom.

On the way back to the car from the falls we see a couple different colored Foxglove flowers.  I was able to get a good close-up of this white one.  We mostly see the purple colored (I think they’re purple since I’m color-blind) ones. 

Along the old route 30 that we are on we have passed a number of road border walls similar to this one.  They have been here for so long that moss and other vegetation is growing on the stone.

Beyond the waterfalls we come to the Vista House, built in 1917 to provided a place to rest and refresh themselves as they made their way along the Columbia River Gorge.  Two painters put their impressions on canvas as they look east along the river.

At its vantage point of 733 feet above the Columbia River, Vista House made for an observatory to view both up and down the river and also as a “fitting memorial of the trials and tribulations of those who came before.” 

As we look east from Vista House one can easily see where the river has gouged its way through the volcanic lava flows.  The Oregon Trail would end and wagons would be hauled down the hills then loaded onto log rafts for the float down river.

Inside the house is an area devoted to the early days of Vista House.  There are many pictures that depict life along Oregon route 30 and the Columbia River.  I found this one interesting; a Highway Department magnet truck used to sweep roadway for metal car parts.

Imagine riding along this road, in a 1920’s touring car and being able to see the river.  Now the trees block some of the view on the right, north side of the road, but still it is very scenic. 

We are now going to go to Mt Hood and we are heading east on I-84 back to Hood River.  Along the way we drive past scenery that still remains after nearly 200 years.  This monolith rock still stands after many years.

On I-84 heading east to get to route 35 to go to Mt Hood, we pass by Multnomah Falls and it is so high that we can see the top portion of the upper falls.  I should point out that there is an exit on the Interstate road to a parking lot and underground walkway to the falls area.

We travel through one of the tunnels that run along I-84.  It only allows for one-way traffic.  It has been getting cloudier as the day is continuing and we may not have much of a view of Mt. Hood, but we’ll see when we get there.

On route-35, the way to where we planned to go to see Mt. Hood, we stopped at this overlook of the mountain.  As you can see it is cloudy with the top of the mountain covered in clouds and getting cloudier so after driving most of the way to Mt. Hood we have decided not to continue as we will probably not have better views as we get closer.

Nearly back to Hood River, we see a sign pointing to a Panorama Point and decide to go and see what the view was like.  On the way we pass an orchard and find what look like a pear trees. 

Passing a flower garden, Carmen cannot help but take a picture of some of the flowers.  The rose in front of the foxglove and all of the other flowers were very nice.

At the panoramic overlook we get a fantastic view of Mt. Hood and the lands around the overlook and you can see a number of orchards and vineyards.  There was also a bi-plane flying around but it didn’t make it into the picture.

As we were leaving the overlook and began heading north again, we were able to get a full view of Mt. St. Helen in the State of Washington.  Our plan for tomorrow is to head up to several viewing locations around Mt. St. Helen and hope that the weather clears.

Entering Hood River, we had to laugh.  Here was a Chinese restaurant that had this wooden sculpture in the front.  Carmen thought it was so cute she took a picture.  So until tomorrow, have a nice day.