Devils Rest via Wahkeena Hike

Overview

The Wahkeena Trail can be explored at some length depending on your fitness level. A couple of shorter hikes that are possible are the Wahkeena Falls Hike and the Fairy Falls Hike. This hike goes all of the way to Devils Rest, a forested Boring volcano 850 feet above Angels Rest. You'll see a couple of pretty waterfalls, get some Columbia River Gorge views, and appreciate a few large old growth trees in the Wahkeena Bowl. You can return the way you came or, if you're up for a loop using the user network below Devils Rest, you can come back via the Angels Rest Trail. Bear in mind that the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire affected almost the entire area of this hike and parts of the optional user loop have not been maintained. Walk up to the viewing plaza just above the parking area on the highway. You can appreciate the tiers of Wahkeena Falls from here, but in spring and summer, the view is partially obscured by leafy maple trees. Head to your right, and cross a footbridge over Wahkeena Creek. Then make a traverse on a paved trail into Douglas-fir/hemlock woods before making a switchback up. The trail traverses to cross the stone bridge in front of Wahkeena Falls, which may douse you with heavy spray. After admiring the falls, continue west to pass the former junction with the closed Perdition Trail at a large Douglas-fir. From here, the pathway, which is still paved, rises in 11 stone-walled switchbacks to a junction. Take the short spur to the right to reach Lemmons Viewpoint, named after a fire fighter who lost his life in the line of duty. Vistas extend across the Columbia River to Cape Horn, the Prindle Cliffs, Archer Mountain, Hamilton Mountain, and Beacon Rock (For a description of a short but sketchy off trail excursion near the viewpoint, see The Necktie). This is the end of the pavement. Enter a defile with a massive dome of basalt to your right. Sometimes a seasonal waterfall splashes down this face. Cross a footbridge, and hike up the west side of Wahkeena Creek. Recross the creek on a new footbridge at an

Trail Stats

Photos

400px-WahkeenaDevilsRestMap2

400px-WahkeenaDevilsRestMap2

250px-DevilsRest01JenThomas

250px-DevilsRest01JenThomas

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250px-DevilsRestTrail

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250px-WahkeenaCanyon02

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400px-DevilsRest1

TKO put tools to trail here.png

TKO put tools to trail here.png

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