If you’re looking for a day hike with breathtaking views and a waterfall in the Mount Hood, Oregon area then make sure to save this name somewhere: Tamanawas Falls.
Tamanawas Falls is out on the scenic Highway 35 between Government Camp and Mt Hood. There are many gorgeous hikes in the Mt Hood area but if you’re looking for an easier one with a waterfall then Tamanawas is the one to do.
Most of the hike itself is flat and that’s why we’d say it’s definitely an easier hike that can be done in two-three hours with lots of stops for pictures, water, and snacks!
Honestly, we could have stopped every minute to take pictures because it was so beautiful! But we had a time frame of 2.5 hours and still got tons of photos while spending time at one of our favourite waterfalls in Oregon as well – just taking in the view.
It’s a beautiful hike since you have a stream running parallel to you during the majority of the hike which makes for stunning pictures in the lush green bush and forest.
The hike seriously has everything. It’s a hike you truly enjoy the whole way up and down and the waterfall you’ll see at the end will blow your mind!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means if you decide to use the links and make a valid purchase, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you <3
Practical information about the Tamanawas Falls hike
Distance: 5.3 km return / 3.3 miles return
Elevation: 182 m / 597 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 1.5-3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy (the last bit getting behind the waterfall could be considered moderate)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Fee: $5 for a National Forest Day Pass or included if you have an America the Beautiful Pass.
Tamanawas Falls is an easy waterfall hike in Mt Hood National Park
Even without the waterfall at the end, the Tamanawas Falls trail is an awesome little adventure to do if you find yourself in Mt Hood. The waterfall at the end is just the icing on the cake of a great little day hike.
The most beautiful part of the waterfall is the uniqueness of being able to literally walk behind it! We sat down and had lunch there while we watched the water smash down right in front of our eyes.
Usually, you can’t get this close to (and even behind) a waterfall without being in a dangerous situation. But Tamanawas Falls definitely enables you to get behind it while feeling quite safe.
Just be aware that the rocks can be slippery so it’s worth taking your time but absolutely worth the stunning view you’ll get. But prioritize your safety, always!
Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the trail
Another very important thing is that the hike is located in the Mount Hood National Forest and if you don’t want to get a ticket, make sure to have your America The Beautiful Pass showing in the front of your car – or else you can buy a day pass!
Other than that, the parking lot is quite spacious so you should hopefully be able to find parking.
Once you get on the trail, the route is very easy to follow. There is one part where you cross a bridge and you will find yourself at a T intersection with paths on both sides, just make sure to go left and besides that it’s a very easy hike to navigate through.
Click here for extra help navigating from the trailhead to Tamanawas Falls waterfall.
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Camping in Mt Hood National Park
There are numerous camping options in Mt Hood. With lots of simple campsites just for tenting to full-on powered campsites for RVs and trailers.
You have endless opportunities for places to stay and Mt Hood is definitely one of the best places to camp in the state with all the hiking and outdoor activities right in front of you.
We chose a few campsites that are relatively close to Tamanawas Falls and in the Mt Hood area so you can explore this beautiful National Park.
Sherwood Campground
The beauty of staying at Sherwood Campground is that you can actually leave your vehicle at the campsite and walk to the trailhead for Tamanawas Falls because it’s just down the street.
The campsite is right next to the East Fork River as well so you will have a nice river next to your site.
Sherwood Campground is $28 a night and has a few spots available.
If you go early enough during the day you should be able to find a spot otherwise you can check out some of the other campsites in Mt Hood that aren’t too far away.
Nottingham Campground
Nottingham Campground is the perfect place to stay the night before or after you hike up Tamanawas Falls. It’s $21 a night to stay there and it’s a 3-minute drive from the trailhead.
It’s a great place to stay if you’re looking to be out in the outdoors for a night or two with so many great trails in the area.
Bridge RV Park and Campground
Bridge RV Park is a bit further away but if you’re hauling an RV then you you should easily be able to find room here.
Try calling them in advance if you know the dates just to be sure. Mt Hood gets extremely busy with tourists in the summer.
It’s also only a 30 minute drive to the trailhead which is fine since the drive is absolutely beautiful.
You’ll be right next to Hood River where you can get some groceries or anything else you need for the day. They do have campsites as well so anyone can stay at Bridge Campground.
How to get to Tamanawas Falls
From anywhere in Portland
- It’s roughly an hour and a half drive from Portland to the trailhead.
- The directions can be found here.
Anywhere in Hood River
- It’s a quick 30-minute drive from Hood River to the trailhead.
- The directions can be found here.
From anywhere in Bend
- It’s a bit longer of a drive but still definitely doable in a day to make the trip from Bend to the trailhead.
- The directions can be found here.
Before you go to Tamanawas Falls
If you have an America The Beautiful Pass then you’re free to access the trail!
But if you don’t, you’ll either need to get the pass or buy access for the day.
it’s absolutely worth purchasing it since it allows you access to ALL National Parks in the USA for a full year! The pass is only $80 a year and most parks are $25 – $40 for a single day. So it’s well worth it.
The Tamanawas Falls hike already covers 1/3 of your membership fee by visiting it!
Leave no trace
When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.
This means:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of others.
Check the weather
No matter where you hike, you should always check the weather before you go. The mountain area near Mount Hood is known for having crazy weather changes at times.
It never hurts to be a little over-prepared with some extra layers and clothes. You can see the weather for Mount Hood here to give you an idea of what to pack for your trip.
Wear hiking shoes
One of the most important things we recommend when going hiking is proper hiking shoes. As you can see in the pictures (we did not have them on this one) but we do recommend them.
This trail is a bad example since it’s quite well taken care of. But many of the hikes we’ve done in Oregon the trails get rocky, full of roots, and other debris so having the proper hiking shoes makes the hike that much more enjoyable.
For this trail you’ll be fine with running shoes or basic trail shoes. It’s also not that long of a hike so your feet should be fine.
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
What to bring on this waterfall hike
You are mostly shaded so you don’t have to worry too much about the sun or anything like that. Also, it’s not a strenuous hike so running shoes should be fine.
Packing list:
- Water! Like we said, we always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. This is one of the easiest ways to waste less and the LifeStraw bottles are great because with their filters you can fill them anywhere!
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking and especially at such high altitudes that you’ll find yourself in when hiking in Oregon. Thankfully most of this hike to Tamanawas Falls is actually quite shaded because of the dense forest but it never hurts to come prepared.
- A power bank is always nice to have on a hike! You don’t want a dead phone halfway through a hike. Especially if you’re in a new part of the country and don’t 100% remember how to get back to your accommodation.
- Bring some lunch to eat at the waterfall viewpoint. You can always pick something up in Hood River on the way to the hike if you forget to pack something beforehand!
- If you have weak knees or don’t want to bang your knees up, you might want to bring hiking poles. There isn’t to
There are picnic tables right at the beginning of the trail so there’s an option to bring a little picnic before or after the hike! 🙂
You may also like…
- The Best Mountain Biking Adventure in Oregon
- Latourell Falls – Gorgeous Waterfall Hike near Portland
- Ramona Falls – Mt Hood Waterfall Hike
- Top 10 Oregon Waterfall Hikes
- Multnomah Falls – Iconic Waterfall near Portland
Recap of hiking Tamanawas Falls
We hope you enjoy this awesome hike near Mount Hood. Tamanawas Falls is one of the first hikes we’ve ever done in Oregon and randomly stumbled upon is as we were driving from one campsite to another near Mount Hood.
Let us know if you find any other amazing waterfall hikes in Mt Hood National Park that we could add to the list for a future visit to Oregon.
If you have any questions about the Tamanawas Falls hike or hiking in the area then feel free to DM us on Instagram. You can also leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
We hope you enjoy this hiking in Mt Hood as much as we did! Enjoy and stay safe out there!
Love it? Share it!
I love getting out into nature and this looks like a beautiful place to do it.
Hey Bliss,
There is something special about being in the wilderness. There’s nothing quite like the fresh air out there. I hope you can get out in nature soon! 🙂
– Dom
What a stunning hike! I love a walk featuring a waterfall! It looks absolutely lovely, I hope I’ll get the opportunity to visit one day!
Hannah | https://getlost.blog/
Hey Hannah,
The waterfall sure was stunning! Oregon is an absolute must if you haven’t been yet.
– Dom