Snowshoe Tamanawas Falls in Winter

Tamanawas Falls Trail is one of the best winter hiking trails in Oregon, not far from Portland and Hood River. This trail is one of Mount Hood’s best waterfall hikes, but it is especially magical in winter. You can snowshoe Tamanawas Falls in winter or use microspikes to hike through the snow to this frozen waterfall.

This is easy hike is one of the best hikes near Hood River, and it is the perfect beginner winter hike! I had never hiked in large amounts of snow before this and found this a great hike to start with. Depending on how fresh the snow, is this trail might require snowshoes, microspikes, or just waterproof boots. It had not snowed in several days when we went, and the trail was packed enough that microspikes worked perfectly.

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Tamanawas Falls Trail Details

• Length: 3.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 580 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dogs: Dogs are allowed on a leash
• Trailhead Location: Mount Hood National Forest, off OR-35

What to Wear Snowshoeing to Tamanawas Falls

• Snowshoes & Microspikes- Tamanawas Falls trail can need either snowshoes or microspikes depending on the weather- Snowshoes, Microspikes
• Base Layer– Wear a warm base layer under your winter coats to keep you warm- Women’s Base Layer, Men’s Version
• Heavy Coat– If you are hiking in the winter, bring a packable heavy coat- My Favorite Packable Jacket, Men’s Version
• Fleece- A fleece or mid-layer is great to have in winter, so you can easily take off your heavier coat and still stay warm- Soft REI Fleece, Men’s Version
• Day Pack– Always bring a day pack snowshoeing to carry extra layers and emergency supplies- Recommended Osprey Day Pack
• Beanie or Hat- In the winter it is important to keep your head and ears warm.- Warm Beanie
• Waterproof Boots– Boots designed for snow hiking are the best, but if you don’t have those wear waterproof boots- My Favorite Hiking Boots, Men’s Version
• Thick Socks–  Bring a pair of warm, thick hiking socks to stay warm! Bring an extra pair as well in case the first get wet.- Hiking Socks, Men’s Version
• Base Layer Tights– Wear a thermal base layer to keep your legs warm- Base Layer Tights, Men’s Version
• Winter Leggings– Depending on the forecast you will want waterproof pants, or thicker hiking leggings.
• Water Bottle– Don’t forget to bring enough water on winter hikes- Water Bottle
• Sunscreen– Make sure to wear sunscreen outdoors even in winter- SPF 50 Sunscreen
• Sunglasses– If it’s sunny the day of your hike bring a pair of sunglasses to reduce the glare of the snow- Polarized Sunglasses

Getting to Tamanawas Falls from Portland

With no traffic, it takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to get to Tamanawas Falls trailhead from Portland, Oregon. Drive along I-84 through the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River. At Hood River take exit 64 on OR-35 towards Mount Hood for a distance of 87 miles. The trailhead is on the side of the road and parking may fill up on a busy day.

You can also take US-26 toward Government Camp and OR-35 to the Tamanawas Falls trailhead, driving around Mount Hood. This may be a similar amount of time but there is also more likely to be snow and ice on the road, significantly increasing the time and danger of the conditions.

Tamanawas Falls Snowshoe or Hike

This hiking guide assumes you are hiking or snowshoeing Tamanawas Falls in the winter. However, this guide also works if you are visiting in the summer and there is no snow.

The Tamanawas Falls Trail begins along the East Fork Trail, crossing a long bridge over the East Fork Hood River. After half a mile the trail splits and either continues on East Fork Trail or off to Tamanawas Falls Trail. Right after the split, you will make a second bridge crossing over the North Fork Cold Spring Creek.

After the bridge crossing, the trail continues along the river and begins to ascend up in elevation through the forest. Eventually, you will come to the boulder field. In the winter, this becomes a snowy wonderland with snow piled up high on the boulders on either side of you.

After reaching the boulder field you will know you are close to the falls! There is one last steep climb up before rounding the hill and Tamanawas Falls becomes visible.

This is my favorite view of the falls! You can see Tamanawas Falls and the creek running below it. Continue on the trail to hike closer to the falls.

Take your time at the base of Tamanawas Falls, getting photos and admiring the force of the falls! In the winter icicles form around the falls and hang down from the top. It’s rare for the entire falls to freeze over, but it can look frozen with all the ice around!

After having your fill of the waterfall, head back on the trail the way you came. If you brought hiking poles they will be beneficial on the way down to catch yourself on the snowy fields.

Tips for Hiking to Tamanawas Falls in Winter

Below are some tips to help you snowshoe to Tamanawas Falls!

• Bring the right gear! I saw people hiking this trail in snowshoes, microspikes and even just hiking boots. If it is actively snowing wear a waterproof jacketIt is also a great idea to bring some extra socks to keep in your car for after the hike.
• Be aware of road conditions. In the winter you need snow chains in your car when driving through the Gorge or up to Mount Hood. You can check the road conditions around Mount Hood from live webcams.
• To photograph Tamanawas Falls use a polarizer on your lens to cut the glare from the water and snow.
• As always when hiking, Leave No Trace! Protect these natural places for other visitors to continue enjoying and pack out what you bring in, stay on the trail, and respect the wildlife.

Other Waterfall Hikes Near Portland

This is only one of the many waterfalls near Portland. If you are visiting, here are a few more waterfall hikes to consider in winter.

• Latourell Falls– 3.0 miles, 728 feet, Moderate– Latourell Falls is a short loop hike in the Columbia River Gorge that leads to two impressive Oregon waterfalls.
• Wahclella Falls– 1.9 miles, 223 feet, Easy– Wahclella Falls is another great hike in the gorge that leads to an impressive falls. This goes into a canyon and past several other smaller waterfalls in the winter.
• Multnomah Falls– 2.4 miles, 810 feet, Moderate– This is Oregon’s tallest waterfall and is great to visit any time of year. The trail will take you all the way to the top, but you can also hike just to the base of the waterfall.

You Might Also be Interested In:

• Best Hikes Near Hood River
• Silver Falls State Park & The Trail of Ten Falls
• Rowena Plateau and Tom McCall Point Trail

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