This was a bit longer than the Latourell hike. It was quite a ways up to Wahkeena Springs. If you don't want to walk uphill for that long (it took us over an hour), there are three good stopping points along the way. The first is the bridge that you can see from the parking lot. It is close enough to the falls that you get a nice mist of water (nice on a warm day). The second is the Gorge Viewpoint above the falls. You can see a long distance, including Beacon Rock on the Washington side of the Gorge. The third is Fairy Falls, a cute little falls with a small foot bridge that takes you along the trail.

This time we had our picnic at Bridal Veil Park before taking the hike, which ended up working quite well (we did manage to save some food for after). However, there is a shaded picnic area across the road from the falls.

The first part of the trail is paved, then mostly a gravel covered trail. No hazard hiking required. Along the way we met a gentlemen that informed us of a Nickel and Quarter that had been stuck into the rock wall along the switchback part of the trail. We found the Quarter on the way up (along with a lego), but had to search again for the Nickel the way down.

Wahkeena is a Yakima word meaning "most beautiful". Until 1915, the falls were known as Gordon Falls for E.F. Gordon, a local landowner. Rock walls, and other works near the falls date from early in the century and before. At the turn of the century, Wahkeena was considered the most beautiful falls in the gorge. In 1915, Wahkeena's park boasted a "public comfort station" and a "station of the motorcycle highway police patrol service".

(Taken from "Romance of Waterfalls" by Barbara L. Bloom and Garry W. Cohen)