Wauna Point Hike

The trail up to Wauna Point can be difficult to follow, but the reward at the end makes it worth the adventure. The majority of the trail is a steady uphill, and it passes waterfalls as it proceeds up switchbacks embedded in a dense spruce and fir forest. At one time there was a road that led to the trailhead, making the mileage a little short, but it has since closed. This means two things: you have to walk up the old road to reach the trailhead, and the hike generally does not attract the crowds that flock to other more accessible Gorge hikes, even on the weekends.

Reaching Wauna Point itself requires a detour using the Tanner Butte Trail. This section is full of scrambling along a narrow ridge with a steep drop on either side. The point juts out into the Gorge and offers an incredible view down both directions of the river. There is also a bird’s-eye view of the Bonneville Dam, which was built as a power source in 1934 under the Roosevelt administration. Upstream sits the aesthetic steel Bridge of the Gods. On a clear day, Wauna Point also offers a view of Mount Adams and Mount Rainier. This is one viewpoint in the Gorge where you will actually be able to soak in the panoramic sights in solitude.