Gorge Trail - Trail # 400 - Ainsworth to Tanner Creek Rd.

Oregon

NOTE: The following two books are highly recommended for anyone interested in hiking in the Columbia River Gorge: Hiking the Columbia River Gorge and 100 Hikes in Northwest Oregon I personally own both and consider them indispensible for hiking the Columbia River Gorge.

Length: 4.3 miles one-way
Trail Uses: Hiking, Bicycling
Facilities available: Parking
Season of Use: Year-round
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 220 feet
Visitor Use: Light

Access: Eastbound I-84 – Take Historic Columbia River Highway Ainsworth State park exit # 35. Turn left towards Warrendale, then right onto Frontage Road. Continue east 2.3 miles to the parking area at John B. Yeon State Park. Westbound I-84 – Take the Warrendale exit # 37. Pass under the highway and turn left onto Frontage Road, continuing 0.4 mile to the parking area. Tanner Creek Road from I-84 NWFP required (east or west) – take exit # 40 Bonneville Dam. Head south; the trailhead is right of the Wahclella Falls parking area .

Description: This part of Gorge rail # 400, traversing the southern edge of Columbia Gorge, is relatively flat and of low elevation. From here, hike into McCord Creek Canyon and past Elowah Falls, a 289-foot plunge-type waterfall. Continue on, and after fording Moffett Creek finish this section by Bonneville Dam.

Features: In February 1996 flooding and debris flows eliminated the 4.2-mile section of Gorge Trail # 400 between Nesmith Point Trail # 428 and Ainsworth Loop Trail. There is a plan to rebuild this section of trail. After it is re built hikers will be able to enjoy the full 8.5-mile hike and an elevation gain of 720 feet.