Wah Gwin Gwin Falls, Waterfall at Columbia Gorge Hotel grounds in Hood River County, Oregon.
Wah Gwin Gwin Falls is a waterfall on the Columbia Gorge Hotel grounds in Hood River County, Oregon, that channels Phelps Creek down through multiple tiers. The water descends in a narrow column and flows into the Columbia River after passing over a stone-walled terrace.
The waterfall was integrated into the design of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, built in this region to shape the landscape experience along the Columbia River. Architects created viewing platforms with masonry that matched the hotel entrance style.
The name comes from a Native American language and refers to the sounds of flowing water in the Chinook dialect. Visitors can sense this connection to the place through what they hear when the water moves.
The waterfall is most easily reached via Interstate 84 exit 62, where visitors follow Westcliff Drive to the Columbia Gorge Hotel parking area. The viewing platforms are readily accessible, but the area can become wet and slippery, especially when rain increases the water flow.
The water comes from Phelps Creek and maintains a remarkably steady flow rate, replenished several times yearly by rainfall events. This consistency makes the waterfall a reliable sight regardless of the season.
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