I got out for a hike Sunday with Lori and Becky. Neither of them had visited Nesika or seen the Christmas Ornament Trail. These are a couple of special hidden places in the Gorge. Our route was to go up Wahkeena Creek then connect over to Larch Mt. Trail that runs next to Multnomah Creek. Off of this trail we would take an unmarked trail up to Multnomah Basin where Nesika and the Ornament trail hide. After having lunch on the porch a Nesika and hanging some ornaments on the Christmas Ornament trail we returned by Larch Mt. Trail to Multnomah Lodge and the car. It was a nice sunny day and we did about 7.5 miles and 1800 ft gain.
We got there early enough that Multnomah Falls Parking lot still had some spots open.
We took the connector trail from Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Falls.
With the wet weather earlier in the some of the small falls had water in them.
Wahkeena Falls from the trail bridge.
The Pradition Trail has remain abandoned.
Columbia River from the view point on Wahkeena Trail.
Lori on the bridge crossing over Wahkeena Creek.
The trail follows right next to Wahkeena Creek most of the way.
Second bridge over Wahkeena Creek.
One of the big old trees fallen across the creek.
At this point the trail climbs up and away from the creek.
Fairy Falls had lot of water in it.
The start of Wahkeena Creek.
We took the trail over to Multnomah Creek to follow it up to Benson Plateau.
Becky on the damaged bridge over Multnomah Creek.
Lori on the bridge. This bridge was damaged by a falling tree and you now have to cross it one person at a time.
A large pile of bark that had fallen from a dead tree.
The bark has covered most of what was a larger camp area along the trail.
A small creek on our route.
Lori and Becky crossing the creek.
Gate way to Nesika Lodge.
Women’s dorm at the Nesika Lodge complex.
Lori on the porch at Nesika Lodge. We took off our packs and sat in the chairs for lunch.
Trails Club of Oregon’s Nesika Lodge.
Private view point of the Columbia River at Nesika.
Becky hangs a Christmas ornament along the trail
Lori gets her ornament hung along the Ornament Trail.
Heading down the Larch Mountain Trail we passed several water falls.
A water fall on Multnomah Creek.
We parted Multnomah Creek do the switchback crowed with tourist back to the car.