Wahclella Falls Elopement | Amanda + Josh |
A beautiful day for a Wahclella Falls Elopement on the Columbia River Gorge, with some pizza at Government Cove during sunset.
The Columbia River Gorge is one of those locations that you don’t believe is a real location until you experience it yourself. An over 80 mile stretch of canyon along the Columbia River, with 75+ waterfalls, dozens of them being easy to access. Tourists flock this area every year and one of the best parts about it is that it is only 30+ minute drive from Portland. The first time I was able to visit this area was before I even moved to Oregon, and it took my breath away (check out this Latourell Falls couples shoot here). So worth the visit, and even more worth eloping at!
Amanda & Josh reached out to me about their Oregon elopement for September. They knew they wanted to elope at a waterfall and after some consideration, ended up choosing Wahclella Falls, which is one of the many on the Columbia River Gorge. Amanda mentioned that they love to travel, hike and be adventures and that is exactly what you get with Wahclella Falls. A 2.4 miles out and back trail, with a 350 foot-tiered plunge waterfall at the end. It plummets into a splash pool, which you will see locals jumping into and swimming in over the summer (though the water is always freezing). It definitely is a well known waterfall, so seeing other people there is a possibility. But if you enjoy some adventure and down for a hike on your elopement day, like Amanda & Josh decided, it is well worth the 2.4 miles. Not too strenuous, with many beautiful spots to stop at for some photos.
We started the afternoon out at their hotel in Hood River for a couples of getting ready photos. Then headed to Wahclella Falls Trail head where we did a first look and met up with their officiant. There is a little parking lot there, which fills up quickly but usually there are other hikers coming and going, so waiting a few minutes isn’t usually a problem. Otherwise there is some extra parking around the corner. Once we finished the first look, we all headed towards the waterfall where they chose a special spot to do the ceremony. We had amazing weather for September, not too hot, not too cold and overall the amount of foot traffic wasn’t bad either. They ended up choosing a week day for their date and I will always recommend this to all my couples since it does significantly help with crowds. Weekends and holidays will always be busier. After the ceremony we explored the waterfall before heading back to our cars.
One thing Amanda & Josh wanted to do on their elopement day was grab some ice cream at a local shop. We ended up finding Mike’s Ice Cream in Hood River which was a cute little shop. We walked across the street so that they could enjoy their little sweet treat before picking up pizza’s from Solstice Wood Fire Pizza before heading to their last stop.
For their last location, they chose Government Cove. This is also such a fun spot because it gives 360 views of the Columbia River and the canyons with very minimal walking/hiking (which means you can see both Oregon & Washington sides of the Gorge). It is honestly such a spectacular spot. Located in Cascade Locks, making it only a 20 minute drive from Hood River and very close proximity to Wahclella Falls or even Latourell falls. It used to be free to visit and open to the public so a lot of information online is a little outdated. The land is owned by Confederate Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon. It is undeveloped land so some things to consider is that there aren’t any bathrooms or facilities, as well as no trash cans. Please be respectful of this land and don’t climb over or go around the gate. Since the 2024 changes, it is closed to the public but if you would like to elope here, it still is possible with a permit fee. I think the permit fee is worth it (which is what Amanda & Josh decided to do), especially when you get to have this whole location all to yourselves! I help all my clients in obtaining any permits at any location that they may need, so don’t worry about the logistics, I got you! If you want to learn more about this location and people, here is an article about the history. If you end of using this location for your elopement, consider donating a few dollars to the Chúush Water Fund.
Amanda & Josh wrapped up their elopement day by eating their take out pizza, and taking some final photos at sunset and blue hour, which Government Code was the perfect spot for.
Interested in Eloping on the Columbia River Gorge? Reach out here and we can get started on planning your elopement!
Venders:
Hotel, Make up & Hair: Columbia Gorge Hotel & Spa
Ice Cream: Mike’s Ice Cream
Pizza: Solstice Wood Pizza & Bar
More elopement inspiration:
What is more perfect than getting married with a waterfall behind you? The Columbia River Gorge is the best spot for that, with many waterfalls to pick from. Amanda & Josh picked Wahclella Falls on a beautiful September day in Oregon for their elopement.