Sahalie Falls Trail #667C

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Sahalie Falls Trail #667C is on the southeast side of Mount Hood. The trail goes between Umbrella Falls #667 on its west end and Elk Park Trail #645 on its east end. You can make a nice 3.4 mile loop by running on the lower part of Umbrella Falls #667, and the Sahalie Trail #667C by parking along the Mt. Hood Meadows Road just above the Sunrise Parking Lot. This is not an official trailhead. That said, the official trailhead for Sahalie Falls is the Elk Meadows/Sahalie Falls Trailhead located in the middle of the Sahallie Falls Trail segment along Forest Road 3545 by the Mt. Hood Meadows Nordic Center. The directions below are based on parking by the Mt. Hood Meadows Road parking area.

In order to do the 3.4 mile loop, head east on the Umbrella Falls #667. You reach Umbrella Falls after about 1/4 mile. Continue east for another 1/4 mile through forest openings to the Sahalie Falls Trail #667C junction on your right (south). Follow this trail as it descends towards East Fork of Hood River and Sahalie Falls. In less than a mile, you are above the river and from there, you parallel the river downstream towards the falls. There is a short very steep side trail off the main trail on your right towards the falls and the old highway. For photo shoots, the waterfalls is easier and safer to access from above the old highway.

Continue east through forest as the trail descends and crosses the old highway Forest Road 3545 twice with a crossing of Meadow Creek in between. The second crossing is at the Elk Park Trailhead which can be busy. The Sahalie Falls Trail picks up on the north end of the roadside parking lot. Continuing east, you begin climbing slightly and cross over four cross-country ski trail corridor openings. Just past the fourth opening, you reach the end of the Sahalie Falls Trail junction with the Umbrella Falls #667 on your left (west) and the beginning of the Elk Park Trail in front of you (northeast).

At this point, you can return to your vehicle on the Umbrella Falls #667 Trail or return on the Sahalie Falls Trail.

This trail passes through thick forests of mountain hemlock, silver fir, noble fir, Douglas fir, lodgepole, western whitepine and the occasional whitebark pine. Huckleberry, kinnickinnick, bear grass, and rhododendron are common. The wildflowers can be astounding in July an August and include shooting star, Indian paintbrush, pink and yellow monkey flower, columbine, lupine, penstemon, and many others. This trail is a much easier access point to high elevation subalpine wildflowers than much longer runs like Paradise Park! You may also see deer in the open meadows. When the willows and huckleberry turn in the fall, it still a colorful route!