Elk Meadow via Tamanawas Falls Casual Hike

6.0 mile hike on the lower Elk Meadow Trail (#645) (start & finish at Polallie Trailhead, Tamanawas Falls (#650A) and East Fork Trail (#650). 

The hike starts at the 2810 ft. elevation of Polallie Trailhead and heads up the Elk Meadow Trail to where the trail crosses Cold Spring Creek (source of Tamanawas Falls, about 0.9 mi inside the Mt. Hood Wilderness Area) at about 3800’ elevation (high point of hike). On the way back, the group will descend the cut-off between Elk Meadow Trail and Tamanawas Falls Trail (about 0.4 mi in length, and hitting the Tamanawas Falls Trail about 0.2 mi before the falls). The group would then hike out on the Tamanawas Falls Trail to the intersection with the East Fork Trail, and then follow the East Fork Trail back to Polallie Trailhead.

The high line of the hike (Elk Meadow above Tamanawas Falls/in the wilderness area) closely follows the rugged Cold Spring Creek through a mix of high mountain cascades and marshy areas). Along this portion of the trail wildflowers abound. Tamanawas Falls is a destination many Mazamas have seen, but few have seen above it.