Playing hooky on a beautiful day is not always that tough to do, especially when you can justify the hike as a ‘stock photoshoot’. The start and end of this trail is inundated with tourists, but the nice thing about them is they usually don’t wander beyond a mile or so down the trail, so soon enough the trail was nearly empty. Waterfalls, cascades, streams and pools surrounded by the lush green of the Columbia River Gorge makes for great hiking and some fine photos.