White River Falls State Park

Wasco County, Oregon

	Location	Hwy 216, near Tygh Valley, Oregon
	Operated	Oregon State Parks
	Hours	Daylight Use Only
	Available Facilities
		Picnic Tables
		Restrooms
		Scenery
		Water

Tucked away in Tygh Valley is one of the most scenic views in the Mid Columbia. Amidst the dry high dessert hillsides and surrounded by farmlands, you'll find the spectacular White River Falls State Park. The "Devil's Half Acre" mesa is in the background.

Formerly called Tygh Valley State Wayside, the park opened in 1974 as a scenic spot for local residents and travelers along Hwy. 216. It was built on the site of the former Pacific Power and Light Company's employee housing. Four houses were removed to restore the area to a more natural setting.

The Lower Bay was a settling pond where the silt was removed before the water flowed down to the power plant and into the turbines. The settling pond had a walkway on top of the dam, leading ot what was called the "warming house" where in winter a worker was in charge of breaking the ice that formed on the settling pond so there would be a steady flow of water to the turbines.

In the early 1900's a Grist Mill was located at the top of the White River Falls. A dam and weir provided water from the White River to power the Grist Mill, grinding flour from grain grown by nearby farmers. The milling and storage of flour by the Wasco Warehouse Milling Co. of The Dalles was a reason for the building of the power plant at White River Falls.

You will find restrooms, a drinking fountain, and several picnic tables under the shade of leafy trees. There is no overnight camping in this park.

The pieces of stone embedded in the cement near the fountain have an interesting history. A grinding stone made in Scotland traveled as ballast on a sailing ship rounding Cape Horn in the late 1800's and became part of the workings of the Grist Mill located at the southern end of the park on the bank of the White River. Rather than discard the broken pieces, Ranger Don Webb had them preserved by embedding them in the walkway leading to the drinking fountain.

Source: White River Falls State Park information board

This page was last updated on June 7, 2003

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