Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Part 1

The Columbia River Gorge In Oregon Has More Waterfalls Than Anywhere Else In The Country. The Gorge is undeniably one of the most beautiful places in Oregon State, perfect for hikers, bikers, and explorers of all types. But there is one feature that makes this beautiful natural area truly unique: the amazing waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge! In fact, there are so many amazing waterfalls – 90 on the Oregon side of the river alone – that the Columbia River Gorge is considered to have the highest concentration of waterfalls in the entire country, including many of the best waterfalls in Oregon!

This is a four part post and the first part will cover the Oregon Side of the Columbia River Gorge, the second part is a hike up Eagle Creek Trail (9 waterfalls on this hike) and it's not an easy hike, the third part will be the Washington State side of the Columbia River Gorge, and the fourth part will be a drive called the Fruit Loop in Hood River. I did the tour over various times but it can easily be done in a day, if you skip the Eagle Creek Hike and The Fruit Loop. If you want to do everything here it would take a long weekend.

If you take a drive down the Historic Columbia River Highway, it won’t be long before you see the first one … a second … a third … and so on. Many are hard to miss from the road, while others are hiding a bit inland and require a stop or a short hike to see the falls. But, I have yet to find a waterfall that isn’t jaw-droppingly beautiful.

Of course, you will see the most famous Multnomah Falls along this highway and this one is definitely worth a visit … if you plan ahead. The crowds here during the summer months can be a nightmare, especially when it comes to finding a spot to park. I suggest waiting until the cooler fall months, once the kids go back to school and summer vacations come to an end. Not only do the crowds of tourists thin out significantly, but you will also get the extra treat of seeing the surrounding area ablaze with the bright reds, oranges, and yellows of the autumn leaves. It is quite a stunning sight.

If you do decide to do this day trip I would start near Portland, preferably Troutdale and take the Historic Columbia River Drive. This is Route 30 and it is more scenic and a longer drive but it is worth it. This drive will take you east over to Hood River Oregon. To get to Historic Route 30 take I-84 east from Portland and then get off at exit 22 which is the Corbitt and Crown Point Vista House exit and continue east toward Crown Point Vista House. This trip is a loop trip and will have you cross the Columbia River at Hood River Oregon via The Hood River Bridge.

Day one, the entire day, would be to do the drive up to Hood River and go across the Columbia River and head west down Washington Route 14. This drive you will see a bunch of waterfalls with minimal hiking. If you plan on making this a longer trip I would spend the night in Hood River and then go back and do the Eagle Creek Trail hike. When your done with the hike you can then spend the day around Hood River and do some of the Fruit Loop. On day three you can start the morning with the Fruit Loop and then head over to the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge and see more waterfalls as you head back toward Portland.

The first stop is a scenic view point and it's called Portland Women's Forum Overlook. It's worth the stop because of the view of the Columbia River Gorge and you can also see the Crown Point Vista House from here.

Once you taken in the spectacular views turn left out of the parking area and continue east toward Crown Point Vista House. This is your next stop.

The Vista House was built as a rest stop observatory for travelers on the old Columbia River Gorge Highway and as a fitting memorial honoring Oregon’s pioneers—particularly those who made their way down the Columbia River. Described by its architect, Edgar M. Lazarus, as “a temple to the natural beauty of the Gorge,” Vista House has long been recognized for its historic significance and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Vista House is approximately 44 feet in diameter and 55 feet high. The inside of the dome and its supporting ribs were painted to simulate the marble and bronze originally planned for the structure. The exterior is faced with light gray sandstone. It sits 733 feet above the Columbia River so the views here are impressive.

From the Vista House continue east and the next stop is Latourell Falls. The trail to the falls is currently closed but I have been here a couple of times and here are some of the earlier pictures of Latourell Falls.

You can see Latourell Falls with about a 500 foot walk from the parking lot. If you want to be a little more adventurous you can do the loop hike and it's about two-and-a-half miles. It's a pretty easy hike and has about a six-hundred foot elevation gain. It is also a family friendly hike and during the summer months is extremely busy.

From the Latourell Falls parking lot if you look south toward the Columbia River you may be able to see the almost Ghost Town of Latourell. The population here is about fifty people. If you want to take a side trip to the town get back on Route 30 east (right turn from the parking lot) and take a quick left turn down a winding road and you will eventually come to the town. In the town is an 1800's schoolhouse, the Latourell Family home which is abandoned and looks likes it's ready to collapse. There is also an old Carriage House and Cistern. Once you leave Latourell you want to make a left turn and head back down Route 30 East.

Less than a mile down the road on the right hand side is Sheppard's Dell which is another waterfall. It's not as impressive as the other waterfalls in the area but you can see this from the little parking lot near the Sheppard's Dell sign.

If you want to see the falls better you can take the 0.2 mile hike. This is a family friendly hike and not as crowded as the other waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge. If you do decide to do this hike please stay on the trail because there is Poison Oak in the area. From here turn right and continue east on Route 30 and the next stop is Bridal Veil Falls.

Bridal Veil Falls parking lot will be located on the left side of the road across the street from Bridal Veil Lodge, This is a crowded place so parking here can be an issue. Once parked you have a choice of two hikes. For the paved loop, stay atop the bluff on the paved path. Overlooking the Columbia, the path offers scenic nooks with tables for a picnic and outstanding views across the river of Archer and Hamilton mountains in Washington. On the river’s banks are the four-hundred-foot cliffs at Cape Horn, and farther east, the basalt pillar of Beacon Rock. In the river is Phoca Rock, a thirty-foot-high island at the base of Cape Horn. During the wet season, this trail offers the best place to view the six-hundred-foot-high (in several tiers) Cape Horn Falls, which plunges off the cliff to the river.

The hike to Bridal Veil Falls is about a mile and a half in and out. It's a pretty easy hike and very family friendly. This trail is crowded during the weekends and also during the summer.

When you are on the trail you will come to a bridge that goes across Bridal Veil Creek and you can see the falls on your right. Once you go over the bridge you have a choice to go left or right. If you go to the right it will being you to a platform and a better view of the falls. If you decide to take a left here this is where you can find the old ghost town of Bridal Veil. After you make the left had turn and about thirty yards on your left you will see an overgrown footpath covered with nettles and blackberries. Take this path for about fifty yards and you come to the abandoned town of Bridal Veil. As you are hiking you can see old structures along the way but the main thing that is still standing is the cistern and it will be on your right hand side.

Use the same trail going back towards the parking area that you came in on. If you want to do a couple of more fun things in the area I would highly recommend doing the Bridal Veil Post Office. It's on the way to your next location with a little detour. Once you leave the Bridal Veil Falls parking lot turn left to continue on Route 30 East. As your traveling down Route 30 East you will come to another parking area and this is Angel's Rest, on your left side. After this parking area make a left hand turn and this will having you traveling toward Interstate 84. From here make the first left hand turn and the post office will be on your right at the dead end road. Make sure you don't continue straight or you will be coming on to I-84 West.

The Post Office remains awfully quiet throughout the year, except during wedding season. Thanks to its unique name and a small one-room post office—the town’s only functioning business—Bridal Veil sees an influx of would-be couples every spring and summer, who come to this forgotten outpost just to get their wedding invitation mails cancelled by a special postmark.

After you've taken your pictures of the Bridal Veil Post Office had back down the road you came in on. Continue straight and this will bring you back to Route 30 East. Once your back on Route 30 you can now make a quick left if you choose and this will bring you to the old Bridal Veil Cemetery which will be on your right.

If you decided to come here now you have to turn around because this is a dead end road. Once you've turned around and come to the end of the road you have two choices. Make a left and you will be back on Route 30 East or turn right and head to Angels Rest parking area to hike up Angels Rest to Coopey Falls and Upper Coopey Falls. This hike is considered a moderate challenging hike and is about 4.8 miles round trip. If you don't want to do a hike I would ignore this hike. Because of this trail being so close to Portland it is crowded and parking is an issue.

Get back on Route 30 East and the next stop is Wahkeena Falls. The parking area will be on the left hand side of Route 30 going east. Once you park you have to cross Route 30 by foot and you will come to the falls overlook. This is a beautiful 242-foot waterfall that can be easily accessed by taking a short 0.2-mile stroll to a viewpoint or by taking a 1.5-mile hike to the top of the falls. There are two hikes leading from the overlook and to get to the top of the falls you want to take the trail located at the west end of the overlook.

Lemmonds Viewpoint will give you a spectacular view of Wahkeena Falls. If you want to hike in for another waterfall it will be a total of about a two-mile hike from the parking area and this Waterfall is Fairy Falls. The hike to Wahkenna Falls is easy but to get to Fairy Falls is a moderate hike but both are family friendly and very crowded.

After your stay here continue east on Route 30 and the next stop is the Crown Jewel of the Columbia River Gorge and it is Multnomah Falls. You have many options while you are here. If you do plan on coming here please check the following website for details to avoid an issues: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=30026. This waterfall sees over two million people a year so it is very important to come prepared. Sometimes you have to get a parking permit in advance because parking is so terrible. There is also a list of restrictions on this website and at this date and time no drones are allowed.

This is a view from Multnomah Falls Lodge showing Benson Bridge.

Because of the amount of people that come here a lot of them don't come prepared for a hike. If this is the case please only go to the first overlook and you can get great pictures of the waterfalls along with Benson bridge. If you want to get closer to the waterfalls you can take the paved trail up to Benson Bridge. If you decide to go up the trail to the top of the waterfalls please DO NOT wear shoes!! I recommend hiking boots or sneakers with good traction. People think this isn't that difficult of a hike to the top of Multnomah Falls but it is and during the summer months there is an ambulance crew near the lodge waiting to come and rescue you. If you don't believe me do a Google Search for Multnomah Falls rescues and you will see all of them and people do die on the hike heading for the upper falls.

This is a view of the waterfalls from Benson Bridge.

If you want to hike in and see three more waterfalls then you have a total of about a eight-mile round trip hike. Bring water with you!! Beyond the bridge, the asphalt trail switches up steeply for another mile to a ridge (there are eleven switchbacks to be exact). At the first switchback, you'll come to the Larch Mountain-Gorge Trail Junction. At the third switchback, a once shaded viewpoint with a bench offers a view to Multnomah Falls. As you ascend higher on the slope, look for Columbia River views. At the crest, you'll see a few trees that were killed by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. From the top, the trail drops slightly to a signed junction where you'll go right for the Multnomah Falls Viewpoint. The asphalt follows a new side path that switchbacks down twice to the Multnomah Falls Upper Viewpoint, a balcony of sorts at the lip of the falls looking down on the Multnomah Falls Lodge and the crowds of visitors below.

Go back to the main trail and turn right and cross a rock-faced culvert over Multnomah Creek. Pass the old junction with the Perdition Trail a lower link to the Wahkeena Trail across the face of the Gorge that was severely damaged by the 1991 Multnomah Falls Fire and has been permanently closed. The next three miles of the Larch Mountain Trail parallel Multnomah Creek offering numerous scenic views. The trail passes Lower, Middle and Upper Dutchman Falls, each ten to fifteen feet in height, followed by a unique trip through a creek-washed overhang called Dutchman Tunnel.

Just beyond the tunnel, you'll come to Wiesendanger Falls (A plaque honoring Albert Wiesendanger, a Forest Service ranger, can be found in Dutchman Tunnel). Wiesendanger Falls has also been known as Upper Multnomah Falls and Twanlaskie Falls.

From here the trail switchbacks four times above Wiesendanger Falls, and soon passes the lip of plunging Ecola Falls. Take a stop here and rest your legs and they will thank you in the morning.

Now head back down the trail you came in on.

Once you are back to the parking area get back on Route 30 East. The next stop I will mention but at this date and time it is closed due to the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. They have a fence around the trailhead so you can't get in because it's not safe because of rock slides. This is the Oneonta Creek trail to Oneonta Falls.

Continue on the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway (Route 30) East. Not to far down the road is Horsetail Falls. The parking lot will be on the left and you will have to cross road to get to Horsetail Falls overlook.

The Horsetail Falls trail includes beautiful views of two waterfalls. While Horsetail Falls is easily accessible from the road, the trail to Ponytail Falls is further along and rocky. It is very cool to be able to walk behind Ponytail Falls, but use caution as it may be slippery! The trail is rocky, narrow, and uneven, so it is recommended to wear proper footwear. This is a popular trail that may be busy on weekends, so plan to arrive early.

This about three-quarter-mile out-and-back trail is generally considered a moderately challenging route, This is a very popular area for hiking and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. This is Pony Tail Falls.

From here you want to continue on Route 30 East and eventually you will come to Interstate Route 84 and take this east towards Hood River. The next stop is the John B Yeon trailhead.

PARTIAL CLOSURE: This route is only accessible up to McCord Creek. Beyond McCord Creek is inaccessible due to landslide damage, but you can still enjoy other sections of this trail.

Take exit 35/Ainsworth. Turn left at the stop sign, then immediately right turn onto Frontage Road. Drive east on Frontage Road for about two-miles and turn right into the trailhead parking lot. The lot will be just before the road re-enters the highway.

This hike is about three-and-a-half miles roundtrip and is on the easy to moderate scale of hiking. Head up Gorge Trail #400, the west end of the parking lot. The trail will climb a bit and after about three-tenths of a mile, you will reach the intersection. The Elowah Falls trail descends (left) into a ravine. Continue on about half a mile to a footbridge at the base of the plunge pool. Take in the two-hundred-thirteen-foot tall falls and enjoy the mist that blows off and cools this area. Note the mist can also make the bridge and rocks slippery.

Back at the fork, the upper trail (to the right) leads to Upper McCord Creek’s falls. The trail will climb a few more switchbacks in the trees and then begin opening up. This route is carved into the cliff, it should be approached with common sense when hiking with young children or dogs. You will be treated to views across the Columbia River to Table Mountain, Mount Adams and other sites on the Washington side. In just under a mile you will come around a curve in the cliff, Elowah Falls (below) and the twin falls of Upper McCord Creek will come into view.

From the end of the cliff railing, you’ll pass a photogenic viewpoint to Upper McCord Creek Falls, sixty-four-feet tall and splitting into twin chutes around a mossy rock. You’ll get more views down to the creek as it plunges towards the lip of Elowah Falls. A user path leads around the root ball of a large tree to pretty McCord Creek and you can look upstream to a small picturesque cascade.

Now you have to hike back the way you came in. When you get back to your vehicle continue on I-84 East to Yeon State Park. From here take exit 40 from I-84 East (toward Bonneville Dam). Take a right turn onto Yeon State Park. Take another immediate right and follow the road down five-hundred-feet to the parking area. The parking at Wahclella Falls trail is somewhat limited with about twelve spots on either side of the road. If it’s full park at the Tooth Rock Trailhead just up the road. This will add about half a mile to the hike but there’s much more parking there and no fee to park.

Wahclella Falls Trail is about a two-and-a half-mile hike there-and-back that runs close to Cascade Locks, Oregon. It usually takes an hour to finish and is a pretty easy hike. Munra Falls might be a little sideshow to the bigger Wahclella Falls upstream, but this waterfalls is so close that you might get sprayed as you cross the bridge at its base. You can even reach out and touch the water from the bridge in the spring time. This hike is family friendly and very crowded on the weekends.

Past Munra Falls, the trail climbs quite a bit up the east side of the canyon. There are some steep drop offs, so keep close watch on your kids and dogs. After a flight of stairs, you'll soon begin to descend. You eventually come to the former Wahclella Falls Trail Junction. Here trail crews reinforced the area with extensive rock work, but the upper part of the loop remains closed because of ongoing slides and rockfall. Drop down to the right, taking a couple of switchbacks to the lower bridge. The great creek views start at the bridge. Recross the creek on another footbridge, and clamber around the boulders at the mouth of the cool, cedar-shaded amphitheater to get views of Wahclella Falls.

Now it's time to head back out on the same trail you came in on because the loop trail is closed. Once you get back to your vehicle get back on I-84 East and the next stop is the Eagle Creek Trail. The Eagle Creek trail is a twelve mile hike but it is worth it if you have the time. I spent the night in Hood River and came back the following day to do this hike and continue the Columbia River Gorge Waterfall tour. The post on Eagle Creek Trail will be Part 2 of Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls. if your interested in doing this.

While you are at the Eagle Creek parking lot there is also another hike here to see two waterfalls. They are Ruckel Creek Waterfall and Mossy Grotto Falls. The Ruckel Creek Falls is a pretty easy one and two tenths miles. To get here backtrack out towards the highway. Take the path to the right called the Historic Columbia River Hwy State Trail and walk alongside the highway for nearly a half mile. Stop when you are on the bridge and see the Ruckel Creek Trail to your right. If you look left, you will notice a waterfall dropping below you.

If you want to take a longer more difficult hike you can hike up to Mossy Grotto Falls. This is done by taking the Ruckel Creek Trail. Mossy Grotto Falls is a newly discovered waterfall and there isn't much about it on the internet. On the trail, you will climb some pretty good grades through beautiful thickets of forests and a few open meadows. After eight tenths of a mile of hiking, you will arrive at a very large, easily identified clearing, called Indian Pits. Walk about one hundred and fifty feet through the clearing and you will see trampled ground to your right, heading downhill. Follow this unofficial trail as you descend rapidly down a steep grade. Be careful, this part of the hike has some slippery, moss-covered rocks. Once you reach the creek, the falls is just a few hundred feet upstream. NOTE: it is much harder crawling back up the hill to the trail than it is coming down!

Now head back down Ruckel Creek Trail the way you came in. Once you are back at your vehicle you want to continue on I-84 East. You are now headed to Dry Creek Falls which is near the Bridge of the Gods and the Cascade Locks. Both of these are interesting places to stop and take pictures.

To get here Drive I-84 east to Exit 44 for Cascade Locks and Stevenson. After four tenths of a mile, bear right for the Bridge of the Gods and Stevenson. Drive up for one tenth of a mile and turn right into the parking area for the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead.

Dry Creek Falls is a four and a half mile out and back hike. Depending on the time of the day you can skip this one or come back at a later time. It is family friendly and a pretty easy hike. This hike starts you at the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead. From the trailhead, cross the road and head up the Pacific Crest Trail parallel to I-84. There is an old safety fence on your right. Soon, you will come to Moody Street as it crosses under the freeway. Walk the road uphill to the right, passing under the freeway. When the road angles left, keep right on a gravel road a short distance to a boulder-lined parking pullout, the alternative trailhead. Altogether the road walking here is about a hundred yards. The trail to the right is the Gorge Trail headed toward the Ruckel Creek Trail and the Eagle Creek Campground. You will take the Pacific Crest Trail to the left, which also doubles as the Gorge Trail #400 heading east from here.

Once you reach Dry Creek, the trail comes to another dirt road. (Ten yards before this road is the almost invisible junction with the abandoned Rudolph Spur Trail.) Across the road, you'll see the Pacific Crest Trail crossing Dry Creek on a wooden footbridge. To get to Dry Creek Falls, instead of crossing the bridge, turn right here and head up the rough track about two-tenths of a mile to the falls.

After you have taken all of your pictures head back down the trail you came in on. You are now going to leave Hood River Oregon and continue on I-84 East. The next stop is a less crowded hike to Emerald Falls and a little further up to Gordon Creek Falls. Take Exit 51 and go towards Wyeth Campground. If the campground is closed just park along the side of the road.

This is a pretty little hike in the Columbia River Gorge leading to an amazing one-hundred and fifteen-foot secluded waterfall, as well as a very photogenic creek scene below. This hike begins at the Wyeth Trailhead. Follow the trail one-hundred feet to the Gorge-Wyeth Trail Junction near Gorton Creek. The Wyeth Trail heads uphill to the left, and the Gorge Trail #400 leads across the creek to the right, but the one you want is straight ahead. Follow this wide path along the creek nearly level about half a mile, passing several small cascades and coming to a beautiful ten-foot slide named Emerald Falls. This is a great place for hikers with kids to turn around.... but the real adventure is just up ahead.

The official trail ends here but a moderate route continues up the creek on the left side. It dips and twists about one-hundred yards, gaining most of the elevation of the hike as you scramble up boulders and climb on roots near the creek. The "trail" ends at spectacular, two-tiered Gorton Creek Falls. The lower tier is somewhere around eighty feet tall, and the upper tier is smaller, about thirty feet. There are many angles to take pictures of the falls, but the only angle that doesn't hide the upper tier is from straight on. Take a break, then head back the way you came.

Now we continue traveling east on I-84, take Exit #55/Starvation Creek State Park and Rest Area (eastbound exit only) and go to Starvation Creek State Park. The Starvation Ridge and Mt. Defiance trails begin at the west end of the parking lot by walking alongside the freeway.

There are four waterfalls awaiting you in about a mile and a half stretch. From east to west, they are: Starvation Creek Falls, Cabin Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, and Lancaster Falls. I would do the Starvation Creek Falls hike first and the trail starts at the east side of the State Park and it's called the Historic Columbia River State Hwy Trail. Take this short hike until you come to a right turn and this is a dead end hike but it gives you great views of Starvation Creek Falls.

Now turn around and head back the way you came and go to the west end of the State Park. The next waterfall is Cabin Creek Falls and it's about three-tenths of a mile hike.

Continue on the Starvation Ridge trail heading west. The next waterfall is Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. This is about a quarter of a mile down the trail from Cabin Creek Falls.

After you are done taking pictures continue heading west for about another quarter of a mile and you will come to Lancaster Falls.

Now turn around and head back down the trail you came in on. Once you are back at your vehicle you want to head back toward Hood River and that would be I-84 West. If you are doing this as a day trip go to my post Columbia River Gorge Part 3 and this will be the Washington State side of the Columbia River Gorge and the waterfalls you can see there.

If you are calling it a day and want to spend the night go into Hood River by taking I-84 West. You are done with this part of the trip take some time and relax. If you want a great beer head over to Full Sail Brewery. It's located right on the Columbia River. Having their Session Lager is a great way to finish out the day. I'm a dark beer fan and I love their Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. They are located at 506 Columbia St, Hood River, OR 97031 and here is their website: https://fullsailbrewing.com/

If you plan on staying the night in Hood River I recommend the Columbia Gorge Hotel and Spa. The location is awesome and the staff are very friendly and helpful. They do take pets here but there is a pet deposit. They are located at 4000 Westcliff Dr, Hood River, OR 97031 and here is their website: https://www.columbiagorgehotel.com/

There is also plenty to see in downtown Hood River, so grab breakfast and coffee downtown at Ground ( https://www.groundhoodriver.com/ ) and explore. Hood River’s streets were made for strolling, and there are plenty of shops and galleries worth your time.

If you are the type of traveler who likes to get off the beaten path, head to The Heights. Along 12th street, you will find an awesome place called Pine Street Bakery ( https://www.pinestreetbakery.com/ ) and other spots mostly frequented by locals.