There’s plenty to see in the Columbia River Gorge, but we all know what it’s most famous for. Waterfalls.
There are endless waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge (over 90 of them on the Oregon side, alone) but aint nobody got time to see them all. In fact, most people only spend 2 or 3 days exploring the area! Lucky for us normies who only get 2 weeks vacation per year, there are tons of easy waterfall hikes just off the Historic Columbia River Highway, and they are all gorgeous.
The Columbia River Gorge is one of those places you dream and dream of visiting and then when you finally do, you realize… it totally lives up to the hype. A rarity in this golden age of photoshop and model-esque influencers. So if you’re wondering, “is it really THAT pretty?” the answer is: YES. Now let’s get to the planning!
TIPS FOR VISITING THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
1. Buy Your Pass in Advance!
Passes are required for Columbia River Gorge parking areas and need to be visible through your windshield.
You can buy an Annual Northwest Forest Pass for $30 (here) or a Columbia River Gorge Day Pass for $5 / day (here).
2. Research Trail Conditions and Closures.
AllTrails is going to be your best resource when planning your trip! Read the recent reviews for the most up-to-date information on trail conditions. It’s helpful to know how muddy / rocky / technical the trail is before visiting. Trail closures are also really common in the Columbia River Gorge because of forest fires, rock slides, etc. If one of your bucket list trails is open during your trip, don’t miss your opportunity. There’s always a list of closed trails and the list is constantly changing throughout the year.
3. Choose Your Season Wisely.
Spring and Summer are by far the most popular seasons to visit, but they have their downsides too. They both bring major crowds, and in early spring the waterflow is at its peak – which is cool to see, but sometimes makes photography a challenge. At Elowah falls and Latourell falls I couldn’t get many photos without water spots on the lens, even when standing a distance. Fall is a quieter season but has less waterflow and less of the vibrant green vegetation. Winter is reserved for experienced adventurers due to the icy / snowy conditions and steep drop-offs on some of the trails.
4. Avoid Keeping Valuables in your Car.
It’s not very common (and didn’t happen to us), but there are reports on AllTrails of windows being smashed and valuables being stolen. To prevent this, don’t leave anything of value in your car and definitely don’t leave anything in places that are visible through your windows.
5. Expect Rough and Narrow Roads.
You don’t need 4WD or anything special to access these trails, but the roads are often full of potholes and can get narrow in some areas. Plus, every third vehicle you encounter will be a campervan – and I’m not gonna lie, some people don’t know how to drive them. We were pushed out of our lane a few times by drivers that apparently lacked spatial awareness.
6. Pack Really Good Hiking Boots / Shoes [That You Don’t Mind Getting Dirty].
Many of the trails are not only muddy, but also require a bit of light scrambling. It’s usually nothing too crazy, but I recommend boots over shoes for the ankle support!
7. Avoid Weekends.
Even in the “off” seasons, weekends get really busy. Locals love to hike, too! They actually closed some of the exits when we were there (on a Saturday) because the parking lots / roads were so packed. And that was before 10AM! So if you have the option, plan your trip during the week.
8. Prepare for Early Mornings.
Many of the popular trails have limited parking, and the lots fill up really fast!
Assuming you haven’t already bypassed the travel tips… Let’s get the waterfalls!
1. Multnomah Falls
* ROAD SIDE STOP*
The photo of everyone’s un-customized desktop background! Multnomah Falls is the most famous (and busiest) of all the Columbia River Gorge waterfall hikes, and it is incredibly easy to get to.
This waterfall is pretty commercialized – there’s a restaurant and gift shop right next to the falls – so don’t expect to get the place to yourself or feel ‘immersed in nature’. But it’s still well worth a quick stop! And that’s coming from someone who hates crowds.
NOTE: There is an official Multnomah Falls ‘trail’ but this picture was taken just steps from the parking lot. The view from the top is honestly not near as gorgeous as the view from the bottom!
TIP FOR VISITING MULTNOMAH FALLS:
- Arrive early. Parking fills up VERY early! When we visited, the lot was full by 9:30AM on a weekday. Francis just dropped me off and picked me up because there was nowhere to park. And the weekend was even worse! No matter what time you get there it’s going to be busy, but it’ll be slightly better in the early morning. You might (at the very least) find some parking in the Oneota Trail parking area up the road.
- Don’t worry about getting a good photo. The above photo was taken from the viewpoint with a 16mm lens. I was surrounded by other tourists and I basically just snapped the picture, enjoyed the view for a minute, and then left. You really can’t take a bad photo of this waterfall!
2. Wahclella Falls
TRAIL INFO
Distance: 1.9 Miles
Elevation: 223 Feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Out & Back
Looking for easy Columbia River Gorge hikes that are gorgeous from start to finish? Wahclella Falls should be at the top of your list!
This hike starts out as a very flat gravel trail and then ends with a slow climb upwards. Along the way, you’ll encounter several other waterfalls – some are seen at a distance, but some are right along the path! This trail is also packed with lush, green vegetation (plus some cool mushrooms!) and runs right along the river.
The trail itself is gorgeous, but obviously the star of the hike is Wahclella Falls and it is well worth the effort to get there! This waterfall is stunning from all angles, and there’s plenty of cool places to snap a photo. Of all the waterfalls we saw, this was my favorite!
3. Horsetail Falls
* ROAD SIDE STOP*
This was the first waterfall that we saw in the Columbia River Gorge – it’s super easy to get to and doesn’t really fall under the ‘hikes’ category since it’s right off the road. Keep in mind though, this waterfall is right next to the trailhead for Ponytail Falls (mentioned later in this post) so you can knock out 2 waterfalls in one hike!
NOTE: The parking lot for both Ponytail and Horsetail falls is just across the road from Horsetail Falls. You can’t miss it!
4. Latourell Falls
TRAIL INFO [FOR FULL LOOP]
Distance: 2 Miles
Elevation: 640 Feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Type: Loop
Of all the easy hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, Latourell is the most convenient! Only 30 minutes from Portland’s city center, it is incredibly popular and the parking lot starts filling up as early as 8:30AM.
This 250 foot waterfall is definitely not to be missed, but in early spring you won’t be able to get very close without getting misted in the face. Not a big deal, but it does make getting a clear picture kind of difficult!
TIPS FOR HIKING TO LATOURELL FALLS
- Short on time? Skip the loop. The walk down to the base of the falls is very short and easy. There is a longer, moderate trail [beginning at Latourell Falls] that is really scenic if you have the time / energy for it! I listed those trail facts above.
- Pack a Wide Angle Lens. This waterfall is 250 feet high! If you’re taking pictures on your phone this shouldn’t be an issue, but if you’re using a DSLR you’ll want a wide angle lens to capture the full height of the falls. My 11 – 16mm lens is the only one I used on our trip! Just be mindful of where you, or others, are standing in your photo. The edges of the frame are going to be slightly warped because of the “fish eye” effect.
5. Elowah Falls
TRAIL INFO
Distance: 2.2 Miles
Elevation: 420 Feet
Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
Trail Type: Out & Back
Yet another misty waterfall! This easy and short trail is actually one of the quieter Columbia River Gorge hikes. We only encountered one other couple along the way!
Once we got within 50 feet of the falls, we started getting misted. When the wind picked up, it was pretty intense! But once we got used to getting drenched (and found a way to deal with our wet camera lens… sort of) it was actually a lot of fun getting photos.
NOTE: This hike is actually part of a larger trail (Elowah and Upper McCord Creek Trail) but for the purposes of this post, we’re focusing on the star – Elowah Falls. The trail facts above ONLY apply if you hike directly to Elowah and back again.
The Elowah Falls trail is consistently uphill until your reach the fork in the trail. One direction takes you uphill to Upper McCord Creek and the other direction takes you downhill to Elowah Falls. The downhill has a lot of steep drop-offs, but nothing that someone with a healthy fear of heights would be put off by. Just remember, you have to hike back up at the end!
TIPS FOR HIKING TO ELOWAH FALLS
- Bring Trekking Poles. This is obviously optional, but I ended up grabbing a walking stick on the way up and it made the hike significantly easier! I just turned 30 and apparently my knees just turned 60, so my hiking gear needs to evolve.
- Pack a Wide Angle Lens. Elowah Falls is almost as tall as Latourell, and also requires a wider lens! As I mentioned before, this really only applies if you’re using a DSLR and shouldn’t be an issue when taking pictures on your phone.
6. Bridal Veil Falls
TRAIL INFO
Distance: 0.5 Miles
Elevation: 78 Feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Out & Back
This trail is very easy and one of the more well-developed hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. The trail is ALL downhill at the start and ALL uphill at the end, but it’s fairly gradual, mostly paved, and has several benches along the way where you can rest.
We actually almost skipped this waterfall because it didn’t look all that amazing from the top (which can be seen right from the road), so when we reached the base I was definitely surprised! It’s gorgeous!
NOTE: There is a decent amount of parking in the lot and there are bathrooms at the trailhead, so this is a good place for a rest stop!
7. Ponytail Falls
TRAIL INFO
Distance: 0.9 Miles
Elevation: 331 Feet
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Type: Out & Back
If you’re already checking out Horsetail Falls, I highly recommend making the trek up to Ponytail! There are plenty of cool waterfall hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, but this easy 1 mile trail takes you to a waterfall that can be seen from all angles. I don’t know what it is about walking behind a waterfall, but it is vastly more enjoyable than walking in front of one. Am I right?
TIPS FOR HIKING TO PONYTAIL FALLS
- Extend Your Hike. Ponytail Falls is the turn-around point if you want to keep it short, but if you have more time and energy you can continue down the trail and link up with the Oneota Trail and Gorge Trail.
Extending your trip? There’s more to explore in Oregon!
Looking for more Oregon waterfalls? Get all the info you need to hike the Tamanawas Falls Trail!
Extending your trip to the coast? Check out these easy stops off the Oregon Coast Highway
Have a little more time to stretch your legs? I found the 10 most scenic hiking trails off Highway 101!
