With more than 90 waterfalls, knowing which ones to prioritize makes all the difference. This guide covers the best Columbia River Gorge waterfalls on both the Oregon and Washington sides, with trail stats and insider tips from our 30+ trips to the Gorge.
The Columbia River Gorge has more than 90 waterfalls. Let that sink in.
I’ve been visiting the Gorge for years, and I still haven’t seen them all. (Not even close)
Some are roadside stops you can see from your car window. Others require a full day of hiking through old-growth forest to reach. Most fall somewhere in between, and almost all of them are worth your time.
The hard part isn’t finding waterfalls in the Gorge… It’s knowing which ones to prioritize. That’s what this guide is for. I’ve rounded up my personal favorites on both the Oregon and Washington sides, with everything you need to plan your visit: trail stats, fees, parking tips, and honest notes on what to expect.
→ Want more details? Check out our complete Columbia River Gorge guide, featuring the region’s best towns, wineries, breweries, things to do beyond the trails.
My personal experience in the Gorge
Being that we live just a 2.5-hour drive from the Columbia River Gorge, we go all the time. And when I say all the time, I mean it. We go at least once per season, and oftentimes more.
I have favorite restaurants and favorite waterfalls in the Gorge that I love to return to, but I’m also always finding new gems, making me fall in love with this spot over and over again.
Best time to visit? Honestly, I love this area at all times of the year and think each has its own draw. But if I had to choose, spring might just be my favorite because waterfalls are at their highest flow, wildflowers are blooming, and temperatures are comfortable.
1. Multnomah Falls
- Known for: Oregon’s tallest waterfall, the classic Benson Bridge photo
- Fee: Free to visit; timed parking permits required 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. from late May through early September, $2 via Recreation.gov
- Google Maps location
Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest waterfall at 620 feet and the most visited natural site in the entire Pacific Northwest.
It’s iconic for a reason: Two tiers, a historic 1925 lodge, and a bridge view that is genuinely jaw-dropping. Yes, it’s crowded. Go anyway.
You don’t have to do any hiking to reach this waterfall as the iconic view is right off the parking lot. However, if you want to get a different view, the Multnomah Falls Trail takes you up the mountain to view the upper falls up close.
Insider tip: Arrive before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to skip the permit requirement and beat the crowds. The Columbia Gorge Express shuttle from Portland is a great option if permits are sold out.
2. Bridal Veil Falls
- Known for: Two-tiered drop, wildflower meadow loop trail, quieter than its neighbors
- Distance: 0.6 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 121 feet
- Fee: Free
- AllTrails notes
A two-tiered beauty that drops 120 feet into a mossy canyon. Because Multnomah gets all the attention, you might actually have this one to yourself.
There are two short trails here: one to the falls, one along the cliffs above the river. Do both.
Insider tip: Combine with short walks to Shepperd’s Dell and Latourell Falls for a great waterfall corridor day on the Historic Highway.
3. Horsetail & Ponytail Falls
- Known for: Walk-behind waterfall at Ponytail Falls, roadside viewpoint at the base
- Distance: 0.8 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 318 feet
- Fee: Northwest Forest Pass required
- AllTrails notes
You can see this one right from the road, a 176-foot plunge that greets you before you even park. But don’t stop there.
The short hike up to Ponytail Falls is the real treat: the trail passes directly behind the falls through a basalt overhang, which is one of the cooler experiences in the entire Gorge.
Insider tip: Add on to the Oneonta Loop for a longer day hitting multiple falls. Wear proper shoes—the trail to Ponytail is rocky and can be slippery.
4. Panther Creek Falls
- Known for: Dramatically complex multi-tier cascade, Washington side hidden gem
- Distance: 0.3 miles out and back to the upper lookout; I recommend making it down to the lower lookout, which is about 0.5 miles one way
- Elevation gain: 100 feet
- Fee: Free (small day-use parking fee, bring cash)
- AllTrails notes
Not exactly on the Columbia River Gorge, but it’s too good to leave off this list. Panther Creek Falls is one of the most unique and complex waterfalls in the region, and most people have never heard of it.
Most of the creek channels into a deep groove creating a two-tier plunge, while a separate portion drops directly into the same pool, plus springs that spill 100 feet down a mossy face alongside the falls. It looks completely different from anything else in the area, and it sees much fewer crowds than any of the falls that are directly on the Gorge.
The trailhead is easy to miss – it’s unmarked and across from a rock quarry pullout on Forest Road 65. Be sure you download the offline map before you go as cell service is nonexistent out here.
Insider tip: After your hike, head to Backwoods Brewing in Carson for pizza and a pint.
→ Check out our Panther Creek Falls trail guide on our sister site for more information!
5. Falls Creek Falls
- Known for: Three-tier 335-foot cascade, gorgeous old-growth forest trail, suspension bridge
- Distance: 3.4 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 750 feet
- Fee: Free
- AllTrails notes
Not far from Panther Creek Falls, the two of these make a perfect combination. This is one of my absolute favorite waterfalls in the PNW!
One of southern Washington’s highest waterfalls at 335 feet, Falls Creek Falls drops in three tiers that plunge into a narrow amphitheater gorge.
The trail to get there winds through stunning old-growth cedar forest alongside the creek the whole way, making the approach almost as good as the destination.
⚠️ The access road is gated December through March, which adds 4 miles round trip. Check road conditions before you go. It’s rough and potholed even when open, but worth every bump!
→ Check out our Falls Creek Falls trail guide on our sister site for more information!
6. Latourell Falls
- Known for: Vivid lichen-stained basalt cliff, photography favorite, easy access
- Distance: 2.3 miles loop (or just 0.2 miles to the base viewpoint)
- Elevation gain: 475 feet
- Fee: Free
- AllTrails notes
This is one of the more underrated waterfalls in the Gorge. The 224-foot single-plunge drop falls over a semicircular basalt amphitheater covered in brilliant yellow-green lichen, which is a color combo you won’t find anywhere else.
It’s also one of the first waterfalls you hit on the Historic Highway from Portland, setting the bar impossibly high.
You can see the lower falls from the parking lot in under a minute. The full loop adds Upper Latourell Falls and is absolutely worth the extra effort. The trail passes close enough to walk nearly under the lower falls.
7. Wahclella Falls
- Known for: Dramatic canyon setting, towering basalt walls, accessible for all levels
- Distance: 1.9 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 288 feet
- Fee: Northwest Forest Pass or $5 day use
- AllTrails notes
The trail follows Tanner Creek through a narrow, fern-draped canyon to a two-tiered falls that drops into a deep pool surrounded by towering basalt walls on three sides.
It feels almost prehistoric and completely separate from the real world. Just long enough to feel like a real hike, just short enough to do on a day full of waterfall hopping!
Insider tip: Easy to pair with a visit to the Bonneville Fish Hatchery right nearby.
⚠️ Check AllTrails before going. As of early 2026, this trail was closed due to landslide damage.
8. Oneonta Falls (Oneonta Gorge)
- Known for: Slot canyon wade, logjam obstacle course, totally one-of-a-kind experience
- Distance: 0.6 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: None
- Fee: Free
- WTA notes
A narrow, moss-covered chasm where the creek fills the canyon wall to wall, this is one of the most visually stunning slot canyons in the Pacific Northwest.
The rocky creek bed is the trail, just 0.3 miles to the base of a 100-foot falls, with a logjam and chest-deep wading pools to navigate along the way. This is an adventure, not a hike.
If you’ve ever been to The Narrows in Zion, this is kind of like that…
⚠️ Warning: This trail is currently closed due to fire damage and ongoing hazards, but there are rumors that it will be reopening soon. Check official USFS sources for updates before planning a visit. When it reopens: wear water shoes, go in late summer when water levels are lowest, and expect to get fully soaked.
9. Pool of the Winds
- Known for: Enclosed pool surrounded by rock, three waterfalls in one hike, Washington-side gem
- Distance: 5.4 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 2,057 feet
- Fee: Washington Discover Pass
- AllTrails notes
Not a standalone waterfall hike, but an unforgettable stop on the Hamilton Mountain Trail on the Washington side. The Pool of the Winds is an enclosed rocky bowl at the base of a waterfall – dark, misty, and dramatic, with wind from the rushing water hitting you in the face.
On the way you’ll also pass Hardy Falls and Rodney Falls, making this one of the best waterfall-per-mile ratios in the Gorge.
Insider tip: The Pool of the Winds is just the first couple miles—you don’t have to summit to see it. Beacon Rock is nearby and worth adding if you have the legs for it.
10. Lower Lewis Falls
- Known for: Wild swimming, old-growth forest setting, multi-waterfall trail option
- Distance: 1.9 miles out and back to lower falls only
- Elevation gain: 229 feet
- Fee: Northwest Forest Pass required; additional $2 timed parking reservation required June 15 through September 15 via Recreation.gov
- AllTrails notes
Located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, this isn’t on the Gorge per se, but it’s very much worth adding onto your visit to the area.
A wide, horseshoe-shaped falls that spans nearly 200 feet across the Lewis River. Dramatic in a completely different way from the tall, narrow falls elsewhere in the Gorge. Think wide, powerful, and wild.
This is the perfect place to swim on a hot summer day!
The surrounding old-growth cedar and hemlock forest is stunning, and you can continue upriver to Middle and Upper Lewis Falls if you want more. Bring a lunch and make a day of it.
⚠️ The road in can be rough (high clearance helps). The road is gated in winter, so confirm access on the Forest Service website before making the drive.
11. Starvation Creek Falls
- Known for: roadside waterfall, fascinating history, gateway to a four-waterfall trail
- Fee: Free
- Google Maps location
Completely overlooked by most Gorge visitors, this two-tiered falls is tucked directly behind a highway rest area off I-84, making it one of the easiest waterfall stops in the entire Gorge.
If you’re wondering about the name, I was too. A train got stranded in a snowbank here in 1884 and passengers were trapped for three weeks. Thankfully, everyone survived thanks to locals skiing in supplies.
Insider tip: Don’t stop at just the main falls. The paved trail west of the parking lot connects to Cabin Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, and Lancaster Falls (4 named waterfalls in about 2 miles total). Grab a picnic from Hood River before you go and make a day of it.
12. Tunnel Falls
- Known for: Walk-behind tunnel waterfall, epic canyon trail, Punchbowl Falls en route
- Distance: 12.7 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 2,142 feet
- Fee: $5 per vehicle day use or Northwest Forest Pass
- AllTrails notes
The bucket list hike of the Columbia River Gorge, this is the only one on this list that I haven’t seen personally, yet. It’s at the top of my “to see” list because it looks absolutely incredible.
The Eagle Creek Trail passes half a dozen major waterfalls through a dramatic canyon corridor, all building toward a waterfall with a literal tunnel carved through the cliff behind it.
You walk through the tunnel with the falls roaring on the other side. It looks unreal.
Insider tip: Start early, bring trekking poles, and don’t underestimate the distance. Even if you can’t make it all the way, Punchbowl Falls at mile 2 is a worthy destination on its own.
⚠️ Currently closed due to significant storm damage and landslides from December 2025. Check the USFS Columbia River Gorge website for reopening updates.
Plan your trip to the Pacific Northwest
Being that Oregon is our home state and we also lived in Washington for a while, we have TONS of content to help you plan your trip. Start with our homepages for Oregon and Washington and be sure to check out the articles below. Leave us a comment if you have any more questions!
- Start with this list of the best things to do in Washington State (our favorite US state! shhh…don’t tell our fellow Oregonians).
- We know all the best things to do in Bend, Oregon (we live here!)
- If you need more ideas, here are some incredible places to visit in Oregon.
- Read up on all the weirdly awesome things to do in Portland.
- If you’re headed west, here are all the cutest Oregon Coast towns.
- Don’t miss the cutest little town in Washington state: Leavenworth (we lived there for 8 months and have all the local secrets!).
- Keep this Washington National Parks guide close by.
Want to explore the PNW like a local?
If you want to save yourself hours of research planning your Pacific Northwest road trip, we’ve got something you might be interested in…
We created the ultimate resource for traveling in our home-region. Our custom PNW Map includes our top recommendations in Washington and Oregon, (including all 4 national parks in the region!).
We loaded this map with all of our favorite spots, personal tips and photos, and hidden gems we’ve run into as we continue to explore our little corner of the world.
This custom Google Map will help you navigate the PNW like a local!
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We want to hear from you!
Have you visited any of these Columbia River Gorge waterfalls? We’d love to hear about your experience! Drop a comment and let us know — and if you have any questions before your trip, we’re happy to help.
Katie Diederichs is the lead writer and co-founder of Two Wandering Soles, where she creates in-depth travel guides, itineraries, and tips designed to help readers plan better trips with confidence. With a background in journalism, photography, and design, she combines thorough research with firsthand experience to deliver clear, practical, and visually driven travel content. As the primary trip planner, Katie turns complex logistics into easy-to-follow advice travelers can actually use.