Columbia River Gorge, oregon
Attractions Guide

East of Portland is the extremely scenic Columbia River Gorge area, where you'll find many stunning massive waterfalls, including the famous Multnomah Falls.

The Columbia River Gorge separates the state of Washington on the northern side, and Oregon on the southern side of the river. On the Oregon side of the river, most of the waterfalls along the gorge are connected via the Historic Columbia River Highway.

The following attractions are listed in order heading eastwards along the Columbia River Gorge beginning near Portland. If you're coming from the north or west, such as from Mt. Rainier or My. St. Helens, you can follow these attractions in reverse order towards Portland.

Driving east along the Columbia River Gorge, the first attraction you'll encounter is the Crown Point State Scenic Corridor Vista House, which offers fantastic views over the river gorge from high above.

Nearby Crown Point is the first major waterfall of the gorge, the stunning Latourell Falls, which can be seen with a very short walk. From Latourell Falls you might consider the steep hike up to see the mesmerizing Upper Latourell Falls, which can be reached via a 1.6 mile (2.6 km) round-trip trail from the parking lot.

Bridal Veil Falls

A bit further up the highway from Latourell Falls you can stop to see the striking Bridal Veil Falls, which can be easily reached via a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) round-trip trail.

Further east along the highway you'll find Wahkeena Falls, a marvelous two-drop waterfall. If you'd like, you can hike up the hill past Wahkeena Falls to the mystifying Fairy Falls. To reach Fairy Falls it's about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) round-trip from the parking lot.

Nearby Wahkeena Falls is the most iconic waterfall in Oregon, the majestic towering Multnomah Falls, which is about 620 feet (190 m) tall. The best view of Multnomah Falls is from below, however you can also hike up to the bridge to that spans over the lower portion of the waterfall.

Continue beyond the bridge up the pathway from Multnomah Falls to see more waterfalls, including Dutchman Falls and Wiesendanger Falls, the latter requiring a hike of about 2.8 miles (4.5 km) round-trip to reach from the Multnomah Falls Lodge. You can add an additional 0.4 miles (0.6 km) round-trip to see the nearby Ecola Falls.

If you'd like, you can continue beyond Ecola Falls and connect with the Wahkeena Trail #420 in order to form a loop which passes Fairy Falls and Wahkeena Falls. This route featuring many waterfalls is approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) round-trip.

Further along the highway is the incredible Oneonta Gorge Trail which follows along a picturesque lush gorge past several amazing waterfalls, including Upper Oneonta Falls, as well as the stunning Triple Falls, a rare triple waterfall. The round-trip distance for hiking this gorge is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) if you turn back at Triple Falls (the fourth waterfall in the gorge).

Be sure to bring waterproof hiking boots or water shoes for this strikingly scenic gorge hike as you'll be walking through water for a significant portion of the trail.

Very close-by the Oneonta Gorge you can see two beautiful waterfalls, Horsetail Falls and Ponytail Falls, via a 1 mile (1.6 km) round-trip trail. Alternatively it's possible to see these waterfalls along your Oneonta Gorge hike by adding on about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) round-trip concluding at the Oneonta Gorge Trailhead.

Another popular gorge hike which also requires waterproof hiking boots is the scenic Eagle Creek Trail, which hosts several spectacular waterfalls as well as a swimming hole. This trail typically ends at the beautiful Punchbowl Falls and requires a round-trip hiking distance of about 4.7 miles (7.6 km).

If you cross the Columbia River to Washington and continue east along the river you can see one of the most gorgeous waterfalls in Washington, which most people don't even know exists. This waterfall is Spirit Falls, and the 0.8 mile (1.3 km) round-trip trail to reach the falls is short but extremely challenging and steep. The hike is not technically along a trail, but more of a well-marked and clearly defined route down the canyon.

Spirt Falls is a vibrant bright light blue color and is surrounded by lush forests. If you're ready for a technical and challenging hike to see a breathtaking waterfall, then Spirit Falls is definitely worth the effort to see.