Best Waterfalls To See Near Portland
There are dozens of beautiful waterfalls you can visit along the scenic Columbia River Highway. Some of them require a short hike, some that require a little more effort to get to, and some that only need you to hop out of your car. Either way, they are all stunning and you will want to have your camera with you!
When people think of waterfalls in Oregon, Multnomah Falls is usually the first one that comes to mind.
Multnomah Falls is Oregon's tallest waterfall and is also the most visited natural attraction in Oregon.
Multnomah Falls is stunning but did you know there are over a dozen other amazing waterfalls you can visit all on the same stretch of road that is the scenic Columbia River Highway?
The following waterfalls are an easy day trip from Portland and can be reached via the I-84 heading east. It is approximately a 45 minute drive and there are many other interesting attractions to see and visit along the Columbia River Gorge highway.
Stunning Waterfalls You Must See Near Portland
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Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is a roaring 611 foot cascading waterfall that is easily accessed via the parking lot below.
This waterfall is the most visited and most photographed of the waterfalls along the scenic Columbia River Highway.
For a closer view, walk several hundred feet along the paved trail to the bridge which spans the falls first tier.
From here you will have the perfect view of the top tier's full 542 foot height. You can keep going if you’re in the mood to make it to the top.
Triple Falls
Triple Falls is not one but three parallel waterfalls that drop 135 feet. To see this waterfall it will require a five mile hike which begins at the Oneonta trail head.
Big-leaf maples and vine maples make this a beautiful hike in Autumn.
Ponytail Falls
Ponytail Falls is a favorite among photographers since you can get some unique shots from behind the waterfall itself.
This is the easiest of the waterfalls to hike out to in the Columbia River Gorge at only 0.3 miles one way. It is heavily trafficked but is good for all skill levels and accessible all year.
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls is a 249-foot plunge waterfall and is usually the first waterfall seen along the Columbia River Highway.
This waterfall is most recognized for the large patch of bright yellow lichen adorning the cliff face to the right of the falls which makes for some visually pleasing photographs.
Latourell Falls is a short hike from the parking lot to the bottom of the falls.
Wahkeena Falls
Wahkeena Falls is a 242-foot waterfall which has a subtle cascading flow. While it’s not as impressive as the other plunging waterfalls around here like Latourell or Multnomah, it does have it’s own unique beauty.
To reach Wahkeena Falls you need to hike a short 0.5 miles from the parking lot to get to this waterfall. If you have energy you can continue along this trail up a few switchbacks to a viewpoint that provides expansive vista’s of the Columbia River Gorge.
Punchbowl Falls
Punchbowl Falls is accessed via the Eagle Creek trail which is a popular hiking trail for folks from Portland. The hike itself is quite spectacular with cliffs on both sides that can be a little scary if you are afraid of heights.
Once you get to the end of the trail there is a small rocky pool you can wade out in and then swim over to the waterfall. If you are daring enough there is a small cliff close by where you can jump into the creek below.
Photo by: Peter Weir
Tunnel Falls
Tunnel Falls plunges 160 feet from the towering basalt cliff above into the creek below. The coolest thing about this waterfall is that you can walk behind it!
Tunnel Falls is quite a hike at 12 miles round trip. It does require stamina and you need to start the hike early. To get to Tunnel Falls you begin on the Eagle Creek trail which is the same trail that leads to Punchbowl Falls.
Photo by: Waterfalls Northwest
Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls is located right beside the Columbia River Highway and requires no hiking whatsoever to get to. It can easily be seen from the road too if you don’t have time to get out of the car.
This waterfall is located only a minute or two away from the popular Multnomah Falls so you really have no excuse to not see it. In our opinion it is one of the prettiest waterfalls in the area so we highly recommend that you do make the time to stop and see it.
Horsetail Falls is much less crowded than Multnomah Falls even though it is easily accessed. This means you might be able to get a photo without anyone in the way. This waterfall is especially photogenic as it plunges over a moss-covered rock wall.
Photo by: Waterfalls Northwest
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