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Left: Chris and Purdy marry at Crown Point in Columbia Gorge bathed in the glow of a summer sunrise. Christina Brittain officiating.

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OREGON Waterfalls

This great density of waterfalls is accessible from a portion of the Historic Columbia River Highway. You can get there from I-84.  If you're coming from the west, you can exit at Troutdale (Exit 17), Lewis and Clark State Park (Exit 18), Corbett (Exit 22), Bridal Veil (Exit 28 or Dodson (Exit 35). If you're coming from the east, you can exit at Dodson [Exit 35], Bridal Veil [Exit 28] or Corbett (Exit 22].

Latourell Falls
Type: plunge    Height: 249 feet    Access: car or hike
In Guy W. Talbot State Park, this fall of Latourell Creek is named after Joseph Latourell, a prominent Columbia River Gorge settler. It is on the Historic Highway, 3.4 miles west of Exit 28 off I-84. It's a short walk to the viewpoint from the park's picnic area to the viewpoint. Park has small picnic shelter for wedding reception.

Upper Latourell Falls
Type: plunge    Height: 75-100 feet    Access: hiking
This is 0.8 miles along the trail from Latourell Falls (above). You can get to both falls from the Historic Highway, 3.4 miles west of Exit 28 off I-84. It is possible to walk behind the falling water.

Sheppards Dell Falls
Type: tiered    Height: upper falls 35-50 feet; lower falls 40-60 feet   Access: car-hiking
The two tiers of this falls can be seen from the bridge crossing at Sheppards Dell State Park, two miles west on the Historic Highway from Exit 28 off I-84. The lower falls is a horsetail formation and the upper falls is a plunge formation.

Bridal Veil Falls
Type: tiered    Height: upper: 60-100 feet; lower 40-60 feet   Access: car-hiking
Bridal Veil Creek abruptly drops twice. The parking area for this falls is about one mile west of Exit 28 off I-84. A short trail winds down to the base of the lower tier. Along the pathway, look across the Columbia River towards views of seasonal falls on the Washington side of the Gorge.

Wahkeena Falls
Type: tiered    Height: 242 feet    Access: car or hiking
This fall along Wahkeena Creek can be seen from the Wahkeena picnic area across the Historic Highway. There are parking spaces at the picnic area. It is 0.5 miles west of Multnomah Falls. The Yakama Tribe word "wahkeena" means "most beautiful."

Fairy Falls
Type: fan    Height: 20-30 feet    Access: hiking
This waterfall along Wahkeena Creek is 1.1 miles up from the trailhead of Wahkeena Trail #420. You can access this trailhead at Wahkeena Falls, which is 0.5 miles west of Multnomah Falls on the Historic Highway.

Triple Falls
Type: segmented    Height: 100-135 feet Access: hiking
The Triple Falls viewpoint is on Oneonta Trail #424, 1.7 miles from its trailhead. The trailhead is 0.8 miles past the junction with Horsetail Falls Trail #438. The Horsetail Falls trailhead is 2.5 miles east of Multnomah Falls on Historic Highway. Triple Falls plunges along Oneonta Creek. It is of triplet form, not triple as the name implies.

Horsetail Falls
Type: horsetail  Height: 176 feet  Access: car or hiking
This classic example of a horsetail formation along Horsetail Creek can be viewed from a turnout on the Historic Highway, 2.5 miles east of Multnomah Falls. Just west of this wealth of waterfalls is the historic Vista House at Crown Point State Park. This historic building on the Historic Columbia River Highway provides a gorgeous panorama.

Tanner Creek and Eagle Creek Area Waterfalls
 

Wahclella Falls
Type: tiered  Height: upper 15-25 feet; lower 50-70 feet  Access: hiking
This thunderous waterfall is in the Tanner Creek area. To get there, turn off I-84 at Bonneville Dam (Exit 40) and proceed south several hundred yards to the Tanner Creek Trail parking area. Start at the trailhead and hike 0.5 mile to the trail's end at the falls. East Fork Falls can also be seen streaming above the descent from a vantage on the west side of Tanner Creek.

Metlako Falls
Type: plunge    Height: 100-150 feet    Access: hiking
The viewpoint is 1.5 miles from the trailhead of Eagle Creek Trail #440 on Eagle Creek Park. If you're coming from the west on I-84, take Exit 41. If you're coming from the east, you'll make a U-turn: take I-84 west, exit at Exit 40, go on I-84 East and take Exit 41. The waterfall was named in 1915 after the legendary Indian goddess of salmon.

Punch Bowl Falls
Type: punch bowl   Height: 10-15 feet   Access: hiking
Punch Bowl Falls may sound short but it is exquisite and is a classic example of a punchbowl formation. Like Metlako Falls, it is also at Eagle Creek Park. If you're coming from the west on I-84, take Exit 41. If you're coming from the east, you'll make a U-turn: take I-84 west, exit at Exit 40, go on I-84 East and take Exit 41. Hike 2.1 miles from the trailhead of Eagle Creek Trail #440 (0.6 mile past Metlako Falls viewpoint) to a short side trial leading to the falls.

Wah Gwin Gwin Falls
At the back of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, Wah Gwin Gwin Falls flows from Phelps Creek to drop 208' into the Columbia River.  The third highest falls in the gorge, the name comes from the Native American dialect meaning, "rushing and tumbling waters."

WASHINGTON Waterfalls

Most waterfalls are limited to the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge because landslides modify the steepness on the Washington side. The entire region's bedrock material is tilted slightly southward. When it is water saturated, the upper basaltic layers on the north side of the river slide into the Gorge. Thus, waterfalls on the Washington side are fewer and smaller.

But mentioned here is a waterfall complemented by 600-foot geologic projection, Beacon Rock adjacent to State Route 14, Washington State's main highway along the Columbia River. To get to the Beacon Rock area from I-84, take Exit 44 Cascade Locks and cross Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River to Washington State. Take S.R. 14 westward for 7 miles until you are greeted by the impressive Beacon Rock.

Hardy Falls
Type: horsetail    Height: 80-120 feet    Access: hiking
Turn north off S.R. 14 onto the spur road across from Beacon Rock. Drive 0.3 miles to the picnic area and the trailhead of Hamilton Mountain Trial. After a moderate climb of about 1.25 miles, reach two short spur paths. The upper path to the far right leads to a viewpoint overlooking the drop along Hardy Creek.