The Pacific Northwest undertones of Portland in northwest Oregon are enhanced by large waterfalls. A short bus or drive from the city will take you to some of Oregon’s and perhaps the nation’s top waterfalls.
In the nearby Columbia River Gorge National Recreation Area to the north are many of Portland’s closest waterfalls. This narrow river passage that separates Oregon and Washington is adorned with breathtaking waterfalls. Along the Historic Columbia River Highway, many of these waterfalls create splashes.
By 2022, a Waterfall Corridor Permit will be required to access several of the gorge’s most well-known waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls.
10 best and beautiful waterfalls near Portland
The gorge is a fantastic and never-ending place to see Portland waterfalls. It’s not the only place around the city with gravitational pull, though. Short excursions to waterfalls in places like Mount Hood National Forest are worthwhile, while Silver Falls State Park, which is close to Salem, Oregon, is well-known for its Trail of Ten Falls.
With our list of the best waterfalls close to Portland, you may create your own Northwest postcard.
1. Shepperd’s Dell Falls
A beautiful roadside waterfall located along the Historic Columbia Highway is called Shepperd’s Dell Falls. It is frequently used as a short rest stop along this portion of the roadway that is lined with numerous waterfalls because getting there doesn’t require much of a trek. But it’s definitely worth stopping on the side of the road because it has two tiers and old masonry construction leading to a lookout.
The distance back and forth between the historic steps is less than 0.2 miles. All skill levels should be able to manage the descent. In the event of rain, the path may be treacherous. The waterfall can be seen in part directly from the road. Visitors must stay off the narrow bridge that over the falls, though.
2. Mt. Hood National Forest – Ramona Falls
There are additional waterfall choices nearby to Portland in the similarly stunning Mount Hood National Forest. One of the most renowned and nearby waterfalls is Ramona Falls. However, it also necessitates a moderate journey across wilderness terrain, discouraging the typical roadside aficionado.
About 50 miles from the city centre, on the west side of Mount Hood, is the Ramona Falls Trailhead. It should take roughly 90 minutes to drive there. Once at the trailhead, hikers can embark on a roughly seven-mile lollipop loop through the beautiful forest. At Ramona Falls’ base, the trail exits Mount Hood Wilderness and returns.
Because of the picturesque Sandy River, the trail is made more difficult. In the spring and winter, the river ebbs and flows with unpredictable fury. A hiker was fatally injured in 2014 when a flash flood collapsed a hiker bridge over the river. In order to reach the falls, hikers must ford this river, as this bridge has not been rebuilt and will not be. Before arriving at the trailhead, check the local weather.
3. Bridal Veil Falls
In the Columbia River Gorge, Bridal Veil Falls offers a reasonably straightforward waterfall walk. The viewpoint can be reached after a steep, downward 0.3-mile hike from the trailhead, which is located just off the Historic Columbia River Highway. And the two-tiered waterfall, which drops 80 feet beneath a historic bridge constructed in 1914, does not let visitors down.
The trailhead off the Historic Columbia River Highway splits into two hiking routes (near milepost 28). While the paved Overlook Trail maintains a gentler path, the dirt waterfall trail rapidly loses elevation. A suggested side trip offers amazing views of the Columbia River Gorge on the half-mile Overlook Trail.
A working lumber mill was originally located near Bridal Veil Falls. Although most of this historic activity is lost to the changing terrain, remnants from this era are still on show. The Bridal Veil Falls trailhead has bathrooms and picnic tables.
4. Tunnel Falls, Eagle Creek Trail
Another magnificent waterfall that contributes to the Eagle Creek Trail’s legendary reputation is Tunnel Falls. It’s a significantly longer journey than visiting Punch Bowl Falls because the trailhead is six miles away (1.8 miles). For those who are ready to do the 12-mile round trip, the extra effort is worthwhile because Tunnel Falls’ course passes through a basalt rock face, living up to its name.
Near a vertical rock face, Tunnel Falls itself plunges nearly 170 feet. Either tunnel entrance would be soaked by the force. The passage through the rock is roughly broad enough for two hikers to slip through yet isn’t lengthy enough to entirely lose daylight.
5. Trail of Ten Falls, Silver Falls State Park
The renowned Trail of Ten Falls National Recreation Trail may be found in Silver Falls State Park. This incredible display of constant gravity is located just east of Salem, about 60 miles south of Portland. With one of Oregon’s top campgrounds, Silver Falls also tempts weekend travellers with its accessible day getaways from Salem.
The largest waterfall on the Trail of Ten Falls, South Falls is perhaps its jewel. This 177-foot waterfall in the South Falls Day-Use Area is where many tourists begin their state park adventures. A created trail here skirts around the waterfall to provide a breathtaking perspective.
6. Wahkeena Falls & Fairy Falls
Another well-known waterfall within the Waterfall Permit Zone is Wahkeena Falls, which is just off the Historic Columbia River Highway. Multnomah Falls and Wahkeena are separated by less than a mile, and many tourists attempt to view both on the same trip. An classic hiking circle or a connecter route close to the old highway are also options for reaching this two-waterfall expedition.
At the parking area, Wahkeena Falls cascades down the entire mountainside, providing a fantastic glimpse of its strength. The biggest falls, though, are 0.2 kilometres up the paved hiking track. Here, a vintage concrete bridge serves as the ideal viewing area for the two-tiered falls.
7. Horsetail Falls, The Waterfall That Looks Like It’s on Fire
On the Historic Columbia River Highway, there is a beautiful wayside waterfall called Horsetail Falls. Permits are needed to enter the authorised Waterfall Corridor during the summer. Furthermore, it actually drops 176 feet into a sizable pool alongside the road, within sight of the parking lot. Next to the falls is a lovely picnic spot that makes a lovely backdrop for a lunch.
A beautiful trailhead is located at Horsetail Falls. Right next to the water basin is where the trek to Upper Horsetail Falls, also called Ponytail Falls, begins. Less than a half-mile long, the trail to Ponytail Falls travels through a magnificent basalt half-tunnel. With its numerous steep ledges, the trek is not recommended for families with young children.
8. Latourell Falls – Columbia River Gorge’s Tall Basalt Falls
One of the top waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge is Latourell Falls. When travelling east on the Historic Columbia River Highway from Vista House, it is the first significant waterfall witnessed. Latourell Falls does not fall inside the designated Waterfall Corridor Permit Zone, unlike Multnomah Falls, which is 16 miles to the east, hence no reservations are needed.
To avoid disappointment at this well-liked waterfall, get there early. Its appeal is boosted by a few factors, such as a dramatic scene near the parking lot. Latourell Falls, which plunges over 200 feet close to a basalt rock face covered in lichen, can be reached after a brief hike.
The trail continues upward and through dense vegetation for a longer journey to the Upper Latourell Falls waterfall. Although this attraction doesn’t plunge quite as far, it nevertheless makes a significant effect in a remote mountain canyon. Upper Latourell Falls can be reached through a 2.5-mile loop that gains more than 600 feet in altitude.
9. Punch Bowl Falls, Eagle Creek Trail
One of the most famous waterfalls close to Portland is Punch Bowl Falls, which is located on the Eagle Creek Trail. It just falls 35 feet before hitting its enormous namesake feature. However, year-round tourists are drawn in by its strength and breathtaking surrounds.
Some of the fame of Punch Bowl Falls comes from the Eagle Creek Trail itself. Nearly 13 miles of cliff-hugging trekking can be found on this renowned and historic trail, which joins the Pacific Crest Trail at Wahtum Lake. Less than two miles and a modest elevation climb from the trailhead are Punch Bowl Falls.
When you arrive at Punch Bowl Falls, take the Lower Punch Bowl Trail to access the waterfall’s runoff and a potential vista, which may require some creek scrambling. As an alternative, the Eagle Creek Trail extends to a ledge where you may get a great view of Punch Bowl Falls. At this vantage position, exercise cautious and remain within the wire fence.
10. Multnomah Falls
The most beautiful waterfalls in the Portland area are Multnomah Falls. Less than 30 miles from Portland, this two-tiered, 620-foot waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge is simple to reach. Every year, it draws more than 2.5 million tourists. Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and one of the most popular in the Pacific Northwest due to its height and amount of crowds.
A gorgeous Northwest landscape opens up in all ways, but the falls’ sheer magnitude dominates the scene. Notable examples of now-historical building enhance the pristine natural show. The stately Multnomah Falls Lodge beckons at the base of the falls, and the famed Benson Bridge connects the two plunges.
