It’s smart looking for a Columbia River Gorge waterfalls map before your trip…there are 90 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Gorge alone! Knowing which ones to visit, which require hikes, and which you can skip would be impossible without a map plotting all the details you need for an amazing waterfall tour.
You see, there are so many waterfalls because the Columbia River Gorge National Recreation Area is a canyon that was created between Oregon and Washington state during the Ice Age. The canyon walls are 4,000 feet high in some areas, and water from the rainy Pacific Northwest cascades down the sides toward the rushing Columbia River below.
This makes Columbia Gorge one of the most breathtaking places to visit in the Pacific Northwest. You can access it in just a 30-minute drive from Portland, Oregon or a 3.5-hour drive from Seattle, Washington. Once there, you’ll be greeted with a ton of viewpoints and hiking options for taking in the waterfalls.
The best part? There’s a ton to do in Columbia River Gorge besides just waterfalls. From farms, wineries, breweries, and restaurants, there is plenty to fill your itinerary between falls.
To help you make the most of your trip to Columbia River Gorge waterfalls, I’m sharing my map of the Columbia River Gorge waterfalls and more things to do during your road trip to this stunning area of the United States.
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Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Map
Here’s a map with all the best Columbia River Gorge waterfalls, plus other area attractions you should visit. Tap the maroon pins for waterfalls!
Columbia River Gorge waterfalls guide
Here’s more information about the waterfalls in Columbia River Gorge you should definitely visit. While there are falls in Washington, the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge has more so all of these stops are in Oregon right off the Historic Columbia River Highway.
Multnomah falls
website | directions | viewpoint (with option to hike) | gift shop and restrooms available | accessible
Multnomah Falls is the most popular Columbia River Gorge waterfall. That’s because it’s the tallest waterfall in all of Oregon, looming at 620 feet. In fact, it’s so big you can see it from the highway and parking lot!
Since it’s the biggest waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge and only a short 30-40 minute drive from Portland, Multnomah Falls is also crowded. It’s the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with more than 2 million visitors each year. It’s gotten so popular that timed reservations are required late May through September.
Your best bet for avoiding crowds is going super early in the morning or at sunset on a weekday. Bonus points if it’s rainy.
You’ll notice the falls have two drops separated by the picturesque Benson Bridge spanning the lower falls. The flow of water varies throughout the year, with the most water in winter and spring.
Multnomah Falls is fully accessible and can be viewed via a short walk up a paved path that’s less than 1/4 mile long. There are two view areas: A lower platform looking up at Benson Bridge and a second viewing area at Benson Bridge. You can get stunning images if someone takes a photo of you on the Benson Bridge from the lower viewing platform.
You don’t need to hike to see the falls, but there are also a few hiking options if you want a bit more exercise. Make sure to check them before you head out, though, because they aren’t always open depending on the weather:
Wahkeena falls
website | directions | viewpoint (with option to hike) | accessible | has restrooms
A little west of Multnomah Falls is the pretty Wahkeena Falls. While it’s much smaller at just 242 feet, it has a similar two-tier drop and is quite pretty. In fact, the word “wahkeena” is the Yakama tribe word for “most beautiful”.
Similar to Multnomah, you don’t need to hike o see these falls. It has a fully accessible overlook and picnic area.
However, you can easily turn this into a hiking excursion, taking short walks or going farther to meet up with Multnomah Falls. Some options include:
- 2.9-Mile Wahkeena Trail
- 12.4-Mile Gorge #400 Trail
- 0.5-Mile Return Trail
- 3.4-Mile Fairy Falls Loop Hike
Horsetail & PonyTail falls
website | directions | viewpoint (with option to hike) | no restrooms
Horsetail Falls is a little ways down the street from Multnomah Falls. Most people only stop to see lower Horsetail Falls visible from the parking lot. But it’s a mistake to skip Upper Horsetail Falls, sometimes called Ponytail Falls.
You access it via a 0.8 mile roundtrip hike that isn’t too difficult. Once there you’ll be able to actually walk behind the falls, which is a nice reprieve from the weather if it’s raining. And if it is rainy on a weekday you’ll likely have the whole area to yourself.
Latourell falls
website | directions | hike (0.25 – 2.4 miles roundtrip) | restrooms available
Latourell Falls is closed for construction. Check here for updates.
Latourell Falls is the closest waterfall to Portland. It cascades down a black basalt ledge dotted with chartreuse green lichen, making it also one of the most photogenic of all the stops on the Columbia River Gorge waterfalls map.
You have two options when visiting Latourell. You can hike just 1/4-mile up a paved path to the lookout where you’ll see the falls from afar. If you walk just a bit up the trail you can get excellent views of the waterfall framed by the trees.
If you’re interested in going to the base of the falls, take the whole 2.4-mile roundtrip hike. You’ll get beautiful photos of the water splashing into the pool below.
Bridal veil falls
website | directions | hike (~0.6 mile roundtrip) | restrooms available
Bridal Veil Falls is a nice scenic stop on your Columbia River Gorge waterfalls map. There’s a gentle paved path that you can take about 0.5 miles to a lookout or you can go a bit farther for a total of 0.6 miles closer to the falls.
If you choose to go the full distance, you’ll be met with stairs and a slightly steeper part, but nothing insurmountable. Afterwards you’ll walk across a small bridge over the stream and then back up some stairs toward the falls.
While this waterfall is smaller than other waterfalls in Columbia River Gorge, it has a unique twist in its double falls to make it look like it is, in fact, a bride’s veil cascading down the rocks.
WAHCLELLA FALLS
website | directions | hike (~1.9 miles roundtrip) | no flushable restrooms | day pass required
Wahclella Falls is a lesser-talked-about waterfall about 15 minutes east of Multnomah Falls. You access it via a relatively easy hike through the forest and a slot canyon.
The final destination is a 350-foot, two-tier waterfall. The lower falls are larger and plummet into a splash pool where you may see salmon spawning in late fall.
Fun things to do near Columbia River Gorge waterfalls
While there are a ton of awesome waterfalls in Columbia Gorge, there are equally as impressive stops nearby you should make when in the area.
Vista house
website | directions | viewpoint | gift shop and restrooms available when open | accessible
I wasn’t expecting to like Vista House as much as I did the first time I went, but wow is it a gem. It’s the first landmark on the Historic Columbia River Highway and offers breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge.
The house itself was built in 1917 to inspire people to travel to the area. It’s now managed by The Friends of Vista House nonprofit group and Oregon State Parks. You don’t need to pay anything to go inside and can still visit even if the building is closed.
Sugar Pine Drive-In
website | directions | restaurant | lunch only
One of my absolute favorite places to stop after a long day of exploring my Columbia River Gorge waterfalls map is Sugar Pine Drive-In. It’s an old school-style restaurant with sandwiches, salads, and my beloved soft serve ice cream. Get a twist cone with sprinkles or chocolate dip. You won’t be disappointed!
Catherine’s Creek Recreation Area
website | directions | park | no restrooms
Hikes are good and all, but my favorites are more like walks that offer awesome views with little effort. That’s what you get at Catherine’s Creek. It’s more like a park with a bunch of paved trails right along the bluffs with epic views of the Gorge. And since it’s in Washington you can often see Mt. Hood looming in the distance.
Klickitat trail
website | directions | hike (31 miles one way) | no restrooms
Klickitat Trail reminds me a lot of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle. It weaves for more than 30 miles with access points to jump on and off at your leisure. Don’t worry, I don’t expect anyone to do the full 31 miles!
I like the access point by Helms Road in Lyle, Washington because it’s desolate and the landscape looks like mars in the fall. It has a bit of a-body-might-be-buried-here vibe that makes it hauntingly beautiful!
Columbia River Gorge Wineries
One of the best things about Columbia River Gorge is the fact that it’s an AVA with some of the best Pacific Northwest wineries. There are so many awesome Columbia River Gorge wineries, but here are my favorites.
Idiot’s Grace is a quaint tasting room on a biodynamic farm serving award-winning reds that are considering some of the best wines in Washington state.
Hiyu Farms makes some of the best wines in Oregon. They make pricey but exquisite organic wines, plus have a farm lunch serving a vegetable-forward meal using produce grown on their farm.
Columbia River Gorge Breweries
There are also a ton of great breweries in Columbia River Gorge to visit between stops at waterfalls. Many are congregated in Hood River toward the eastern most part of Columbia River Gorge, but you’ll also find some near Cascade Locks and the famous Bridge of the Gods crossing point between Oregon and Washington.
Ferment Brewing in Hood River is my favorite. It has modern architecture and a lot of windows overlooking the Columbia River. Plus it has Grasslands Barbecue parked outside.
If you want options closer to Cascade Locks, Thunder Island Brewing is an option in Oregon and Walking Man Brewing or Backwoods Brewing Company are options over the river in Washington.
Hood River Fruit Loop
The Columbia River Gorge’s fertile land makes it a hot bed of farms. You can visit many of their farm stands on the Hood River Fruit Loop. There are also a few farmers markets and u-pick options throughout the area. My favorite is Hood River U-Pick for apples, cherries, and tomatoes depending on the season.
Where to stay in the Columbia River Gorge area
There are four towns you’ll want to stay in to explore this Columbia River Gorge waterfalls map: Portland, Cascade Locks. Hood River, or White Salmon.
Portland is the farthest from Columbia River Gorge, but if you don’t mind driving 30 to 1.5 hours east, it’s definitely doable to explore Columbia River Gorge from PDX.
Cascade Locks is about 30 minutes east of Portland and is a good place to stay on the Oregon side of Columbia River Gorge. It’s a small town with restaurants and breweries, plus it provides access to Washington state via the Bridge of the Gods.
Hood River, Oregon is probably the most popular area to stay in Columbia River Gorge. It has the largest concentration of restaurants, breweries, and wineries. Plus you get access to Washington via the Hood River Bridge.
White Salmon, Washington is right across from Hood River. This is a good spot to stay if you want access to the Washington wineries and hikes on this list. Plus it’s quieter than Hood River so it’s great for a romantic getaway.
Here are some of the best places to stay when exploring Columbia River Gorge waterfalls.
The Society Hotel
link to book | Bingen, WA | 210 N Cedar St
The Society Hotel is my favorite place to stay in Columbia River Gorge. It’s a historic elementary school that was turned into a posh hostel and hangout space. But this isn’t your typical kind of hostel. There are private ensuite cabins, super thoughtful details, and it’s extra clean.
But the best part? The Scandinavian spa. They built a new one right on the old play fields. There are indoor pools, a sauna, and an outdoor hot tub. Plus you can buy healthy snacks or alcoholic beverages, do yoga in the mediation dome, or get a massage after spending a long day exploring Columbia River Gorge.
More to explore in Oregon
Once you make your way through this Columbia River Gorge waterfalls map, check out these other guides to the Gorge and nearby attractions.
- The Most Exciting Columbia River Gorge Itinerary
- Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Columbia River Gorge
- The Difference Between All the Mt.Hood Ski Areas
- The Best Willamette Valley Wineries
- Must-Visit Restaurants in Oregon Wine Country
- The Perfect Itinerary of Portland, OR
- Why You Should Visit 5th Street Public Market in Eugene
- The Best Boutique Hotels in Eugene
- What to Do Near Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast
- The Most Fun Glamping in Oregon Wine Country
- What to Do in Willamette Valley Besides Drink Wine
