A trip to Portland (Oregon) is incomplete without paying a visit to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This stunning river canyon is part of the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oregon. These spectacular waterfalls are merely 30-minutes away from Portland and easily reached by car.
Abhishek and I visited Portland in December 2021 for three days and decided to spend half a day exploring the pristine waterfalls. We booked a half-day tour with Around Portland Tours via Viator to make the most of our time, as we didn’t have a personal vehicle. It was a guided tour with a free drop and pick-up facility from the rendezvous point.
Our guide Sarah was a kind and pleasant person. She had many stories to tell, from the history to the ongoing developments around the city. Moreover, she helped us spot many birds, from little jays to a few birds of prey. In this blog post, I’ve penned down our opinion about the four waterfalls we visited.
Multnomah Falls
We started our expedition at Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon. The water emerges from an underground spring of an extinct volcanic peak, Larch Mountain, and drops beautifully from 620 feet elevation, making it the fourth tallest waterfall in the US. The best view of the waterfall is from the lower falls, as you can see the entire fall along with the bridge, which makes it even more picturesque. However, you can hike to the mouth of the waterfall to get a good view of the Columbia River Gorge. The hike is comfortable, with 11 switchbacks in total. However, it gets steep in several places, leaving you out of breath.
We recommend visiting this place early in the morning as it tends to get busy by the day or be ready to get photo-bombed. Rest assured, this waterfall is absolutely worth seeing and will surely bring a smile to your face.
Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls is a beautiful waterfall on Horsetail Creek, plunging on a basalt cliff. The waterfall is split into two, with the upper fall resembling a horse’s tail called the Ponytail Fall. We hiked up to the Ponytail Fall, and the walk was beautiful. The cave behind the waterfall allowed us to view it from behind, and it was absolutely serene. We highly recommend hiking up to the Ponytail Fall. The path is rocky and uneven, so wear your hiking shoes, put on some sunscreen, and carry a bottle of water.
Shepperd’s Dell Falls
Next, we visited Shepperd’s Dell Falls, a hidden gem in the Columbia River Gorge. It is not very popular among tourists. Therefore, you’ll see less foot traffic, so less that we almost had the whole place to ourselves. Shepperd’s Dell is a two-tiered waterfall gushing down the cliff into Youngs Creek. We could hear the waterfall from the historic bridge on Highway 30. We did a short hike to get a closer look at the waterfall and a good view of the arch bridge.
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls is the second-most-popular waterfall, located within Guy W. Talbot State Park next to the iconic Historic Columbia River Highway. Unlike the other waterfalls in this region, this one falls straight from an overhanging basalt cliff on a large boulder creating a thick mist. It is one of my favorites in the Columbia River Basin, reminding me of the beautiful Icelandic waterfalls.
Lastly, we visited the Vista House, located at Crown Point, where we got a breathtaking panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge. Overall, we had an incredible time exploring the waterfalls with Sarah from Around Portland Tours. If you’re traveling to Portland without a car, we highly recommend booking this tour to make your trip hassle-free. Alternatively, you can take a bus until Multnomah Falls and hike to the nearby waterfalls. Also, let us know your favorite waterfall(s) of the Columbia River Basin and don’t forget to follow the leave no trace principles while hiking.
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