10 Hidden Waterfalls Of The Oregon Columbia River Gorge

Let’s face it: everyone knows Multnomah Falls – but the Gorge hides over 70 more cascades that refuse to be famous!

Grab your compass and your sense of adventure, because we’re leaving the crowds behind for true discovery.

These ten hidden wonders require a little effort, a little mud, and a lot of determination to reach.

Prepare to trade in the crowded tourist viewpoint for the roar of a waterfall that feels like it’s flowing just for you.

This is your guide to the Columbia River Gorge’s most magnificent secrets.

1. Punch Bowl Falls

The approach to Punch Bowl Falls feels like a secret corridor carved by time, with the Eagle Creek Trail weaving beneath alder branches and high basalt cliffs.

You hear the river hushed at first, then a steady rush that tightens your focus as the gorge narrows and the air cools.

The waterfall finally appears beyond a curve, dropping into a round pool that looks sculpted by a careful hand.

This spot is popular in summer, yet quiet mornings still bring moments where the only sound is water breathing against stone.

You will want sturdy shoes, because the path can be slick with spray and the edges are rocky in places.

Look for salmonberry and sword fern along the banks, their leaves catching beads of mist like green jewelry.

I keep a light jacket ready since the amphitheater holds a chill even on bright days in Oregon.

Photographers favor the vantage from the gravel bar, though please avoid wading during high water to protect yourself and the riverbed.

Wildlife tends to stay hidden, but dippers sometimes bob on midstream stones as if keeping rhythm with the flow.

The falls are reached via Eagle Creek Trailhead near Cascade Locks, OR 97014, which offers clear signage, vault toilets, and paid parking.

Check current trail conditions and seasonal closures because storms can bring rockfall and temporary access changes.

Spring shows the gorge at peak freshness, while late fall unveils golden maple leaves swirling over the pool.

Winter can be magical when ice laces the spray, though traction devices may be necessary after cold snaps.

Pack out everything you bring and keep to established tread to help this cherished place endure.

When you finally turn back, the drum of water follows for a while, like a traveling companion that is in no hurry to say goodbye.

2. Fairy Falls

Fairy Falls lives up to its name with a lacework sheet fanning over basalt, whispering rather than roaring as it drapes into a shaded hollow.

The Wahkeena Falls Trail climbs in tidy switchbacks before easing into a high forest with cedar, maple, and a steady breeze carrying cool spray.

There is a hush here that makes footfalls sound polite, and your breath seems to leave ribbons in the mist.

This is a small waterfall by volume, yet the delicate pattern invites long looks and unhurried photos from a respectful distance.

Expect narrow tread and damp edges, so poles can help with balance on the way down.

I like to pause at viewpoints that open toward the river, where the Gorge feels like a grand hallway lined with green walls.

Look for trillium in spring and vine maple that ignites the understory in fall across this corner of Oregon.

The trailhead begins at Wahkeena Falls, which shares parking with nearby viewpoints along the Historic Columbia River Highway in Corbett, OR 97019.

Arrive early or on weekdays since spots fill quickly when weather is kind.

Water threads over the rock face in thin curtains that break into pearls and drift like smoke.

Stand back to keep shoes dry and to protect fragile plants that cling beside the flow.

Listen for Pacific wrens, their liquid songs bouncing around the canyon like hidden laughter.

The setting is intimate, so small groups preserve the quiet and allow everyone a clear view.

Even on cloudy days the waterfall glows, because scattered light is its best ally.

Leave with a slow breath and a calm step, feeling as if the forest has pressed a cool hand to your forehead.

3. Triple Falls

Triple Falls rewards the steady hiker with a dramatic trio of plunges that split around a jagged basalt fin before joining below.

The route from Horsetail Falls Trailhead climbs through a green corridor where Douglas fir and hemlock shade a lively understory.

You will cross small bridges and hear Tributary music grow as the canyon tightens.

A classic viewpoint appears along the trail with a guardrail, giving a safe look across to the three ribbons framed by moss and spray.

Morning clouds often sit low, drifting like slow steam across the upper gorge.

Pebbles and roots can be slick, so careful steps make the difference on switchbacks and rock ledges.

I like to time the visit after light rain when the falls run full but the tread remains manageable.

This segment of Oregon holds layers of volcanic history etched into the cliff bands that channel the water.

Respect closures and reroutes, as heavy storms sometimes reshape slopes and prompt repairs.

From the Historic Columbia River Hwy in Corbett, OR 97019, the trail network links several waterfalls for a full day loop.

Bring a small lens cloth to clear spray that softly dots cameras near view pulls.

Even without direct sun the scene carries strong contrast, so metering for midtones keeps textures true.

Listen for cascades below the main drop, where a quieter shelf invites a minute of reflection.

A gentle wind moves branches overhead, releasing cedar fragrance that lingers like a memory.

Leave time to descend unhurried, because careful footing lets the forest share more of its calm.

4. Wahclella Falls

Wahclella Falls feels like a cathedral of water, with tall walls that draw your eyes up before the cascade bursts into a bright pool.

The loop path passes boulders the size of tiny cabins and crosses a wooden bridge that creaks softly as you step.

You can feel the temperature drop near the amphitheater where the mist is cool and clean.

The final view shows a split stream that rejoins with a strong plunge that echoes far down the canyon.

Arrive on weekdays or early mornings since this gem often draws photographers and families in every season.

Footing is reasonable, but gravel can roll under boots on downhill stretches.

Keep snacks sealed to discourage wildlife from approaching lunch breaks along the river.

The trail begins at Wahclella Falls Trailhead near Bonneville Dam in Cascade Locks, OR 97014, with posted rules and a fee machine.

Oregon weather can shift quickly here, so a light shell and a warm layer make the outing more comfortable.

Look for maidenhair ferns fringing rock seams like delicate green fans.

The water is usually too cold for wading, and currents near the plunge are stronger than they look.

In late spring, the side streams add silver braids that decorate the canyon walls.

Autumn paints the banks with maple gold, while winter can rim logs with icing along quiet pools.

Please stay on the constructed trail to protect slopes that grow back slowly after high water.

Carry the sound of the falls with you on the walk out, where the river becomes a companion that sets an even pace.

5. Upper Latourell Falls

Upper Latourell Falls hides upstream from its famous lower neighbor, curling into a green bowl where lichen paints the basalt a soft golden hue.

The loop begins in Guy W. Talbot State Park and climbs through bigleaf maple and fir with steady views of the gorge rim.

You reach a graceful bridge that frames the cascade and gives a centered vantage for photos.

The drop is elegant rather than thunderous, with water streaming in a long veil that sways slightly in crosswinds.

Early light often filters through leaves and scatters onto the pool like faint coins.

Keep to the signed path to avoid slick side tracks that crumble near the edge.

I like this stop when the highway viewpoints feel busy, because the upper falls offer a calmer pocket.

Historic Columbia River Hwy access in Corbett, OR 97019 makes it easy to pair this with nearby trails.

Oregon history meets geology here, where old road craftsmanship leads to young forest growth.

Listen for the soft patter of spray on the bridge boards and watch for salamanders near shaded stones.

Photography works best on cloudy days that smooth the highlights on wet rock.

Bring a microfiber cloth and a simple rain cover so your camera stays ready between sprinkles.

Families tend to enjoy the moderate grade, though steps and roots still call for attention.

Pauses at the viewpoint benches add short rests that stretch the moment without breaking the rhythm.

When you loop back, the lower falls roar grows, reminding you how varied a single creek can be on one short walk.

6. Starvation Creek Falls

Starvation Creek Falls is an easy win for a quick stop that still feels like a discovery, with water staging a lively cascade just beyond the trees.

The paved path from the parking area leads through mossy shade where the air smells faintly of cedar and wet rock.

You will hear the waterfall quickly, then see a white rush that splits and gathers over ledges as it heads downstream.

The surrounding park includes picnic tables and interpretive signs that explain the intriguing name and local rail history.

This is a fine place to stretch legs between longer hikes and to watch clouds drift over the ridgeline.

Footing is simple on the main path, yet spray can bead the pavement and invite careful steps.

I like twilight visits when the cliffs glow softly and the water looks silky against the deepening green.

Access is via Starvation Creek State Park in Viento, OR 97058, which sits just off the old highway corridor.

Oregon road trips often build around stops like this that pack delight into a small footprint.

Birdsong echoes well here, and you may spot swifts weaving patterns above the treetops.

Photographers can work close with wide lenses since the approach is short and angles are flexible.

Respect boundaries that protect vegetation near the banks and give space to others waiting for a clear view.

In winter the falls can fringe with ice, turning branches into glassy sculptures.

Spring brings bright moss that wakes up the canyon and softens every edge.

Leaving is easy, but the sound trails you to the car like a gentle chorus that lingers after the door closes.

7. Dry Creek Falls

Dry Creek Falls is a quiet retreat above Cascade Locks that rewards patient walking with a tall white plunge into a ferny grotto.

The path leaves from the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead and follows a gentle grade beneath a canopy that filters soft light.

You pass beneath powerlines briefly before the forest closes again and the creek becomes the guide.

The amphitheater at the end is shaped like a bowl where sound gathers and wraps around your shoulders.

Basalt columns rise like organ pipes and host moss in layered greens, with droplets speckling the air.

Even after dry spells the waterfall usually holds a steady ribbon that brightens the dark stone.

I bring a warm layer because the grotto keeps its own cool climate regardless of valley heat in Oregon.

The Bridge of the Gods area in Cascade Locks, OR 97014 provides parking and restrooms near the trail start.

Keep an eye for trail runners and step aside at narrow spots to share the space kindly.

Photographers enjoy compositions with foreground stones that lead the eye to the vertical fall.

Listen for the tap of small drips on leaves, a rhythm that settles the mind after the walk in.

Return the way you came, watching for glimpses of the river through breaks in the trees.

This is a reliable shoulder season hike when other routes feel crowded or storm affected.

Carry a simple first aid kit and a map download to stay self sufficient if service fades.

Leave no trace and let the creek keep its clear bed, free of footprints and trampled edges.

8. Ponytail Falls

Ponytail Falls arrives in a dramatic burst where water leaps from the cliff and arcs into a pool with a hushing sound.

The trail slips behind the curtain in a wide alcove, offering that rare chance to walk in a dry pocket while spray floats past.

You can feel the air change as you pass, cooler and mineral rich, like stepping through a veil.

This is a family favorite because the payoff comes quickly and the scenery feels playful and bold.

Watch your step on the behind the falls path where pebbles roll underfoot and the rock is slick.

I like to linger on the far side and look back, where the arc frames the canyon in a bright window.

In Oregon, few short walks pack this much surprise into so little distance.

Access begins at Horsetail Falls Trailhead on the Historic Columbia River Hwy in Corbett, OR 97019, with signed routes and limited parking.

Arrive early or late to keep the experience calm and to find a safe pullout.

Bring a light layer for the alcove since the breeze can carry spray that chills quickly.

Photographers can try slow shutter shots from the safe edges as mist paints a soft halo on the rock.

Stay inside the barrier lines to protect the cliff base and the fragile plants that grip the seams.

Spring greens and autumn gold both flatter the scene and change the mood of the alcove.

Winter may add icicles that decorate the rim like chandeliers, so mind overhead hazards after freezes.

Leaving the alcove feels like stepping out of a tiny theater where water was the only actor on stage.

9. Elowah Falls

Elowah Falls glides off the cliff in a graceful drop that looks almost weightless as it meets the pool below.

The trail winds through the John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor where lichen paints the basalt with subtle yellows and greens.

You cross a sturdy bridge that bends the creek into a curve and sets up the classic viewpoint.

The clean vertical makes a striking scene even when clouds hang low across the gorge.

Wind can push the plume sideways, sending a cool drift that refreshes tired hikers.

You will want a jacket near the base because the microclimate is always a few degrees cooler.

I find the approach meditative thanks to soft grades and the steady hum of water below.

Parking is near Dodson, OR 97014 with trail signs that point to both Elowah and the adjoining canyon.

Oregon storms sometimes trigger closures here, so check trail status before setting out.

The amphitheater walls grow thick with moss and small ferns that drink from the spray.

Photographers often compose from the bridge rail, balancing the fall with the bright green foreground.

Stay clear of undercut banks that crumble under foot and give space to other visitors near the view deck.

Spring snowmelt powers a full plume, while late summer reveals more of the rock texture.

Autumn adds leaf color that sweeps along the path like golden confetti.

Carry the sound with you on the return as the creek narrows and the forest closes the curtain behind you.

10. Shepperd’s Dell Falls

Shepperd’s Dell Falls hides in plain sight beside a historic bridge where the highway curves gracefully over a deep chasm.

The short path leads down to a viewpoint that frames the cascade between layered moss and fern covered walls.

You hear a mellow tumble rather than a roar, which suits the intimate scale of the dell.

The falls step through two main tiers, then slide into a shaded ravine that carries the sound downhill.

This stop pairs well with nearby viewpoints, making a gentle break during a longer scenic drive.

Handrails help on damp concrete and rock steps that hold dew through much of the day.

I like early mornings when traffic is light and birdsong shares the stage with the water.

Access is via Shepperd’s Dell State Natural Area on the Historic Columbia River Hwy in Corbett, OR 97019.

Oregon history is present in the stonework, which blends with the cliff as if grown there.

Photography benefits from a polarizer to tame glare on wet leaves and bring depth to the greens.

Please avoid climbing railings for angles, since the drop is real and the plants are fragile.

In spring, the ravine glows, while fall gives the dell a soft copper sheen under the bridge arch.

Listen for the creek whispering under the bridge where the echo rounds every note.

Keep visits brief when parking is limited so others can enjoy the same easy access.

Walk back slowly and you will notice tiny rivulets threading the rock like shining seams.