The Columbia River Gorge is one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest for waterfall hikes, with dozens of trails leading to mossy canyons, basalt cliffs, old-growth forest, and some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Oregon and Washington. From famous roadside cascades like Multnomah Falls and Horsetail Falls to less busy trails and hidden gems like Spirit Falls, Elowah Falls, and Falls Creek Falls, the Gorge offers a waterfall hike for every kind of adventurer. Whethe

The Wahkeena and Multnomah Falls Loop is one of the most rewarding waterfall hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, combining lush forest, mossy basalt cliffs, sweeping viewpoints, and several unforgettable Oregon waterfalls into one scenic trail. Beginning near two of the Gorge’s most iconic waterfalls, Wahkeena Falls and Multnomah Falls, the loop quickly climbs away from the crowds and into a quieter world of fern-lined switchbacks, rushing creeks, stone bridges, and hidden cas

Hiking to Horsetail Falls, Ponytail Falls, and Triple Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, offering three spectacular waterfalls along a single scenic trail. Beginning at iconic Horsetail Falls, the route climbs through lush old-growth forest and towering basalt cliffs before reaching Ponytail Falls, where hikers can actually walk behind the cascading water, and continues to the beautiful, fan-shaped Triple Falls hidden deeper in Oneonta Gorge

Hiking to Falls Creek Falls in southern Washington is one of the best waterfall hikes on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, taking hikers through the lush forests of Gifford Pinchot National Forest to a stunning 335-foot, three-tiered waterfall. Located just north of Stevenson and the Columbia River, the Falls Creek Falls Trail is an incredibly scenic out-and-back that follows Falls Creek beneath towering Douglas firs and western red cedars, culminating at one o

Few waterfalls on Washington's side of the Columbia River Gorge can match the beauty and accessibility of Panther Creek Falls. Located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near the town of Carson, the stunning 130-foot waterfall is one of the most photogenic waterfalls in southern Washington. Despite requiring a hike of less than a mile round trip, Panther Creek Falls delivers a spectacular reward, with multiple streams cascading down lichen-covered basalt cliffs into a lus

Hiking to Elowah Falls and Upper McCord Creek Falls is one of the more rewarding waterfall hikes in the Columbia River Gorge, combining lush forest, towering basalt cliffs, and two beautiful Oregon waterfalls in one scenic outing. The trail leads hikers through classic Gorge scenery before splitting toward the dramatic 213-foot Elowah Falls, where water plunges into an amphitheater of mossy rock, and Upper McCord Creek Falls, where sweeping views open toward the Columbia Rive

Hiking to Wahclella Falls in the Columbia River Gorge is one of the best short waterfall hikes in Oregon, packing dramatic scenery into an easy, family-friendly trail near Cascade Locks. The Wahclella Falls Trail follows beautiful Tanner Creek through a narrow basalt canyon filled with mossy cliffs, lush forest, footbridges, and the constant sound of rushing water before reaching the stunning two-tiered waterfall tucked into a rocky amphitheater. At roughly two miles round tr

Hiking to Spirit Falls in the Columbia River Gorge is a short but unforgettable adventure that drops steeply through the forest to one of the most stunning waterfalls on Washington’s side of the Gorge. Tucked along the Little White Salmon River, Spirit Falls is famous for its powerful turquoise plunge, mossy basalt walls, and wild, almost hidden feel that makes the hike seem far more remote than it really is. While the trail is brief, it is steep, rugged, and slippery in plac

Hiking to Table Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge is one of the most demanding and rewarding adventures on the Washington side of the Gorge, combining relentless climbing, rugged terrain, wildflower-covered slopes, and some of the most jaw-dropping summit views in the area. Rising high above the Columbia River, Table Mountain delivers a true leg-burner of a hike, but the payoff is unforgettable: sweeping views of Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens,

Oregon's Willamette National Forest is no stranger to stunning scenery. It's home to some of the most impressive waterfalls, pristine lakes and streams, natural hot springs, and mountain views found anywhere in the state. From the massive spray of Proxy Falls to the tranquil shores of Clear Lake, the perfectly framed view of Mount Jefferson from Boca Cave to the roar of Sahalie Falls, and everything in between, Willamette National Forest is truly an outdoor paradise. One p

The Peter Iredale, a four-masted steel barque constructed in Maryport, England, in 1890, belonged to a large fleet of ships owned by the British shipping company Iredale & Porter. Following eight successful voyages to the west coast, she departed Salina Cruz, Mexico, on September 26, 1906, en route to Astoria, Oregon to load wheat destined for the United Kingdom. Despite navigating through thick fog, the ship safely approached the mouth of the Columbia River in the early hour

The state with the second most waterfalls in the country, topped only by it's neighbor to the north, Oregon is a truly magical place. Its geographical makeup is one of the most diverse in the country, marked with towering volcanoes, dense evergreen forests, pristine lakes and rivers, arid deserts and moss covered everything. To the west, a primeval landscape on the edge of the world. To the east, miles of high altitude desert too desolate for life to thrive. On this advent