The Columbia River Gorge: The Best Hikes and Viewpoints

The Columbia River Gorge is a stunning area where the Columbia River separates Oregon and Washington. It is an Oregon state gem and filled with some of the most stunning waterfalls and hikes. Whether you’ve visited this area before or are a regular, I’m sharing my favorite spots and hikes on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge.

Things to Know About the Columbia River Gorge

• Before you head out the The Columbia River Gorge, you should know that in 2017 there was a terrible fire that ripped through the area and damaged many of the beloved trails. Although most of them are now back open after years of maintenance, there is still danger in those areas. There is a high risk of mud slides in steep terrain and falling trees. You can visit www.gorgefriends.org to learn more about the fire, the area and how to protect it.

• Many trails in the Columbia River Gorge do not allow dogs. Make sure you know if a trail allows dogs before bringing your furry friend along. If a trail does not allow dogs please respect the closure and leave them at home.

• A Northwest Forest Pass is required for a majority of the trailheads in The Columbia River Gorge. Between May 24th and September 5th you will also need a reserve entry permit to the waterfall corridor along the historic Columbia Highway.

• Another amazing part about the Columbia River Gorge is the ever growing biking options. They are only a few miles short of connecting the entire 73 mile stretch of historic highway so motor vehicles and bikers can enjoy the area. There are stretches where bikes will be on the road and well as areas where they can remain off road. So whether you prefer hiking or biking, The Gorge truly has it all!

• My favorite time to chase waterfalls is actually when it’s rainy out or in the spring as the mountain snow is melting. The waterfalls are always roaring after a hard rain, but that also means landslide risk. Always be extra cautious or which trails you choose to do and the risk they pose. Downed trees are also very common with heavy rain, so listen to your surroundings and be aware of trees already tipping over.

• Be on the lookout for seasonal waterfalls along the trail if you’re hiking fall-spring. Melting snow in the mountains and rain cause these seasonal waterfalls to appear and it’s always an extra treat when you see them.

• Sadly the Columbia Gorge is known for having a high amount of car break-ins at trailhead parking lots. Never leave valuables in your car or let people see you stowing valuables in your trunk. Try to only carry your hiking essentials in your car and if you need to put something in your trunk, do it prior to parking at the trailhead.

Columbia River Gorge Location

The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon that is up to 4,000 feet deep and separates Oregon and Washington. The canyon stretches for over eighty miles to the west of Portland, Oregon. There are more than 90 waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge! Many of them you can only see from the side of the road, if at all. There are so many amazing ones to hike to that I’ll be sharing about below.

There are two ways to access the trails along this corridor. The first is to take I-84 and get off at the designated exits. The second option is to take the Historic Columbia River Highway. It is one of the most beautiful drives, especially on a sunny day when the sun shines through the leaves. A large stretch of the area has a white picket fence and there are beautiful views of the gorge throughout.

You can stop at a majority of the spots on this list as well from the highway. If you’ve never been to the area and you aren’t short on time, be sure to drive at least a section of the historic highway if you can snag a permit!

Permits

In the summer of 2022 a permit system was implemented for the entire waterfall corridor. The permit system didn’t last but you will still need a permit to visit Multnomah Falls. The permits are required from May 28th through September 4th. There will be someone checking, so don’t try to go without one. THe permits are for select time windows. You must select the time you wish to arrive.

Permits are available 14 days and 2 days in advance of the day you wish to go. You may also get lucky with day of permits if there are some available and you were not able to plan ahead. Summer weekends will be the hardest to snag an extra permit though. You can get a permit, here.

Best Time of Year to Visit The Columbia River Gorge

One of the things I love so much about the Columbia Gorge is that it’s a year-round outdoor playground. The Columbia Gorge scenic corridor is open year-round unless there are specific trail closures. There could be snow or ice on the road and trail during winter and spring, so plan accordingly. Spring is popular for the amazing wildflowers that grow throughout the Columbia River Gorge. I personally prefer hiking the waterfalls between fall and spring when the water is flowing it’s strongest.

Columbia River Gorge Hikes & Viewpoints Info

Vista House

The first stop is the Vista House. It sits on a bluff along the Historic Columbia River Highway, another reason to take this road! There is a parking lot just off the road where you can walk around the house to see amazing views of the Columbia Gorge from up high. You can also go inside the house to learn about the history and catch a different viewpoint.

Latourell Falls

You can see this 224 foot waterfall from a viewpoint in the parking lot of a very short walk. It is a stunning waterfall with unique rock formations and bright green moss on the canyon walls. Although you don’t have to technically walk far to see this waterfall, there is a 2.4 mile loop trail that takes you up to the upper falls. The upper falls is a two-tiered waterfall and worth the hike if you have the time.

Bridal Veil Falls

This is a great waterfall if you aren’t wanting a long hike. It is just .5 miles round trip to the base of the falls. From the parking lot there is also a loop trail you can take that would take you a combined 1.4 miles through the forest and waterfall. There is a small town named Bridal Veil just east of the falls. It is a popular spot for people to mail their wedding invites due to its name.

Angel’s Rest

Angel’s Rest is a 4.8 mile round trip hike to a rocky viewpoint overlooking the Columbia Gorge. This area was part of the Eagle Creek Fire and large amount of the hike is through the burn area. This trail has 1,475 feet in elevation gain. The Columbia Gorge is known for being windy year-round. Angel’s Rest is exposed to the elements. Be prepared for potential strong winds at the top. It is a rather rocky trail and the entire summit is made up or large boulders.

Wahkeena and Fairy Falls

These two waterfalls are on a 3.1 mile round trip out and back trail. It also features a viewpoint overlooking the Columbia Gorge. Wahkeena Falls in a 242 foot tiered waterfall surrounded by vibrant green moss. There is a stone bridge that takes you directly in front of it.

Getting to Wahkeena is a fairly easy hike from the Multnomah Falls Lodge or the Wahkeena parking lot. Shortly after the falls you will reach a series of steep switchbacks that end at Lemmons Viewpoint. In the winter, the switchback can be very icy, making for a difficult ascent. The trail then continues on to Fairy Falls, which is a fan-like waterfall 1.1 miles in on the trail.

You can choose to make this trail an out and back, or continue on to various trails from there. It’s roughly 5 miles if you do a loop back to Multnomah and upwards of 8 miles if you go to any of the viewpoints above.

Multnomah Falls

This waterfall is the jewel of the Columbia River Gorge, but extremely crowded. We only stop on days where the parking lot is mostly empty. Multnomah Falls is quite the tourist spot because the largest waterfall in Oregon and the most well known waterfall. Make sure you have a permit, as discussed above, before visiting here between May 28th and September 4th.

Once here, hikers can either view it from the platform or can hike along the trail. There is even a lodge with bathrooms, a restaurant and gift shop. The viewing platform is a quick walk from the parking lot and up a few stairs. The lower platform is always crowded because of its accessibility. It’s only a little over a mile to the top of the falls, but it can be pretty steep. If you don’t want to hike the entire trail, there’s a paved path that takes you up to the iconic bridge. It is a short distance, but somewhat steep in areas.

Once you reach the bridge, the trail continues to the top of the falls and on through the forest. Most people go to the viewing platform at the top and return. Back in the fall of 2018, there was a terrible fire that ripped through the gorge and caused a lot of damage to the beloved trails. The lodge and falls were saved, but the trail to the upper falls was severely damaged.

If you hike above the falls, you will need to be aware of the danger of hiking in a recent burn area. There could be falling rocks and trees as well as mudslides, especially after a lot of rain in the area. There are multiple trail options above the falls so check out a map or AllTrails to decide where you want to go. Even after the fire, it is still so beautiful walking along the river and seeing the waterfalls past Multnomah Falls.

Wahchlella Falls

Wahclella falls is a 350 foot, two-tiered waterfall. This trail has an extremely small parking lot and gets full early. Plan to go first thing in the morning or possibly have to wait to get a spot. It is a 2.4 mile round trip hike that takes you through a slot canyon. The trail was part of the Eagle Creek Fire and it has some dangerous areas. There are multiple landslide areas and a new one can come at anytime, so you must be cautious on this trail.

The trail starts as a wide open trail before going past a waterfall and beginning to climb in elevation. After .7 miles the trail will fork and you can take either trail to the waterfall. The fork creates a loop so you can hike in one way and out the other. The trail to the right will take you down into the canyon and across two bridges to the falls. The trail to the left remains higher up on the canyon wall looking down at the river below.

The waterfall is surrounded by green mossy rock and a large pile of logs near the viewpoint. The logs are extremely wet and could cause a bad fall. Be cautious venturing onto them.

Hood River

Hood River is a charming town along I-84 where you can stop for food, explore local orchards or watch the windsurfers on the Columbia River. It has multiple breweries and wine tasting rooms. The area has multiple boutique hotels making it the perfect weekend getaway destination. In the fall, it is a popular destination for the “Fruit Loop,” a drive through the orchards. It’s a fun time to go pick apples or attend the cider festival.

The Columbia River Gorge is a popular spot for wind surfers because of how windy it is year-round. It’s a fun spot to stop and watch along the Riverfront Park. This park is a great spot to spend the day. It has a small beach area, playgrounds for children and big open fields to have a picnic. There are also multiple restaurants and a coffee shop on the other side of the street you can grab a drink or food throughout the day.

Tom McCall Point and Preserve

This area is home to the famous Rowena Crest. It is also filled with stunning views, wildflower fields and trails. The trail is extremely crowded on spring weekends during wildflower season, so go early or on a weekday to avoid the crowds. It is extremely important you follow the leave no trace rules for this area. This means staying on trail and out of the flower fields and not bringing dogs, leashed or unleashed. It is not a dog friendly trail. Keep them at home or in a car if it’s safe to do so.

This area is great because not only is it a viewpoint, it has short trails for those wanting to see the area but not walk far. If you are wanting a short, relatively flat hike, be sure to explore the preserve. This trail is two miles round-trip, but you can turn around at any point or do the loop trail to the end. The Tom McCall Point trail takes you 4.8 miles up to a viewpoint. This trail is stunning because you will go through meadows, forest and end with sweeping views of nearby mountains and the Columbia Gorge.

What to Bring

You will want waterproof hiking shoes if you’re doing any waterfall hikes, especially during the rainy season. Hiking boots or trail runners are both great options and will be much better than regular tennis shoes. Tennis shoes do not have proper traction for maneuvering over wet rocks and logs. Having shoes with good traction is a must. I prefer wearing my waterproof trail runners, but also hike in my boots here.

Always carry the 10 essentials in you pack.You never know when there will be an accident or you’ll have to spend the night on trial. Back in 2017, many hikers were stuck on trial overnight due to the Eagle Creek Fire. Learn about the items you should carry in my “The 10 Essentials” guide.

To learn more about what I hike with go here to see my must-have gear, trail clothes and more!

Reminders

• Always check the weather and trail conditions prior to leaving for your hike. This are is prone to landslides and you need to be aware of the dangers.

• Always practice leave no trace. Never climb over fence barriers or mark on the rocks and logs. Pack out all your trash and never approach or feed wildlife. Always stay on trail by not cutting switchbacks or going past restoration signs.

• Never leave valuables in your car. Because of the high number of break-ins, don’t leave anything visible in the car while hiking to prevent it from happening to you.

The Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite places to do waterfall hikes and search for wildflowers int eh spring. I love exploring all the roads and viewpoints too. It’ is such a special place to Oregonians and a place everyone should get to experience in their lives. It’s important to preserve the trails and surrounding land for future generations by respecting regulations and leave no trace principles.

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