Waterfall Hikes Near Portland, by Area and Effort

October 8, 2026 · Portland Top

Within a day's drive of Portland there are more waterfalls than most people get to in a lifetime, and the hard part is choosing. This page is a list of every trail on the map that actually passes one: not a waterfall somewhere nearby, but a named falls within a few steps of the trail itself.

Each trail shows its length, whether it is a loop, a difficulty and a rough time. Those last two are worked out the same way for every trail, from the trail's own line and the climb along it, so they compare fairly with each other. Your own pace will differ, and the times assume a there-and-back walk unless the trail is a loop.

Short ones first

If you want a waterfall without committing the day, these are the easy ones, all under an hour or so at an easy pace:

• Drift Creek Falls Trail1.5 mi one way · easy, about 1 h · Drift Creek Falls
• Henline Falls Trail #33480.8 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Henline Falls
• Maple Ridge Trail, Silver Falls State Park1 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Frenchie Falls
• Niagara Falls Trail0.8 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Pheasant Creek Falls, Niagara Falls
• North Rim Trail0.9 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · North Falls
• Opal Creek Trail1.3 mi one way · easy, about 60 min · Flume Creek Falls
• Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A1.1 mi one way · easy, about 60 min · Tamanawas Falls
• Tumble Falls Trail0.5 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Tumble Creek Falls
• Twin Falls Trail0.5 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Twin Falls
• Upper McCord Creek Falls Trail0.6 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Elowah Falls, Upper McCord Creek Falls
• Vista Point Trail #4190.7 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Fairy Falls
• Wahclella Falls Trail #4361.1 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Wahclella Falls, Munra Falls
• Winter Trail0.5 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Winter Falls

Every waterfall trail, by area

The Columbia River Gorge has the most, close enough to Portland for an afternoon. Silver Falls is the other cluster, where several trails link a whole chain of falls. Mt. Hood and the coast each have a few worth the longer drive.

Columbia River Gorge 16

• Angel's Rest Trail4.6 mi one way · hard, about 4 h · Coopey Falls, Upper Coopey Falls
• Eagle Creek Trail13 mi one way · hard, about 11 h · Grand Union Falls, Twister Falls, Tunnel Falls, Tenas Falls and more
• Eagle-Benson Trail #4342.6 mi one way · hard, about 3 h · Wy'east Falls
• Gorge Trail, Cascade Locks9.1 mi one way · hard, about 7.5 h · Lower Ruckel Creek Falls, Elowah Falls
• Gorge Trail, Mount Hood National Forest4.9 mi one way · hard, about 4 h · Middle Oneonta Falls, Oneonta Falls, Ponytail Falls, Horsetail Falls
• Herman Creek Trail10.1 mi one way · hard, about 9 h · Nick Eaton Falls
• Horsetail Falls Trail1.2 mi one way · moderate, about 1 h · Middle Oneonta Falls, Oneonta Falls, Ponytail Falls, Horsetail Falls
• Larch Mountain Trail6.6 mi one way · hard, about 6.5 h · Lower Multnomah Falls, Multnomah Falls, Ecola Falls, Dutchman Falls and more
• Latourell Falls Trail2 mi loop · moderate, about 1 h · Upper Latourell Falls, Latourell Falls
• Mount Defiance Trail #4136.2 mi one way · hard, about 7 h · Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, Lancaster Falls, Lower Lancaster Falls
• Oneonta Trail8.2 mi one way · hard, about 7.5 h · Triple Falls, Upper Oneonta Falls, Middle Oneonta Falls, Oneonta Falls
• Starvation Ridge Trail #4143.4 mi one way · hard, about 4 h · Hole-in-the-Wall Falls
• Upper McCord Creek Falls Trail0.6 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Elowah Falls, Upper McCord Creek Falls
• Vista Point Trail #4190.7 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Fairy Falls
• Wahclella Falls Trail #4361.1 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Wahclella Falls, Munra Falls
• Wahkeena Trail #4202.6 mi one way · moderate, about 2.5 h · Wahkeena Falls, Fairy Falls

Silver Falls and the Santiam 7

• Henline Falls Trail #33480.8 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Henline Falls
• Maple Ridge Trail, Silver Falls State Park1 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Frenchie Falls
• North Rim Trail0.9 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · North Falls
• Opal Creek Trail1.3 mi one way · easy, about 60 min · Flume Creek Falls
• Trail of Ten Falls7.2 mi loop · moderate, about 3 h · South Falls, Lower South Falls, Frenchie Falls, Drake Falls and more
• Twin Falls Trail0.5 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Twin Falls
• Winter Trail0.5 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Winter Falls

North Coast 4

• Cape Falcon Trail2.1 mi one way · moderate, about 1.5 h · Blumenthal Falls
• Drift Creek Falls Trail1.5 mi one way · easy, about 1 h · Drift Creek Falls
• Niagara Falls Trail0.8 mi one way · easy, about 45 min · Pheasant Creek Falls, Niagara Falls
• Wilson River Trail, Tillamook15.8 mi one way · hard, about 13 h · Wilson Falls

Mt. Hood 4

• Ramona Falls Trail #7971.8 mi one way · moderate, about 1.5 h · Ramona Falls
• Sahale Falls Trail #667C2.1 mi one way · moderate, about 2 h · Sahalie Falls
• Tamanawas Falls Trail #650A1.1 mi one way · easy, about 60 min · Tamanawas Falls
• Umbrella Falls Trail #667, Government Camp1.9 mi one way · moderate, about 1.5 h · Umbrella Falls

Coast Range and Tillamook Forest 2

• Crown Zellerbach Trail21.8 mi one way · hard, about 15.5 h · Bonnie Falls
• Upper Gnat Creek Trail2.3 mi one way · moderate, about 2 h · Barrier Falls

Around Portland 1

• Tumble Falls Trail0.5 mi one way · easy, about 30 min · Tumble Creek Falls

Before you go

Check the trail's own page for the trailhead map and directions. Trails close for fire damage, washouts and maintenance, and parking at the busiest Gorge trailheads can need a permit in summer, so look up the land manager's current notice before you set out. Falls run fullest after the rains come back in fall and through spring.