16 Must-See Waterfalls Near Portland Oregon (+Maps and Local Tips)

Waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest have a reputation for their beauty, and these stunning waterfalls near Portland are certainly no exception.

In fact, there are dozens of impressive and accessible waterfalls within a reasonable drive from Portland, including some of the best cascades in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

In this article, we’ll cover the best waterfalls near Portland, including everything you need to know before you visit!

For each waterfall near Portland, we’ll tell you how to get there, what to expect, our personal tips, and other considerations which go above and beyond the basics to help make your visit as memorable as possible!

As Oregon residents and waterfall fanatics, we are excited to share our knowledge with you, so that you can make the most of your time when exploring this special region.

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Best Waterfalls Near Portland Oregon: Overview

Waterfalls within a daytrip from Portland are clustered into three main regions, each with their own unique characteristics.

Region	Description	Typical Drive Time From Portland
Columbia River Gorge	A dramatic landscape with a high concentration of impressive waterfalls flowing over the steep cliffs carved by immense flooding. This area is home to Multnomah Falls, the most visited outdoor recreation site in the entire Pacific Northwest.	30 minutes – 1.5 hours
Mount Hood	Mt. Hood is a major draw for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor recreation. In addition, there are several beautiful waterfalls created by the steep topology and ample snowmelt.	1 hour 30 minutes
Silver Falls State Park	One of the most popular state parks in Oregon, Silver Falls has earned a validated reputation for some of the best waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest, including 4 waterfalls that you can walk behind!	1 hour 15 minutes

Map of Waterfalls Close to Portland

Use this interactive map to get your bearings on the location of these Oregon waterfalls. You can also expand the map to view more details in a separate window.

We’ve included all of the waterfalls mentioned in this article (plus a few extras).

Most Memorable Waterfalls Near Portland

The table below describes each nearby Portland waterfall at a high level. They are organized by region, but you’ll have to visit them all in order to rank them according to your preference!

If you want to know more, we go into lots of detail about each of these falls near Portland Oregon later in this article.

Waterfall Near Portland Name	Region	Hiking Required?	Typical Drive Time from Portland
Multnomah Falls	Columbia River Gorge	No	35 minutes
Latourell Falls	Columbia River Gorge	No	35 minutes
Wiesendanger Falls	Columbia River Gorge	Yes	35 minutes
Horsetail Falls	Columbia River Gorge	No	40 minutes
Ponytail Falls	Columbia River Gorge	Yes	40 minutes
Tunnel Falls	Columbia River Gorge	Yes	45 minutes
Ramona Falls	Mt. Hood	Yes	1 hour 15 minutes
Tamanawas Falls	Mt. Hood	Yes	1 hour 30 minutes
Heather Canyon Falls	Mt. Hood	Yes	1 hour 30 minutes
North Falls	Silver Falls State Park	Yes	1 hour 15 minutes
Upper North Falls	Silver Falls State Park	Yes	1 hour 15 minutes
Middle North Falls	Silver Falls State Park	Yes	1 hour 15 minutes
South Falls	Silver Falls State Park	No	1 hour 15 minutes
Lower South Falls	Silver Falls State Park	Yes	1 hour 15 minutes
Abiqua Falls	Santiam State Forest	Yes	1 hour 20 minutes
Falls Creek Falls	Southern Washington	Yes	1 hour 20 minutes

As you can see, some of these waterfalls require hiking. These waterfall hikes near Portland are a great way to earn your views!

Waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is famous for scenic views, dramatic landscape, incredible hiking, and of course, the epic waterfalls. 

In fact, the density of waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge is one of the highest in the state of Oregon.

Therefore, we recommend Portland residents and visitors take advantage of the close proximity to this waterfall wonderland!

Let’s explore the best Columbia River waterfalls near Portland!

Multnomah Falls

The crown jewel of waterfalls near Portland, Multnomah Falls sets a high bar (620 feet high to be exact) for waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest.

In fact, Multnomah Falls is the highest waterfall in Oregon and the second tallest year-round waterfall in the entire United States!

If you have been there before, then you understand why this epic cascade draws over 2 million visitors each year and is the most visited outdoor recreation site in the Pacific Northwest!

Need we say more? If you can only see one waterfall near Portland, we recommend it be Multnomah Falls.

As such a popular site, there is a lot of infrastructure, including restrooms, a gift shop, a restaurant, and lots of parking. 

Also, a result of popularity, a timed use permit is required between May 24th through September 2nd if you go between 9 am and 6 pm.

Our Tips:

• We recommend going before 9 am or after 6 pm if you visit between May 24th and September 2nd to avoid needing a timed use permit.
• If you want a great hike in addition to Multnomah Falls, we suggest the Wakeena and Multnomah Falls Loop. This is one of our favorite hikes with waterfalls near Portland.
• We suggest you skip the hike up to the top of Multnomah Falls, as it is fully paved and often extremely overcrowded.
• Utilize free parking in the main parking lot.
• Check out the rest of this section of the Historic Columbia River Highway, including Vista House viewpoint, which is one of the best viewpoints in the Columbia River Gorge.

It’s hard to compete with the beauty and scale of Multnomah Falls, but each of the following waterfalls close to Portland has its own charm and we think are definitely worth visiting.

Latourell Falls

Multnomah Falls often overshadows other waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge. However, don’t skip over Latourell Falls, which is also worth a visit.

Latourell Falls is located along the Historic Columbia River Highway in Guy W. Talbot State Park and named after a 19th-century settler of this area Joseph Latourell.

Plunging over 200 feet in vertical freefall, this beautiful waterfall is easily accessible, located just a few steps from the road.

One of the unique characteristics defining Latourell Falls is the massive cliff of columnar basalt rock, which serves as a picturesque backdrop for the falls.

Overall, Latourell Falls is an easy and worthwhile stop along this tour of waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge.

Our Tips:

• If you want an easy but rewarding hike, check out the Latourell Falls Loop, which includes seeing Upper Latourell Falls and the beautiful forest.
• Don’t skip the views at Vista House viewpoint or Chanticleer Point Lookout, just west of Latourell Falls.

Wiesendanger Falls

Continuing on our tour of Columbia Gorge waterfalls, Wiesendanger Falls is one of the lesser known and less popular waterfalls in the area. 

This falls is a vertical plunge of 52 feet and requires a hike of about 3 miles starting from the Multnomah Falls visitors’ area.

However, we would not recommend doing this 3-mile hike which starts on Multnomah Falls Trail and goes to the Larch Mountain Trail. 

That is because the Multnomah Falls Trail is overcrowded, fully paved, and (in our opinion) not worth it. Instead, we suggest doing the Wakeena and Multnomah Falls Loop.

This loop is a beautiful 5-mile trail and one of our favorite moderate hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. It passes by 5 waterfalls including Wiesendanger and Multnomah! 

Overall, via this trail you get to experience the best parts of this part of the Gorge including some views too.

Horsetail and Ponytail Falls

Ponytail Falls, located just upstream, requires a half-mile hike with moderate elevation gain. 

We think this hike is definitely worth it because Ponytail Falls is one of the handful of waterfalls in Oregon that you can walk behind.

Our Tips:

• We suggest visiting Horsetail Falls on a hot summer day because swimming at the base of the falls is incredibly refreshing and invigorating.
• Just up the road is Ainsworth State Park which has a campground that serves as a perfect basecamp for exploring the best of the Columbia River Gorge.
• If you want to learn more about these two amazing waterfalls, check out our full guide to Horsetail and Ponytail Falls.

Tunnel Falls

One of the most unique waterfalls near Portland is Tunnel Falls, located about 45 minutes from Portland and requiring the beautiful Eagle Creek to Tunnel Falls 12-mile round-trip hike.

There really is no other waterfall quite like it. Why? Because you can walk behind it through a tunnel! If you hadn’t already seen photos, you probably wouldn’t believe it.

Furthermore, this scenery-driven trail was constructed in the 1910’s and the area has an exciting history that is fun to appreciate when you visit.

Be aware that this trail does have sections carved into the side of a cliff with steep drop offs. While this can be intimidating, and you should certainly tread carefully, it is also part of what makes this trail special.

In addition, there are actually 7 more noteworthy waterfalls along the trail (including the beautiful Punch Bowl Falls), which keep things interesting as the miles go by.

It is worth noting that the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire burned much of the forest canopy. Today the forest is still recovering and there are many areas that are exposed, which can be tough on a hot day.

Tunnel Falls itself is just fantastic. This waterfall gets 5 stars from us for its uniqueness and wow-factor! We highly recommend you do this trail and see if for yourself.

Our Tips:

• If you want to learn more, check out our full guide to Tunnel Falls.
• Be aware of six sections of sheer cliff with no protection, which may be spooky for kids and dogs.
• Bring sun protection on a hot day. Much of this trail is exposed.
• Consider doing this as an overnight backpacking trip. However, don’t leave valuables in the car at the trailhead. Our car has been broken into during the night in the past.

There are lots more waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge that you can and should explore! 

For now, let’s move on to another beautiful part of Oregon, also accessible from Portland as a day trip: Mt. Hood.

Waterfalls on Mount Hood

South of the Columbia River Gorge lies the majestic and iconic Mt. Hood, known for epic viewpoints, skiing, and incredible hiking.

The snowmelt and stormwater from Mt. Hood and the surrounding landscape actually feeds many of the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge.

However, given the steep terrain closer to Mt. Hood, there are several beautiful waterfalls that definitely deserve a spot on this list.

Ramona Falls

Let’s start off with waterfalls near Mt. Hood with Ramona Falls, a 120 foot waterfall on the west side of Mt. Hood, located about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Portland.

The hike to Ramona Falls starts at Ramona Falls Trailhead and is just over 7 miles round-trip (3.5 miles each way). However, the trail is relatively gradual, which makes it manageable for most.

The best time to explore Ramona Falls from May through October (road closures can affect access to the trailhead in the winter months).

There is a crossing over the Sandy River (once each way). This crossing used to have a bridge, but as a result of continuous washouts, the USFS has decided to stop reinstalling it.

Therefore, there is no bridge, which can be challenging and dangerous. 

Usually, there are some rocks to hop across or a log spanning the river. However, you may need to get your feet wet. Sometimes, the flow is too high to cross altogether.

We recommend checking the recent trip reports from other people on the All Trails page. This is a popular hike and usually has some helpful information.

Our Tips:

• Check out our full guide to Ramona Falls.
• Start early in the morning on weekends to avoid the crowds.
• We recommend doing the loop variation rather than an out and back.
• If you love backpacking, we promise you will love the Timberline Loop Trail. This is one of our favorite backpacking trails in Oregon!

Tamanawas Falls

Tamanawas Falls is a stunning Mt. Hood waterfall located on the east side of Mt. Hood, accessible via Highway 35 and located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Portland.

The falls tumble vertically over a 100-foot cliff, plummeting to a large pool below. The viewpoint at the end of the hike is spectacular.

There are two trailheads where you can park to access Tamanawas Falls: Polallie Trailhead and Tamanawas Falls Trailhead.

Both are suitable options and moderate difficulty. The hike from Tamanawas Trailhead is 3.5 miles out-and-back with about 600 feet of elevation gain.

Alternatively, the hike from Polallie Trailhead is slightly longer and there is a loop variation which is nice to mix things up a bit.

Overall, Tamanawas Falls is an excellent waterfall near Portland and makes for a super fun day trip.

Our Tips:

• Make a day trip or overnight trip to Tamanawas Falls by stopping in Hood River and visiting some of the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge.
• Consider stopping by Government Camp for food and drink after the hike.
• Also, you can drive up to Timberline Lodge for a stunning view.

Heather Canyon Falls

One of the lesser-known Oregon waterfalls, Heather Canyon Falls isn’t even on Google Maps! 

Nonetheless, Heather Canyon Falls is a stunning hike and a great waterfall to check out off the beaten path.

Start the ~6-mile round-trip hike at Mt. Hood Meadows parking lot. There are several variations you can take, so definitely check out their trail map.

One variation of this hike is also on All Trails. Whichever path you choose, you’ll head northeast and gain elevation until you reach a junction with the Timberline Loop Trail.

After that, you’ll continue to head east until you reach Heather Creek and the falls.

Overall, this is a fantastic hike with a pleasant waterfall.  Also, a super unique part of this hike is seeing Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort during summer. 

Our Tips:

• Consider doing the entire 40-mile Timberline Loop Trail as a multi day backpacking trip. This is one of our favorite backpacking trails in Oregon.
• Be sure to take a good map with you. We like this one.
• Be prepared to take a wrong turn once or twice.
• Consider stopping by Government Camp for food and drink after the hike.

Waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park has so many waterfalls that it is hard to keep track of them all! In fact, there are over 10 waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park that are significant and certainly worth seeing.

Also, there are 4 waterfalls that you can walk behind at Silver Falls State Park!

North Falls and Upper North Falls

Located at the northern part of Silver Falls State Park, North Falls and Upper North Falls are both impressive and fairly close to the parking lot.

In fact, the hike to Upper North Falls from the North Falls Parking lot is 0.7 miles round trip with minimal elevation change. The hike to North Falls is only 0.5 miles round trip, but does have a bit of a hill.

North Falls is one of the 4 waterfalls in the park you can walk behind! It cascades out of a huge rock shelf that extends out into the air.

The trail goes deep into the underlying grotto which is super exciting to explore.

Upper North Falls is impressive on its own, but frankly gets overshadowed by some of the other waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park. Nonetheless, Upper North Falls is an easy hike and worth checking out.

South Falls and Lower South Falls

Perhaps the most impressive waterfall in the park is South Falls, which plunges 177 feet over an extended rock shelf into a large pool. 

The trail winds underneath and behind the sheet of water that is South Falls, which makes for a huge wow-factor and an experience you are sure to remember.

If you can only see one waterfall in Silver Falls State Park, we suggest you visit South Falls.

Located half a mile downstream is Lower South Falls, which is another waterfall you can walk behind! 

On its own, Lower South Falls would be one of the best waterfalls in Oregon, but surrounded by other amazing waterfalls, its beauty is diluted.

Nonetheless, both of these waterfalls are incredible, and the relaxed Lower South Falls and Maple Ride Loop is a great way to see them.

Middle North Falls and Other Waterfalls in Silver Falls State Park

There are at least 10 waterfalls at Silver Falls, and we have covered the 4 most popular above.

However, there is one more that we want to bring your attention to: Middle North Falls.

Middle North Falls is yet another waterfall that you can walk behind in Silver Falls. While it is smaller than the others, it is incredibly fun to explore. The sheet of water is very uniform, making it seem like it was built that way.

The other waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park are also impressive and worth checking out. Keep reading below for our tips to explore Silver Falls State Park.

Our Tips for Exploring Silver Falls State Park

In our opinion, the best way to see the Silver Falls State Park waterfalls is doing the Trail of Ten Falls.

Check out our full article about Silver Falls State Park for a comprehensive guide to help you plan your visit.

This stunning tour of the park is a 7.4-mile loop that circles around the majority of the park and provides views of 10 individual waterfalls, as well as the beautiful surrounding forest.

In fact, we have to consider this one of the best hikes in Oregon and probably overall the best of waterfall hikes near Portland Oregon.

If 7 miles is too much, but you enjoy shorter hikes, we suggest parking at the South Falls visitor center and checking out South Falls. You could do the lovely Lower South Falls and Maple Ride Loop.

It’s also worth stopping at the North Falls Parking Lot to check out North Falls and Upper North Falls.

Another option is the shortened version of Trail of Ten Falls which is only 5 miles, which passes 7 of the 10 waterfalls.

We also recommend checking out the South Falls Cafe (which has excellent sandwiches) and is located within a cozy historical lodge (which has fires during the cooler months and some educational material).

Finally, we have to mention that there is a highly rated campground at Silver Falls State Park. Also, there are cabins at Smith Creek Village.

More Waterfalls Near Portland

So far, we have covered 14 amazing waterfalls near Portland, which are located in three regions: Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, and Silver Falls State Park.

However, there are two more worth mentioning here!

Abiqua Falls

Abiqua Falls is located in the Santiam State Forest, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Portland.

This 92-foot (28-meter) waterfall cascades into a serene pool, hugged by vertical basalt cliffs covered with lush green moss and ferns. 

In short, this is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Oregon thanks to the dramatic columnar rock formations that form a natural amphitheater to show off the waterfall itself.

Accessing Abiqua Falls is less straightforward than some other waterfalls, however. As the trail crosses private property. However, the property owner has permitted visitors to experience the wonder of this place for themselves.

The road into Abiqua Falls becomes more and more rugged as you get closer. High clearance vehicles may be able to make it all the way to the end of the road, which means you only need to hike 0.7 miles round trip.

However, all vehicles will be able to make it to the further parking area, which results in a 3.8-mile hike round trip.

Most vehicles will at least make it partway down the gravel road and there are small pull outs to park along the way.

Closer to the falls, the hike itself is often described as challenging, as there are usually slippery rocks and uneven surfaces. There is even a rope that is required on one steep section.

Overall, we recommend exploring Abiqua Falls if you are up for a bit of adventure but be aware of the uncertainties as well.

Our Tips:

• If you need some coffee before your hike or a bite to eat after, check out the restaurants in Silverton. We think Fin and Fowl Kitchen is an excellent spot for ramen or rice bowls.

Falls Creek Falls Washington

This is the only waterfall near Portland located in Washington on this list. However, it is still only about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Portland.

The roughly 3.5 mile hike is relatively easy, and the trail is well maintained. The lush greenery is quintessential for PNW hiking. 

While the hike is mellow and accessible for most people, the payoff offers an incredibly high wow-factor! 

The double-tiered waterfall itself is impressive and powerful, yet delicate and peaceful at the same time. The viewing area is well situated to soak in the beauty of these falls.

Also, this gem is usually not too crowded, given it is a bit out of the way from major roads. We like that it feels a little lesser known than some of the others on this list.

Our Tips:

• The last mile or so on the dirt road is rough, but most cars should be fine if you go slow and avoid the potholes.

BONUS: Even More Waterfalls Further From Portland

We couldn’t resist adding these other waterfalls to this list, as they are some of our favorite waterfalls in Oregon.

Toketee Falls

Toketee Falls is one of our favorite waterfalls in Oregon based on its beauty and location. 

Although it is a bit of a drive from Portland (4 hours and 20 minutes), Toketee Falls and the surrounding area are incredibly beautiful. 

The hike to Toketee Falls is short, easy, and stunningly gorgeous. Nearby, the Toketee Lake Campground has some of our favorite river-side campsites in Oregon.

Also, you can’t miss Umpqua Hot Springs, one of the most picturesque hot springs in Oregon and beyond.

Our Tips:

• Learn more in our full article about Toketee Falls.
• Visit in the winter for next to no crowds and a nearly empty Toketee Lake Campground.

Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls is another one of our favorite Oregon waterfalls. The beauty and accessibility make it one of the best waterfalls near Bend.

Central Oregon is a perfect weekend trip from Portland and Tumalo Falls is a great spot to visit in both the winter and the summer.

In the winter, you can cross-country ski or snowshoe in (if the snow is packed down you can hike) about two miles. However, in the summer, the road is open and you can drive very close to the falls.

Overall, we highly recommend you add Tumalo Falls to your list!

Our Tips:

• Learn more in our full article about the best waterfalls near Bend.

Conclusion

Hopefully this article about waterfalls near Portland was helpful for you! 

We love exploring the Pacific Northwest and strive to help others level up their adventures in this amazing region.

If you’re interested, we have other articles about things to do in Portland and the Willamette Valley and adventures in the PNW.

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