Situated just below the Historic Columbia River Highway, Bridal Veil Falls plummets almost 120 feet in a two-tiered drop, easily visible via a short but steep 0.3-mile trail. The path heads downhill from the parking lot, so keep in mind that you’ll have to regain all of the 200 feet of elevation that you lose en route to the views of the falls. A second trail loops out from the parking lot, providing grand views of the Columbia River Gorge.

A two-mile round trip hike on the Gorge Trail accesses this more secluded waterfall, tucked back in a basalt amphitheater on McCord Creek. The falls make a grand 260-foot drop as they pass over a sheer cliff, dropping into a verdant basin where lichens, mosses, and ferns cling to rocks kept cool and moist by the cascade’s incessant mist.

This cascade is often the first stop for waterfall viewers heading east into the Gorge from Portland, and it does not disappoint. A ribbon of water plunges 224 feet over cliffs of columnar basalt, and views are easily had by making the short walk from the parking area to the footbridge beneath the falls. If you’re looking for a longer hike, a 2-mile loop ranges upstream to Upper Latourell Falls before returning to the trailhead.

The crown jewel of waterfalls in the Gorge, and one of Oregon’s most iconic natural features, Multnomah Falls plummets 630 feet in two primary drops as it rushes to the Columbia. You’re unlikely to be alone here since the falls have their own exit off I-84, a large parking lot, and a historic lodge with a restaurant and shop, but the grandeur of this cascade more than makes up for the crowds. Take in the view from the base, or walk up to the scenic stone bridge for a stunning mid-falls vista.

Though shorter than most of the other falls in this guide, Wahclella offers a storybook scene in a mossy grotto on Tanner Creek. The falls drop 127 feet in two tiers and can be seen via a pleasant, two-mile round trip hike from a trailhead near Bonneville Dam. Tanner Creek thunders through a narrow slot in the basalt headwall, filling the forest with the roar of falling water.

Falling roughly 250 feet in two stages, Wahkeena bursts through a chute in the basalt to make a grand display and live up to its name, thought to be derived from a Yakama word meaning “most beautiful.” There’s a view to be had right off the highway, but vegetation often obscures the scene. It’s less than a half-mile round trip to head out to a stone bridge at the base of the falls where the full power and beauty of Wahkeena can be fully appreciated.

If you find yourself standing at the base of Multnomah Falls and itching for a more secluded hike, just start hiking up! After crossing the bridge between Multnomah’s two tiers, the Larch Mtn Trail continues up switchbacks to the upper reaches of Multnomah Creek. A handful of gorgeous falls await, including this 50-foot cascade. It’s a strenuous-but-rewarding 1.5-mile hike (one way) from the base of Multnomah to Weisendanger, where tranquil forest contrasts nicely with the busy viewpoints below.