Latourell Falls

Latourell Falls is a striking 224-foot single-plunge waterfall that drops in a perfectly vertical sheet over a dramatic overhang of columnar basalt. The yellowish-green lichen covering the rock face gives the falls a distinctive appearance unlike any other in the Columbia River Gorge. The water free-falls completely away from the cliff, creating a misty grotto at the base where visitors can feel the spray on warm days.

The lower viewpoint is just a short 0.2-mile paved walk from the parking lot in Guy W. Talbot State Park, making it one of the most accessible major waterfalls in Oregon. For a fuller experience, take the 2.1-mile loop trail that climbs above the lower falls and continues to 134-foot Upper Latourell Falls, a tiered cascade that slides over mossy basalt before plunging into a fern-lined bowl.

As the closest major Gorge waterfall to Portland — just 28 miles east — Latourell makes an ideal first stop on a waterfall tour. Spring runoff produces the most impressive flow, but the falls run year-round. Morning light hits the falls directly, making it prime time for photography.