10 Best Waterfalls in Washington’s Columbia Gorge

Pool of the Winds Beacon Rock State Park

One of the quirks of the Columbia Gorge is that the south side is steeper than the north. While Oregon’s landscape is covered with dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, Washington’s is subtler, at least at first glance. The waterfall hikes on this side of the Columbia River are less famous and, in general, harder to reach. With some exploring, you can find incredible hidden gems along less-traveled trails. Here are the best waterfalls in southwest Washington. I chose them based on a combination of waterfall coolness and surrounding natural beauty. Enjoy!

1. Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds

Number of waterfalls: 3

Distance: 2.5 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 600 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: Washington Discover Pass ($10/day). You can buy a pass at the trailhead.

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: Yes

Drive time from Portland: 45 minutes

Season: All year

Of the waterfall hikes in Washington’s Columbia Gorge, the trail to Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds is most similar to those in Oregon’s waterfall corridor. The trailhead is an easy drive from Portland on Highway 14. A short hike connects three distinct waterfalls along Hardy Creek. The scale of this long cascading creek is hard to appreciate in the dense forest. You’ll reach the lowest of the waterfalls first, Hardy Falls. After seeing this tall single plunge, the trail continues to the complex angular drops of Rodney Falls. Last is Pool of the Winds, an unusual 20-foot stream of water falling vertically through a hollow rocky cylinder. Turn around for an easy day hike, or check out one of the other hiking trails in Beacon Rock State Park.

2. Lewis River Waterfalls

Number of waterfalls: 5

Distance: 6.6 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 500 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Passes required: (1) NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass, $5/day. (2) Lewis River Recreation Area Ticket between June 15th and September 15th, $2. Buy them both before you arrive.

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: Yes

Drive time from Portland: 2 hours

Season: May - October

I’m playing fast and loose with the boundary of Columbia Gorge here, but the power and beauty of the waterfalls along the Lewis River justify the drive to reach them. A hiking trail long enough for backpacking follows the river through Washington’s Gifford Pinchot National Forest. You can see incredible Lower, Middle, and Upper Lewis Falls, plus a couple of cool bonus falls on a 6-mile hike. The trail is pretty flat and easy when not covered by downed trees. When I visited, a recent landslide on Mount St Helens had made the terrain more challenging than usual. To limit your hiking or avoid obstacles on the trail, you can drive to different trailheads. Plan ahead if you visit in the summer. Lower Lewis River Falls is one of Washington’s most popular swimming holes. You’ll need to reserve a day-use permit, called the Lewis River Recreation Area Ticket, to visit during peak season.

Learn more about visiting the Lewis River Recreation Area.

3. Falls Creek Falls

Number of waterfalls: 1

Distance: 3.4 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 850 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Pass required: NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass, $5/day.

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: Yes

Drive time from Portland: 80 minutes

Season: April 1st - Nov 30th

Falls Creek Falls Washington — *Falls Creek Falls*

Don’t be put off by the boring name. Falls Creek Falls is one of the most impressive waterfalls in Washington. Pictures don’t do it justice, least of all mine. The hike to reach it follows a scenic trail along Falls Creek through a Doug fir, maple, and cedar forest. The journey is lovely, but this one is all about the finale. Three distinct tiers make up 335-foot Falls Creek Falls. The upper tier is so high that you’ll only see a sliver of it when standing beneath the falls. The second tier is ethereal cascading streams over chunky stone. The final, lowest tier is an elegant single plunge. You can do the hike as a 3.4-mile out-and-back or a 6.3-mile loop. The loop adds a viewpoint overlooking the top of Falls Creek Falls.

4. Panther Creek Falls

Panther Creek Falls Washington — *Panther Creek Falls*

Number of waterfalls: 1

Distance: 1 mile out and back

Elevation gain: 200 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: No

Drive time from Portland: 80 minutes

Season: Summer and fall

Panther Creek Falls has an upper and lower viewpoint. Even if you see both, it’s a mile of hiking at most. Since it’s a long drive from Portland to reach a short hike, I like going here on the way to or from the Falls Creek Falls hike. If you love waterfalls, Panther Creek Falls alone is worth the drive. One of the most unexpected and complex waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge, 69-foot Panther Creek Falls has trickling rivulets, cascades, and a powerful sidewinding chute. It tumbles over a cliff covered with a thick layer of moss and topped with tall conifers.

When you go, search for “Panther Creek Falls Trailhead” in Google Maps rather than “Panther Creek Falls,” which will take you too far. Look for an unmarked gravel lot on your right. The trailhead is across the street.

5. Husum Falls and BZ Falls

Number of waterfalls: 2

Distance: 0.6 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 100 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: Yes

Drive time from Portland: 80 minutes

Season: Potentially all year. Best from spring through fall.

Husum Falls is a 10-minute drive from White Salmon, Washington, on WA-141. There’s no hike to reach it. Just pull over near the bridge across the White Salmon River and have a look. I wouldn’t call it a standalone destination so much as a cool stop on an excursion around Trout Lake or Mt Adams. Husum Falls is a 12-foot drop along the White Salmon River. Its claim to fame is being one of the tallest commercially-run whitewater rafting drops. If you visit in the summer, stick around for a while to watch rafters navigate the rapids.

Only five minutes down the road from Husum Falls is the short and rewarding hike to hidden BZ Falls. You’ll start at the BZ Corner Launch Site, which is mostly used as a boat launch for rafting. Look for a gap in the railing on the way to the river. This gap begins the trail to obscure and secluded 12-foot BZ Falls. The hike feels like the journey to a lost civilization. It’s haphazard and unmaintained but has some features, like footbridges, that took work to create. At the end of the trail, you’ll see BZ Falls make its drop through a slot canyon along the White Salmon River.

6. Langfield Falls

Langfield Falls Washington — *Langfield Falls*

Number of waterfalls: 1

Distance: 0.5 miles out and back

Elevation gain: 80 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: No

Drive time from Portland: 2 hours

Season: Late spring through fall

Seeing Langfield Falls is better as part of a larger Columbia Gorge day trip than as a single destination. It’s a great stop if you’re in the Trout Lake area, especially after hiking the Sleeping Beauty Trail. Once you finish the steep climb to see the panoramic views of Washington’s Cascade peaks from the top of Sleeping Beauty, the short and sweet trail to Langfield Falls is a relaxing cool down with a memorable finale. Langfield Falls makes a 60-foot plunge over a cliff of volcanic breccia. In spring and early summer, it roars. By late summer, it’s a more sedate, sidewinding waterfall. You can reach the creek below the falls with a bit of a scramble. Look for Cascade frogs sitting on the logs piled at the base of the falls.

For more to do near Langfield Falls, check out the best things to do near Mt Adams.

7. East Fork Lewis River Waterfalls

Number of waterfalls: 4

Distance: 0.2 - 7 miles

Elevation gain: Up to 600 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None at Lucia Falls and Moulton Falls Regional Parks. NW Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass at Sunset Falls, $5/day.

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome. They can go in the water at Moulton Falls and Sunset Falls parks but not at Lucia Falls.

ADA access: The East Fork Lewis River Trail is unpaved but wide, flat, and even without barriers like steps.

Restrooms: Yes

Drive time from Portland: 1 hour

Season: All year. Expect crowds at Moulton Falls in the summer.

I’m once again taking some liberties with the boundaries of the Columbia Gorge. Lucia Falls, Moulton Falls, and Sunset Falls are picturesque waterfalls in three separate but nearby parks along Washington’s East Fork Lewis River. They’re an easy drive from Portland or Vancouver, making a good day trip when you get a late start or want a relaxed pace. You can do as much or as little hiking as you want. The waterfalls are close to the parking lots. A short hike in Moulton Falls Regional Park will bring you to lovely Yacolt Falls on Big Tree Creek. A longer trail follows the East Fork Lewis River. Since swimming isn’t allowed at Lucia Falls, it stays peaceful all year. Arrive early at Moulton Falls Regional Park during the summer. It’s one of Washington’s most popular swimming spots.

Learn more about the waterfalls in and around Moulton Falls Regional Park.

8. Dougan Falls

Number of waterfalls: 1

Distance: None

Pass required: Washington Discover Pass ($10/day). Buy a pass ahead of time.

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome.

ADA access: You can see the waterfall from the road. Beyond that, the terrain is uneven.

Restrooms: Yes

Drive time from Portland: 50 minutes

Season: Usually all year. Late summer for swimming.

Dougan Falls swimming holes — *The pools below Dougan Falls are popular swimming holes*

No hike here, just a pretty waterfall. Beneath Dougan Falls is an idyllic swimming hole that’s most appealing (and crowded) in the summer. Toward the end of the season, the chilly Washougal River is calm and pleasant for wading. Arrive early if you visit on a summer weekend, especially during a heat wave. The demand quickly overwhelms the small parking lot. When it’s too cold to swim, the falls are peaceful. You might spot birds like herons, ducks, and mergansers on the riverbanks. On the way to Dougan Falls, you’ll pass the Cape Horn Trailhead, one of the closest hikes to Portland in Washington’s Columbia Gorge. You could try out the Cape Horn Trail and then relax on the banks of Dougan Falls.

Learn more about visiting Dougan Falls.

9. Dog Creek Falls

Number of waterfalls: 1

Distance: 0.2 miles out and back

Elevation gain: Minimal

Difficulty: Easy

Pass required: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: Not really. The terrain is pretty uneven.

Restrooms: No

Drive time from Portland: 1 hour

Season: All year

Dog Creek Falls Washington — *Dog Creek Falls*

I drove past Dog Creek Falls many times on my way through the Columbia Gorge before stopping. It’s not hidden exactly. A low-profile sign next to a gravel shoulder marks its location. The waterfall is tucked back in a small canyon, almost visible from Highway 14. Reaching the waterfall is not so much a hike as it is rounding a corner. If you’re hiking in the area, say at Catherine Creek or Coyote Wall, Dog Creek Falls is an easy and rewarding stop on the way back. It’s much safer to pull over when driving west rather than east. This 30-foot waterfall tumbles down the bottom of a recessed amphitheater before flowing out into Dog Creek. In the summer, the creek is a pretty place to wade on a hot day.

10. Siouxon Creek

Number of waterfalls: 2+

Distance: Long due to fire closures. Details below.

Pass required: None

Dog-friendly: Yes, leashed dogs are welcome on the trail.

ADA access: No

Restrooms: No

Drive time from Portland: 90 minutes

Season: Spring through fall

Normally, I’d put Siouxon Creek higher on a list of the best waterfall hikes in Washington’s Columbia Gorge. It’s here at the end because of problems with access following fire damage in 2020. The trailhead closest to the waterfalls is closed, making what was once a moderate day hike into an ambitious trek. You can still hike the trail. It’s just longer, about 10 miles out and back to the first waterfalls, Siouxon Creek Falls and Horseshoe Falls. To see the final waterfalls, Chinook Falls and Wildcat Falls, it’s a 14-mile hike. It’s been a while since I hiked this trail (before the fire damage), but I remember it fondly. Siouxon Creek creates some powerful rapids along its course. The conifer forest surrounding it is lush and green. It might be a good one to keep on your radar for when the old trailhead reopens. If you tackle it before then, Oregon Hikers has a good, detailed trail description.

Notable omission: Spirit Falls

Spirit Falls Washington — *Spirit Falls*

It feels weird and wrong not to include Spirit Falls among the best waterfalls in Washington’s Columbia Gorge. Here’s the deal. The parking area and 95% of the 0.3-mile trail to Spirit Falls are on public land. The last 5% is on private property. The trouble is that the last bit is the bit with the waterfall. After slipping down a very steep hill of mud and pointy rocks, you arrive at a row of No Trespassing signs just before you get a decent view of the falls. Don’t keep walking about 100 more feet past the trees to see 60-foot Spirit Falls tumble as a roaring curtain of water over a broad mossy cliff. That would be illegal. Stop just before the views of the surging boulder-strewn rapids flowing through a lush green canyon. Or so I imagine it to be. Real talk, don’t bring kids or dogs here. The trail is as close to vertical as possible without requiring ropes.

*The unsatisfying end of the public trail*

Notable omission: Rock Creek Falls

I mention Rock Creek Falls because I’ve seen it on other Columbia Gorge waterfall guides. This waterfall in Stevenson, WA, is on private property. From what I’ve read, you used to be able to have a look at the falls from the back of Iman Cemetery. If that was true at one time, it’s not anymore. I went on this fool’s errand so you don’t have to. There’s a big chainlink fence and a bunch of no-trespassing signs blocking access to the falls.

*A fence blocks the trail to Rock Creek Falls*

Best waterfalls in Washington’s Columbia Gorge, summary:

Hardy Falls, Rodney Falls, and Pool of the Winds
Lewis River Waterfalls
Falls Creek Falls
Panther Creek Falls
Husum Falls and BZ Falls
Langfield Falls
East Fork Lewis River Waterfalls
Dougan Falls
Dog Creek Falls
Siouxon Creek

Enjoy the waterfall hikes in Washington!

With love,

Emma

10 Best Waterfalls in Washington’s Columbia Gorge