When people visit waterfalls in the Portland area they normally are drawn magnetically to the Columbia River Gorge. The magnificence of the Gorge is without a doubt. The State’s highest and best known waterfalls are here complete with a wonderful trail system through an everchanging natural setting – albeit, a little beat up from fires presently. But there are other lesser known waterfalls in Oregon while across the Columbia, Southwestern Washington sports its own waterfalls outside of the Gorge well worth a visit, as well.

This is the first short essay covering waterfalls in the immediate Portland area. Included here are several waterfalls in southwestern Washington all worth a visit. The essay does not try to be inclusive of all options, but steers only toward some options worthy of your time and efforts. A time limit of two hours from the Rose City is included which covers quite a bit of ground.

Links take you to the Northwest Waterfall Survey pages which give the waterfalls ratings 0-100. The highest rated waterfall in Oregon is Multnomah Falls with a rating of 89.92, so you have something to compare other waterfalls here to.

STEEP CREEK FALLS

Steep Creek Falls can technically be said to still lie in the Gorge. But after driving up several miles along the graveled Rock Creek Road out of Stevenson, deep in the forested canyon seems like another world. There are many other falls along creeks tumbling out of the Cascades towards the nearby Columbia River, Steep Creek is simply symbolic. By looking at the map from the link, ten other waterfalls are listed within three miles of Steep Creek.

At 52 feet high (rating 47.25), it tumbles directly into the rumbling waters of Rock Creek. Fairly well known to locals, it is less with Portlanders. The entire length of the Rock Creek road is a pleasant drive – watch out for a few potholes – ending high at a pass in the Cascades.

EAST FORK OF THE LEWIS RIVER

For our next look at southwestern Washington waterfalls, we move closer in towards Portland there are several waterfalls along the East Fork of the Lewis River in neighboring Clark County. These waterfalls are well known to locals, especially in the summer, but also on sunny weekends anytime. Portlanders seem to be in the know here as a count of license plates show a fairly representative count of Oregon plates, as well.

There are three main falls along the East Fork – this branch flows into the main Lewis River just west of I-5 near Woodland – Lucia, Moulton and Sunset Falls. The first two are included in Clark County parks while the last is within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The East Fork is a rainfed river meaning an August visit will show a much diminished waterflow than a January or February visit.

LUCIA FALLS

Lucia Falls is the lowest and first waterfall you come to. The water drops 15 feet (rating 46.12) over basaltic ledges. A fairly large parking lot here fills quickly on weekends. Several picnic tables are available in the woods with the waterfall but a short amble away. A trail system connects with Moulton Falls further upstream. The large pool below the falls is very popular in the summer.

Winter rains swelling the runoff at Lucia Falls – 360 view Click and drag mouse for full effect.

MOULTON FALLS

Moving upstream a couple miles brings you to Moulton Falls. Every time I have been here, the little parking lot has been filled, so come early or figure on walking. Moulton Falls is only eleven feet high (rating 44.19) and really not worth the effort of scrambling for a parking space unless you are spending the day to swim and sun on the rocks.

ONTO YACOLT

Just above Moulton Falls the road bends to the north towards the community of Yacolt. Opposite the turnoff to the east to Sunset Falls is a large parking area on the west side of the road. Many people use this and walk down to Moulton Falls. During the rainy season, they are missing the best waterfall in the area, Yacolt Falls. At 38 feet (rating 45.68), this waterfall is one best seen outside of summer. The main contributor is Yacolt Creek, but another creek comes in from the east to make a fascinatingly unique waterfall.

Below the falls, a seasonal bridge crosses the basaltic canyon – in the winter the bridge is taken out – connecting with a trail going down to Moulton Falls.

There is a small area for picnickers though no signs note the falls and many people walk past not giving it a glance.

The waterfall diminishes greatly out of season.

YACOLT FALLS WITH THE WATER ON

View atop Yacolt Falls in winter – 360 view Click and drag mouse for full effect.

Another look atop the falls – 360 view Click and drag mouse for full effect.

Walkabout at Yacolt Falls – 360 view Click and drag mouse for full effect.

YACOLT FALLS IN SUMMER

SUNSET FALLS

Continuing our tour of southwestern Washington waterfalls, we drive five miles further east up the East Fork of the Lewis along the Sunset River Road brings you to a National Forest campground and park – parking passes cost $5 per day or use a seasonal Forest Pass. Fourteen feet (rating 50.29) is not a huge amount, but the pitch is 90 degrees as the stream plunges directly over a basaltic ledge. The pool below is popular in the summer with swimmers and the entire region of the stream is popular with kayakers.

Taking it in on top of Sunset Falls – 360 view Click and drag mouse for full effect.

MIDDLE LEWIS FALLS

Two other southwestern Washington waterfalls within the two hour limit to mention. First, on the main branch of the Lewis River is the Middle Lewis Falls. Again, the are several other falls in the area – check the link – but this is certainly the most dramatic.

The drive here might stretch a little beyond the two hour limit but not much. Head up from I-5 east from Woodland on the Lewis River Highway – WA 503 – continuing on the Forest Service highway 90 at Swift Dam. Continue east on this road, not taking the other route #25 which goes north to Randle and other hiking possibilities. There is a nice campground on the north bank by the falls. The waterfall is dramatic even in the summer as the river is glacially fed off of the slopes of Mt Adams. At a height of 33 feet, the waterfall is made even grander by its 300 foot width (rating 70,63).

RAINBOW FALLS

Further to the north is one of the smaller southwestern Washington waterfalls. Located not far to the west from I-5 is Rainbow Falls on the Chehalis River. The waterfall is named for the Rainbow Division of the World War Two era – a division made up of men mainly from all over the United States. The waterfall is best visited in the summer when you will find local cavorting in the waters. With only a five foot drop (not rated on the waterfall survey), the waterfall becomes a mere rapid in the heavy flows of the winter. The best witness of that is the bridge destroyed by a heavy flood during There is a State Park on the south side of the falls dating back to Civilian Conservation Corps times of the middle 1930’s when the park was constructed.

HUSUM FALLS

Whitewater rafting and kayaking enthusiasts know Husum Falls well. Husum is one of several along the White Salmon River just north of Hood River, Oregon and White Salmon, Washington. Several rafting companies run the class V falls later in the summer when the flow drops a bit. The river drops 12 feet here (rating 41.83).

Fed by a glacier on Mt Adams, there is always something to run here. If your raft tips over, the river below is a fairly easy class II swim so do not despair. In any season, the falls demands respect even with only a twelve foot drop. Former Olympic whitewater kayaker Rich Wiess drowned here back in 1997.

LACAMAS FALLS

A last waterfall area on our tour of southwestern Washington waterfalls, brings us back closer to the Portland area is in the nearby suburb of Camas. The town was built up by the paper interests in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Two lakes on Lacamas Creek just to the north of town were deepened by some twelve feet by dams erected to supply a constant water source for the paper mills. The resulting Round and Lacamas Lakes are popular with local small boats. The lakes suffer from agricultural runoff and can get quite the algal bloom in the summertime.

Three small waterfalls are found in the forested park in the canyon running from the dam on Round Lake to the town. The most dramatic waterfall is manmade in the winter when the spillway on the dam is opened wide.

Further down are two natural small drops on the Lacamas Creek, Potholes Falls, a twenty foot drop (rating 54.18) and Lower Falls (rating 41.13). Lower Falls has a greater drop – 30 feet – but its pitch is much less dramatic at 30 degrees compared to 77 degrees at Potholes. During the summer with less flow, people scamper around the falls though the way user-made side trails tend to be a bit steep.