Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is an area of immense beauty. Steep walls of basalt and temperature rainforests frame the wide waters of the Columbia River. If you like waterfalls, great news! The gorge is absolutely packed with waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon. The tallest mountain in Oregon, Mount Hood, rises to the south of the river and is surrounded by hiking opportunities.

Multnomah Falls Columbia River Gorge
Multnomah Falls

Hikes in Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is about 60 miles long, beginning near The Dalles where the Deschutes River joins the Columbia River and ending east of Portland.

The north side of Columbia River Gorge is in Washington and the south side of the gorge is in Oregon. This state-straddling gorge is preserved by several Washington and Oregon State Parks as well as Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which encompasses 292,500 acres.

Popular hikes on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge include Multnomah Falls Trail, Eagle Creek Trail, and Angel’s Rest Trail. The area’s less well-known trails are great too, often observing spectacular waterfalls.

How did this beautiful place come to be?

Columbia River Gorge was shaped during the Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age over 12 million years ago. Ice dams breached on enormous glacial lakes, causing unfathomable amounts of water to rush down the Columbia River and carve out the landscape.

Columbia River Gorge Vista House
A view of Columbia River Gorge from Vista House

Columbia River Gorge & Mount Hood Area Hiking

This collection of trails in Columbia River Gorge and the Mount Hood area lists hikes from east to west. The table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, GPS maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these hikes. An interactive map below the table shows the location of each hike.

TrailDescriptionDistance Location
Deschutes River Trail100River Trail Loop
This hike in Deschutes River State Recreation Area explores views from the water's edge and a grassy terrace that borders the bottom of the Deschutes River before it meets the Columbia River.
3.1 miles
115 feet
45.6293,
-120.9080
Catherine Creek Arch150Catherine Creek Arch
This hike leads to the base of a curious natural arch in a basalt bluff.
1 mile
100 feet
45.7105,
-121.3621
Coyote Wall Hike160Catherine Creek Interpretive Trail
This paved loop with gorge views explores meadows that burst with seasonal wildflowers, passing an overlook for a small waterfall.
0.9 miles
100 feet
45.71041,
-121.36165
Coyote Wall Hike170Coyote Wall
This partial loop hike has panoramic views from basalt cliffs on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
5.8 miles
1575 feet
45.7006,
-121.4012
Mosier Twin Tunnels Hike180Mosier Twin Tunnels via Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail
This hike ventures up a paved trail on a century old roadway to a pair of tunnels carved into basalt cliffs on the side of Columbia River Gorge.
2 - 9.5 miles
320 feet
45.68,
-121.409
Hood River Pipeline Trail182Hood River Pipeline Trail
This easy and enticing river hike follows a catwalk atop a penstock flume pipeline.
2.8 miles
100 feet
45.70386,
-121.5061
Dog Mountain Hike185Dog Mountain
This hike explores forests, wildflower-covered slopes, and grand views from the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge.
6.65 - 7.4 miles
2825 feet
45.6992,
-121.7080
Eagle Creek Trail Punchbowl Falls195Eagle Creek Trail
This hike ventures up a beautiful and dramatic canyon to impressive waterfalls like Metlako Falls, Lower Punchbowl Falls, and Punchbowl Falls.
4.55 miles
400 feet
45.6368,
-121.9196
Wahclella Falls200Wahclella Falls
This hike visits a sublime waterfall in a canyon within the Columbia River Gorge.
2 miles
250 feet
45.630463,
-121.953758
Hamilton Mountain Trail203Hamilton Mountain
The beautiful lollipop loop visits bombastic waterfalls and panoramic cliffs on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge in Beacon Rock State Park.
7.75 miles
2025 feet
45.6326,
-122.0198
Beacon Rock Trail204Beacon Rock Trail
This hike takes an impressively engineered trail packed with switchbacks that scale a monolith along the Columbia River in Beacon Rock State Park, Washington.
1.6 miles
600 feet
45.62854,
-122.02222
Ponytail Falls207Horsetail Falls Trail - Oneonta Trail Loop
This loop starts at Horsetail Falls, passes beneath an overhang behind Ponytail Falls, and crosses a bridge by Middle Oneonta Falls to hit three waterfalls and viewpoints looking out over the Columbia River Gorge.
2.85 miles
325 feet
45.5903,
-122.06833
Lower Oneonta Falls210Lower Oneonta Falls in Oneonta Gorge
This off-trail trek follows Oneonta Creek between the tall, mossy cliffs of a wild and beautiful gorge to the base of an enchanting 100-foot waterfall.
0.8 miles
25 feet
45.589485,
-122.07558
Multnomah Falls220Multnomah Falls
This out and back hike visits Oregon’s tallest (and probably most seen) waterfall, located in Columbia River Gorge east of Portland.
0.2 to 2.6 miles
25 feet to 725 feet
45.5777,
-122.1173
Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop222Multnomah-Wahkeena Loop
This loop uses Wahkeena Trail and Larch Mountain Trail to visit six glorious waterfalls (including Wahkeena Falls and Multnomah Falls) as well as fine cascades along Wahkeena Creek and Multnomah Creek in beautiful canyons off Columbia River Gorge.
6.05 miles
1525 feet
45.5777,
-122.1173
Angels Rest226Angel's Rest
This hike ascends to a panoramic landing with spectacular views across Columbia River Gorge (particularly at sunrise).
4.8 miles
1500 feet
45.5605,
-122.17245
Latourell Falls230Latourell Falls Trail
This loop explores a canyon with two beautiful waterfalls, attaining great views of both.
2.3 miles
475 feet
45.53865,
-122.218
Old Salmon River Trail315Old Salmon River Trail
This hike explores a lush and lovely old-growth forest along the Salmon River in Mount Hood National Forest.
5.1 miles
175 feet
45.3085,
-121.9432
Mirror Lake Trail330Mirror Lake Trail
This lollipop loop hike crosses forest streams and ascends to Mirror Lake, which features reflective views of Mount Hood.
4.3 miles
550 feet
45.3026,
-121.7775
Trillium Lake Trail535Trillium Lake Trail
This easy loop hike circles the shores of a picturesque lake in the forest below Mount Hood.
2 miles
15 feet
45.2682,
-121.7387

Columbia River Gorge Attractions

Visitors have other ways to enjoy Columbia River Gorge.

Vista HouseVista House
This iconic Oregon viewpoint is a National Natural Landmark with tremendous no-hiking-required views of Columbia River Gorge.

 

Columbia River Gorge & Mount Hood Camping

Visitors can stay overnight in Columbia River Gorge.

Beacon Rock State Park CampgroundBeacon Rock State Park
The main campground in this state park on the Washington side of the gorge has 26 first-come first-serve campsites in a forest setting.
Deschutes River CampgroundDeschutes River SRA Campground
Just east of the Columbia River Gorge, this campground at the bottom of the Deschutes River has 34 sites with electrical hookups, 25 more primitive sites, and 4 group sites.
Trillium Lake CampgroundTrillium Lake Campground
Located just miles from Government Camp, this campground has 57 sites sitting in the evergreens by Trillium Lake below Mount Hood.

 

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Cape Lookout State Park Campground Tillamook Coast Campsites Oregon Beach Camping
Jutting out from the coast of Oregon west of Portland, Cape Lookout is a prominent promontory with tall cliffs towering hundreds of feet above the Pacific Ocean. The campground in Cape Lookout State Park is not as soaring. Luckily for beach-lovers, the campground is tucked right behind a big, beautiful beach on the north side of the cape. Cape Lookout State Park Campground is a major... Read more.
By: Published: Last updated: June 29, 2021
Whalen Island County Campground Tillamook Coast Camping Oregon Sand Lake Estuary
Camping by the ocean should be easy and relaxing – Fun in the sun and toes in the sand. That's what you can expect to find at Whalen Island County Campground in Tillamook County. This 33-site campground sits inside the Sand Lake Estuary, a special spot along the Three Capes Scenic Loop between Cape Kiwanda and Cape Lookout on the Oregon Coast. Right from the campground, it is easy to... Read more.
Tagged with · Ocean Views · Tent Camping · Tillamook
By: Published: Last updated: June 29, 2021
Maple Ridge Loop Silver Falls State Park Maple Ridge Trail Canyon Trail Lower South Falls Waterfall Hike Oregon
Maple Ridge Loop travels behind two breathtaking waterfalls and goes through miles of wonderful forest in Silver Falls State Park. This 2.8-mile loop (with 375 feet of elevation change) is a combination of two trails, Canyon Trail and Maple Ridge Trail. Canyon Trail goes down the trough carved by South Fork Silver Creek, taking hikers amazingly close to South Falls and Lower South Falls. ... Read more.
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Tagged with · Oregon State Parks · Silver Falls State Park · Sublimity · Waterfalls
Distance: 2.8 miles · Elevation change: 375 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 14, 2021
Cape Lookout Trail Coastal Hike Cape Lookout State Park Oregon
What is Whalen Island? It's not quite an island. It's not quite on Oregon's ocean shore. What it is... is a place that is unique, soothing, and beautiful. Wrapped be beaches and shaded by shore pines, Whalen Island sits at the heart of Sand Lake Estuary. Whalen Island – which only becomes an island during seasonal high tides - is just inland from the ocean (close enough to see the waves)... Read more.
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Tagged with · Beaches · Free Trails · Ocean Views · Oregon State Parks · Sand Dunes · Tillamook
Distance: 1.5 miles · Elevation change: 40 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 28, 2021
Munson Creek Falls Trail Tillamook Coast Range Waterfall Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site Oregon
Measuring 319 feet tall, Munson Creek Falls is no tiny trickler. In fact, this is Oregon's tallest waterfall west of the Willamette River. Munson Creek Falls has picturesque silky tiers framed by canyon greenery. The trek to the waterfall, Munson Creek Falls Trail, is just a quarter mile long (half a mile round trip) with 90 feet of elevation change. The trail explores a lush and lovely... Read more.
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Tagged with · Creeks · Free Trails · Oregon State Parks · Tillamook · Waterfalls
Distance: 0.5 miles · Elevation change: 90 feet
By: Published: Last updated: June 28, 2021