If you love your waterfalls, there are few better places to go in the US than Oregon. This small state boasts some of the most picturesque falls in the country and with over 200 to choose from you’ll be spoilt for choice.

We visited Oregon during the fall when the green forests surrounding the falls were beginning to turn golden, making them even more beautiful, but whatever time of year you visit they will be spectacular.

We’ve narrowed down some of the most impressive Oregon waterfalls that are a must for your PNW itinerary.

1: Multnomah Falls
2: Latourell Falls
3: Horsetail Falls
4: South Falls
5: North Falls
6: The other 8 on the Trail of Ten Falls
7: Tumalo Falls
8: Lower Proxy Falls
9: Upper Proxy Falls
10: Tamolitch Blue Pool
11: Tokatee Falls
12: Whitehorse Falls
Oregon Waterfalls Map

The best waterfalls near Portland

If you love waterfalls, then Portland is a great place to start. This city has so many that are within an hour’s drive and every one we visited in this area was gorgeous.

A great place to start is the Historic Columbia River Highway which seemed to have a huge waterfall every few miles!

1. Multnomah Falls

Popularity: Very busy
Walk to the falls: Just a few steps!
Fee: Free

Multnomah Falls is probably the most famous waterfall in Oregon and a coveted photography spot. The two falls are divided by a beautiful bridge, creating an incredibly picturesque scene. The steep cliffs and dense forest make you feel like you’ve walked into a pre-historic world - far away from the nearby city of Portland.

You can take in the falls from three viewpoints: the bottom, the bridge and a hefty hike to the top. The view is best from the bottom which is a mere minutes walk from the car park. It’s also worth going to the bridge where you get a much closer up view of the upper falls and can also look down on the pool at the bottom of the lower falls which is heart shaped. The walk only takes around five minutes and is uphill but on a very well maintained path.

We did the walk to the top of the falls and found the view to be a disappointment as you couldn’t actually see the waterfall from up there! You could see the river and the very tip of the falls but nothing more.

It’s worth doing if you are looking for a little exercise (there are 11 steep switchbacks to climb) but otherwise it gets the thumbs down from us. The walk from the base to the top of the falls and back is just under 2.5 miles long with 850ft elevation gain.

Getting to Multnomah Falls

Multnomah is a 30 minute drive from the centre of Portland and is straight forward to get to. It has a decent sized parking lot and you can’t miss it! However, it is the most popular waterfall in Oregon, so getting a parking space isn’t always easy - especially at weekends.

2. Latourell Falls

Popularity: Busy
Walk to the falls: Five minutes to the lower falls, one mile to the upper falls

Latourell is made up of two falls: the lower falls which are huge, and the upper falls which are smaller and more intimate. If you don’t fancy doing a hike, then the lower falls is the place for you. Like a lot of the falls around Portland, they flow off the top of an incredibly steep cliff.

You can take in the view from a path by the bottom of the falls, which makes for a dramatic photo. The walk to the lower falls is easy and only takes around five minutes.

If you fancy a longer walk, then continue up the path to the upper falls. It is only one mile to the upper falls (although the loop is 2.6 miles with 610ft in elevation gain in total) and you’ll wind through beautiful, lush green forest before arriving at these falls.

The upper falls aren’t as dramatic as the lower falls, but you can get a lot closer and it feels more secluded.

We really enjoyed the whole walk, so it’s well worth doing even if you are primarily coming to see the lower falls!

Getting to Latourell Falls

Latrouell Falls is a 35 minute drive from the centre of Portland and is very close to Multnomah and Horsetail Falls. You can easily combine all three in one afternoon.

The parking lot here is a reasonable size, but fills up quickly - especially on weekends.

3. Horsetail Falls

Popularity: Quiet
Walk to the falls: None
Fee: Free

Horsetail Falls is the easiest of all the waterfalls on this list to see as it is visible from the road. You can simply park just off the road and hop out of your car to see it!

Whilst it is easy to get to, it isn’t as dramatic as some of the nearby falls on this list so it makes a good addition rather than a destination in its own right. Many people stop to take some pictures but then move on quickly so parking is fairly easy.

Getting to Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls is a 40 minute drive from Portland and is very close to Multnomah Falls. There isn’t much parking near Horsetail Falls but the turnaround time is quick.

The Trail of Ten Falls

The Trail of 10 Falls should be on any waterfall lovers list as this seven mile hike winds alongside a river and - as the name suggests - takes in ten stunning waterfalls. It’s a really beautiful hike and not too difficult, so you should add this to your Oregon itinerary if you love the outdoors!

You will need to pay an entry fee of $5 to visit. There is a machine that will take card payments, so you don’t need to bring cash with you.

4. South Falls

Popularity: Quiet
Walk to the falls: 5-10 minutes

The easiest of the Ten Falls to get to is South Falls. This is on the start of the trail and is a very short walk from the parking lot. There are several places to take in these falls, but we loved being able to walk directly behind it! You can view the curtain of water, flowing towards the river below.

The trail down to South Falls is paved so you won’t have to worry about your footing, even in wet weather. It’s a pretty great way to start the trail or a destination in its own right if you don’t feel like hiking.

5. North Falls

Popularity: Moderately busy
Walk to the falls: 0.3 miles from Upper North Falls parking lot, or four miles from Trail of Ten Falls parking lot

The North Falls are the next most dramatic falls on the Trail of Ten Falls and you can hear them roaring from a long way away! This is another waterfall you can walk behind for that unique perspective and the state park has put in some benches if you fancy taking a little break in this unique spot.

You can walk from the Upper North Falls car park if you don’t fancy walking the four miles from South Falls. However, it’s more fun to see it in the context of all the other falls on this trail and it’s a great way to finish a beautiful walk.

6. The other 8 falls at the Trail of Ten Falls

The other 8 falls on the Trail of Ten Falls may not be as dramatic as the two listed above, but combined they make for an epic hike! We thought Lower South Falls, Middle North Falls and Drake Falls were the best of the rest of the falls, but there are five others you will also pass along the way which are worth a look!

Getting to the Trail of Ten Falls

The Trail of Ten Falls is about 1 hr 20 drive from Portland and is a slow, windy road after you leave the highway. It’s a pleasant drive though as it primarily through rural Oregon.

The best waterfalls near Bend

The waterfalls near Bend aren’t as close by as the ones near Portland, but they are very special. Whether it’s the striking blue water at Tamolitch blue pool, or the wild feel at Proxy Falls, the waterfalls near Bend are well worth the effort to get there.

7. Tumalo Falls

Popularity: Quiet when we visited but normally busy
Walk to the falls: One minute to the first viewpoint or 5-10 minutes to the second
Fee: $5 or free with the National Park Annual Pass

Tumalo Falls is huge and it’s one of those waterfalls where you’ll hear them before you see them! To get to the first viewpoint it is less than a minutes walk from the car park but we preferred the view from above.

It requires a short walk (less than 10 minutes, albeit mainly uphill) to get to the viewpoint at the top of the falls, but the views from here are more dramatic. You can look down on the falls from a couple of different spots and we liked the angle for photos more than the lookout by the car park.

As we were visiting during the fall, the snow had begun to build up and parts of the waterfall were already frozen which made it feel even wilder.

Getting to Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls is a 30 minute drive from Bend. The majority of the journey is along a decent paved road, but the final stretch is a dirt road, which has its fair share of potholes! In the winter, the dirt road closes, so you will have to walk an extra 2.5 miles each way to get to the falls.

Proxy Falls

Upper and Lower Proxy Falls are only accessible by a hiking trail. It’s a short and beautiful walk through lush green forest and the trail is in good condition making footing easy even in wet weather.

The total hike to see both the upper and lower falls is easy and only 1.6 miles long in total. But to get close to the lower falls will require a scramble down a rough, slippery path. You don’t need to scramble down to see the falls though, it’s only if you want to get up close. For the upper falls it’s the same deal although it’s a much easier path, you just need to climb over a big tree root and a few rocks to get a closer view.

You will need to pay $5 to visit, but make sure you bring the exact cash as there is no machine here. If you have a National Park Annual pass, you do not need to pay.

8. Lower Proxy Falls

Popularity: Quiet
Walk to the falls: Less than one mile

Lower Proxy is one of the most dramatic waterfalls in Oregon. The falls flow down a rugged cliffside into pools with fallen logs, rocks and a fast flowing river. It’s surrounded by forest and it makes for a fairytale scene.

In October there was already ice patches and snow around the river! Be careful getting down to these falls as the path is steep and rough. Then you’ll have to cross fallen trees and walk on slippery rocks.

9. Upper Proxy Falls

Popularity: Quiet
Walk to the falls: Less than 0.5 miles from Lower Proxy and the trailhead

Upper Proxy Falls is a quiet and tranquil spot. The falls here aren’t as big as the lower falls, but they flow into a pool that reflected the scenery around it and this made for a lovely photo spot.

You’ll need to do a little scrambling to get the best view of Upper Proxy Falls, but nothing like Lower Proxy.

Lower Proxy Falls - Waterfalls in Oregon

Getting to Proxy Falls

Proxy Falls is a 1 hour 30 drive from Bend. We did this on a day where we also visited Tamolitch Blue Pool and Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs. Check the road conditions before you go as Proxy Falls is in the mountains and sometimes the road closes during the winter.

10. Tamolitch Blue Pool

Popularity: Busy
Walk to the falls: Four miles return
Fee: Free

Tamolitch Blue Pool is a truly special spot. The water really has to be seen to be believed with its incredibly deep shade of blue. It’s an other worldly scene which you take in from the top of a cliff, looking down on the pool and the waterfall which feeds it.

You can cross over the top of the cliff and scramble down the other side if you want to see the pool at eye level but take care as it’s not an official trail and can be slippery.

The walk to Tamolitch is two miles long (each way) and is another gorgeous forest walk in Oregon among tall trees and dense green undergrowth It’s pretty easy, but it does have some gradual uphill sections.

Getting to Tamolitch Blue Pool

Tamolitch is also a 1 hr 30 drive from Bend. The final stretch is down a dirt road, but it is in good condition and doesn’t require a 4WD.

The best waterfalls near Crater Lake NP

The falls near Crater Lake are a long way away from any major city, making for either a long day trip unless you stay nearby the national park. This means they are quieter than many other waterfalls in Oregon.

11. Toketee Falls

Popularity: Quiet
Walk to the falls: 0.4 miles each way
Fee: Free

Down the road from Umpqua Hot Springs, Toketee Falls is another huge waterfall that is tucked away at the end of a short hiking trail. The trail is fairly easy (although it does have a few staircases) and drops down to a viewing platform offering a view of the falls from above. The falls have carved a V shape into the cliff, with a pool at the top.

It looked like you used to be able to walk down to the bottom of the falls, but this isn’t possible any longer (well, unless you hop over a railing stating no entry and take a pretty sketchy looking ‘path’).

We had hoped to see the falls from the base but weren’t about to jump the fence. It’s a shame because the view from the bottom which we’ve seen in many photographs looks even more impressive but it’s definitely still worth looking down on the falls from above.

Getting to Toketee Falls

The trail to Toketee Falls is 30 minutes from Crater Lake National Park in summer or an hour when the closer entrance closes in around November time. It is a good activity to combine with a dip at Umpqua Hot Springs.

12. Whitehorse Falls

Popularity: Quiet
Walk to the falls: One minute
Fee: Free

Whitehorse is a powerful waterfall which is made more picturesque by the crossing logs that sit in front of the falls. This is a popular spot for photographers as the bridge sits just above the falls allowing you to look down on them for a great angle.

The falls are only a one minute walk from the car park, making them one of the more accessible waterfalls in Oregon. The parking lot is very small though and only has around three spaces! Having said that visits here tend to be fairly quick so it’s worth waiting for a space to open if it’s full when you arrive.

Getting to Whitehorse Falls

Whitehorse Falls is only 10 minutes away from Toketee, making it easy to combine a visit to the two as well as Umpqua Springs.

Oregon Waterfalls Map

You can find the exact locations of the top waterfalls in Oregon and click on this link to access a customisable map on Google Maps.

Packing suggestions for Oregon’s Waterfalls

Having the right gear can make a huge difference, especially if you’r here for some great photos. Here’s what we pack and have relied upon for years:

Camera Gear for the best photos

Tripod: Sirui A-1205 This has been a recent investment and it is seriously good! It’s very light, rock solid and dead easy to use. I wouldn’t take a waterfall photo without it. Check it out on Amazon
ND Filters: To get that dreamy look on your photos, you will need an ND filter. Check the size of your lens (it’s normally on the front by the glass) and get the right filter for the size of lens. Gobe make great filters and you can see them all through this link to Amazon.

General Gear

Day Pack: Osprey Talon 22 (we’ve owned this for years). Check on Amazon, REI or direct with Osprey
Hiking Boots: Merrell Moab (for men and women). We’ve both used these for over three years and they just keep going. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Reusable water bottle: To avoid single-use plastic. Check then out on REI or Amazon

For winter

Yak Trax: A game changer for hiking in the snow. Check them out on REI or Amazon
Icebreaker Base Layer: What we always wear in the winter and makes a huge difference for keeping warm. Check out on REI or Amazon

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. :-)