Multnomah Falls: Multnomah Falls is an iconic waterfall within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This is the center piece of the scenic area as it attracts over two million visitors annually. The two part waterfall is 620 feet high, one of the highest waterfalls in the country. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Ghost Image: The water spray at the base of the top waterfall at Multnomah Falls creates a ghost-like image as it hits the water below. The top waterfall travels over 500 feet almost straight down. Multnomah Falls has its own information center, gift shop and lodge. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is located along the Columbia River for about 80 miles beginning at the Sandy River on the west and the Deschutes River on the east. The area is part of two states as the Columbia River is the state line between Washington and Oregon. The scenic area is located along the river in both states.
This post will feature the waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge. While there are waterfalls on the Washington side, the vast majority are located on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. There are over 90 waterfalls within the scenic area in Oregon alone.
Many of the waterfalls can be seen along the historic Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway which takes visitors through lush green forests beginning at the town of Troutdale, Ore. which is just east of Portland, Ore.
There are miles of hiking trails to and around these as well as all of the waterfalls in this region making it an outdoor paradise for hikers.
There are several of the falls that are located near the west end of the scenic area and four of those will be featured as follows: LaTourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkenna Falls and Multnomah Falls.
Multnomah Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the country and is certainly the most popular of any of the Columbia River Gorge falls. Over two million people visit Multnomah annually. This is the most recognizable of any of the falls as well.
Multnomah Falls is in two parts with a total height of 620 feet. The top fall is 542 feet, and the bottom fall is 69 feet. The falls drop nine feet between the top and bottom falls. The Benson Bridge crosses the falls at the level between the top and bottom and allows visitors a closer look at the top falls as it plunges into a pool and creates a spray of water that fills the air as it falls.
Wahkenna Falls is less than a half mile to the west of Multnomah Falls, but it has a completely different look. Wahkenna Falls cascades 242 feet down the rocky hillside rather than dropping straight down. The lush green hillside surrounds the water as it falls down the hill.
Bridal Veil Falls is another two part waterfall with the top and bottom section of the falls being offset slightly adding to the beauty of this waterfall. Bridal Veil Falls is 120 feet high and is part of the Bridal Veil Creek.
LaTourell Falls is the closest falls to the Portland area making it a popular stopping point for locals as well as visitors from around the world. LaTourell Falls literally plunges straight down 249 feet with a backdrop of black basalt rock partially covered by a greenish lichen. The waterfall concludes its journey by landing in a pool of water before flowing farther toward the Columbia River.
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is one of the most popular destinations in the Pacific Northwest and after visiting the area it is easy to see why it attracts the high number of visitors every year. The area is filled with lush green forests on both sides but especially on the Oregon side of the scenic area and the high number of waterfalls attracts visitors from around the world.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Wahkenna Falls: Wahkenna Falls is less than a half mile west of Multnomah Falls and is an easy hike to make between the two. This waterfall cascades down the side of the hillside rather than dropping straight down giving it a different look and character. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Bridal Veil Falls: Bridal Veil Falls is another two part waterfall which looks similar to a bride’s veil as it falls 120 feet from top to bottom. This waterfall is part of the Bridal Veil Creek. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Down River: A look down Bridal Veil Creek shows the lush green forests that these waterfalls travel through. Once the falls land in a pool of water it then flows down the creek over a rocky creek bed toward the Columbia River. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
LaTourell Falls: LaTourell Falls plunges straight down 249 feet with a backdrop of black basalt rock partially covered by a greenish lichen. This waterfall is the closest to the city of Portland, which makes it a popular destination for locals as well as visitors. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
