Updated 12/07/2022
“Let’s rent a car today and check out the waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge.”
It was a cozy February morning many years ago. Thin winter light filtered through the curtains in our Portland Airbnb. Little did we know that Portland would soon become our home, or that the Columbia River Gorge would become our favorite place to explore.
Bryan and I had taken the train into the city for a long weekend. We spent most of our time wandering the streets lined with artsy shops and restaurants, ducking into cafes that smelled of hot chocolate and watching the quiet patter of the rain on the windows. But that day, we rented a car and headed out of the city instead.
The Columbia River Gorge abounds with waterfalls, but a special one for us will always be Latourell Falls. As the closest of the gorge waterfalls to Portland, the Latourell Falls hike was the very first hike we ever did in the gorge. We’ve since explored much further into this magnificent world of waterfalls, but the Latourell Falls hike remains a stop I’d recommend on any hiker’s journey.
The Latourell Falls hike was unaffected by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire that scorched so many of the other nearby trails. Its lush forest is a special reminder of the gorge before the fire.
In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of the Latourell Falls hike and everything you need to know to do the hike yourself. Stay tuned for a video preview of the Latourell Falls hike later in this post!
Can You See Latourell Falls without Hiking?
Yes and no. There are two major waterfalls on the Latourell Falls hike: Lower Latourell Falls and Upper Latourell Falls. The lower falls are visible from the parking lot, and you can also get a closer look by taking a very short trail to the base. The lower falls are the taller and more dramatic of the two, dropping 224 feet from tall cliffs that are perennially covered in an intriguing yellowish lichen.
Upper Latourell Falls isn’t visible without a hike, but I’d highly recommend taking the hike. The short loop trail travels through a moss-covered forest to reach the upper falls and to provide a clearer view of the lower falls.
How Long is the Latourell Falls Hike?
The Latourell Falls hike is only two miles, and it’s a loop trail. There is a moderate amount of climb on the hike, so it’s not a great option for anyone with knee injuries or who otherwise requires even surfaces. Here is the link to the trail entry on AllTrails so you can find the Latourell Falls trail map and recent trip reports easily.
This is a great hike to do with visitors who would like to see the waterfalls and mossy forest in the gorge. Since it’s short, it can easily be combined with stops to see other waterfalls in the waterfall corridor, and it’s lovely any time of year. The photo above is from a winter hike at Latourell Falls, and the photo below shows fall leaves on the same hike.
Do You Need a Waterfall Corridor Permit for the Latourell Falls Hike?
No. Latourell Falls is just outside the official “Waterfall Corridor,” so timed-use permits aren’t required to access it in the summer.
Latourell Falls Hike Video Highlights
For a preview of the Latourell Falls hike, check out our video of the hike highlights below!
Parking for the Latourell Falls Hike
There are no fees or passes needed to park at Latourell Falls. The parking lot does fill up, since it’s a popular hike. The trailhead is just 35 – 45 minutes by car from Portland, depending on traffic.
Why is it Called Latourell Falls?
In the late 1800s, the busy town of Latourell was just downstream of the falls. The Columbia River: A Photographic Journey has wonderful detail on the history of Latourell. In a nutshell, both the falls and the town were named after Joseph Latourell, a pioneer who settled in the area and began a farm on land he obtained through the Homestead Act.
He soon married, and he and his wife Grace had eight children. Other families moved into the area, and it became a bustling lumber town. The Latourells were known for their love of music and dancing, and they helped form the social fabric of the community.
The Columbia River Highway that now leads to the falls was constructed from 1913 – 1922. Yet even before then, Portlanders would visit Latourell and Latourell Falls. They would take steam boats up the Columbia River just for an afternoon of picnicking and dancing!
Today there’s still a small community where the town of Latourell once stood, but the shops and other commercial buildings are gone.
Other Top Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls
If you enjoy the Latourell Falls hike, you may also enjoy these other waterfall hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. Click the links to view our blog posts on each waterfall hike.
Multnomah – Wahkeena Falls Loop Hike
Beyond the iconic Multnomah Falls is a spectacular loop hike that passes five more waterfalls. For more on this hike, check out our Multnomah Falls blog post.
Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek is perhaps the most famous of the Columbia River Gorge hikes. Set in a dramatic canyon, the trail follows a narrow tread along the high cliffs, passing innumerable waterfalls. More details in our Eagle Creek blog post.
Hamilton Mountain
Hamilton Mountain is a top all-around Columbia River Gorge hike. It features waterfalls (including a mist-filled chasm intriguingly called the Pool of the Winds), but also opens onto spectacular views of the gorge. Check out our Hamilton Mountain blog post for more on this hike.
Triple Falls
Triple Falls is, as the name suggests, a triple waterfall—three waterfall streams tumble down the cliffs side-by-side. The hike to Triple Falls begins at the enormous Horsetail Falls and passes two other beautiful waterfalls before arriving at Triple Falls. For more on this waterfall hike, check out our Triple Falls blog post.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
For more travel ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!