There aren’t many better locations in the US to visit waterfalls than Oregon. With more than 200 waterfalls to pick from, this small state is home to some of the most gorgeous falls in the nation.
Any time of year is a great time to visit Oregon’s waterfalls, but we went in the fall season when the lush vegetation had begun to turn golden brown, adding to their beauty.
We’ve selected a few of the most striking waterfalls in Oregon that you simply must see on your trip there.
1. Toketee Falls
Toketee Falls is another massive waterfall located at the end of a quick hiking path, just down the road from Umpqua Hot Springs. The trail descends to a viewing platform that provides a panoramic view of the falls and is quite easy, despite a few stairs. The cliff has been sculpted into a V shape by the falls, with a pool at the top.
It appeared that you could once walk all the way to the base of the falls, but this is now impossible, unless you want to cross a barricade that prohibits entry and follow a dubious looking route.
I wasn’t going to hop the fence in order to see the falls from the base, though. It’s unfortunate because the view from the bottom, which I’ve seen in a lot of pictures, appears even more breathtaking, but it’s still worthwhile to take a look down at the falls from above.
The hike takes around 30 minutes during the summer.
When the nearest entry closes during November, it takes a full hour to reach Toketee Falls from Crater Lake National Park on the hiking path. It makes a great combo with a swim at Umpqua Hot Springs and I gotta say, It’s probably one of my favorite waterfalls in Oregon.
2. Whitehorse Falls
Whitehorse is a strong waterfall that is made more impressive in beauty by the crossing logs that are positioned on either side of it.
Since you can get a great angle looking down on the falls from the bridge, this is an attractive place for photographers.The falls are one of the less challenging waterfalls in Oregon to get to, just a minute’s walk from the parking lot.
There are only about three spots in the tiny parking lot, though! However, since stops by here are usually brief, if it’s full when you arrive, it’s worth waiting for an empty spot to open.
Given that Whitehorse Falls and Toketee are just ten minutes apart, it’s natural to combine visits to both locations with a stop at Umpqua Springs.
3. Latourell Falls
Latourell consists of two falls: the larger, lower falls and the more private, smaller upper falls. The Lower Falls is the place to go if you don’t feel like hiking. They flow off from the crest of an extremely steep cliff, just like many of the waterfalls in Oregon area.
A path near the base of the falls offers a striking vantage point for taking pictures. It takes about five minutes to get to the lower falls, and the hike is a breeze.
Follow the path up to the upper falls if you’d like to take a longer hike. The upper falls are just one mile away (the loop is 2.6 miles long with a total elevation gain of 610 feet), and en route, you’ll find yourself within a stunning, verdant forest.
Although the upper falls aren’t as spectacular as the lower falls, you can get much closer to them and they seem more private.Even though the main reason you are going is to see the lower falls, the entire walk is really enjoyable!
Latrouell Falls is located near Multnomah and Horsetail Falls, and it takes 35 minutes to get there from Portland’s downtown. Each of the three can be done in a single afternoon with ease.
This parking lot is a decent size, but it gets busy fast, particularly on the weekends.
4. Horsetail Falls
Because it is visible from the road itself, Horsetail Falls is maybe the easiest waterfall in Oregon to see. For a glimpse of it, just pull off the road, park and get out of your car.
It isn’t as stunning as some of the close by falls on this bucket list, despite being easy to get to, so it’s better as a bonus than a single getaway. There is plenty of parking available because most people just stop to snap a few photos before leaving.
It’s near Multnomah Falls, so Horsetail Falls is about a 40 minute drive from Portland. Horsetail Falls doesn’t have a lot of parking, but the trip back and forth is short.
Related: 17 Best Camping Oregon Coast Sites
The Trail of Ten Waterfalls in Oregon
Any admirer of waterfalls must include the seven mile Track of Ten Falls on their list, as it flows among a river and features 10 breathtaking waterfalls, as its name implies. If you enjoy being outside, you should definitely include this lovely and easy hike in your waterfalls in Oregon trip plans!
There is a $5 admission fee to the site. You can pay with a card at this machine, so you won’t have to carry cash.
5. South Falls
South Falls is the most accessible of the Ten Falls. From the parking lot, it’s just a short walk to this location at the beginning of the path. Though there are many spots to view these falls, we really enjoyed being able to stroll right behind them! You are able to see the water curtain moving toward the river below.
Even in rainy weather, you won’t have to worry about losing your grip because the trail down to South Falls is paved. If you’re not in the mood to hike, it’s an excellent way to begin the trail or a destination of itself.
6. North Falls
You can hear the thunderous North Falls from quite a distance, and they are one of the most spectacular falls on the Trail of Ten Falls. If you’d like to take a short rest in this beautiful place, the state park has installed some seats. This is another waterfall that you can walk behind for a different viewpoint.
If you don’t feel like hiking the four miles from South Falls, you can start your journey from the Upper North Falls parking lot. Though it’s a great way to end a lovely walk, it’s more enjoyable to view it in perspective of all the other falls on this trail.
7. The other 8 waterfalls at Ten Falls Trail
Even though the other eight falls on the Trail of Ten Falls aren’t quite as spectacular as the first two, when paired together, they still make for an amazing hike! Although there are five more falls along the way that are worth seeing, we felt that Lower South Falls, Middle North Falls, and Drake Falls were the best of the rest!
The Trail of Ten Falls is a slow, winding road that leads off the highway and takes roughly one and a half hours to reach from Portland. Even so, the drive is enjoyable because it mostly passes through rural Oregon which I personally love.
8. Lower Proxy Falls
One of Oregon’s most striking waterfalls is Lower Proxy. The falls cascade into pools filled with rocks, fallen logs, and a swift moving river as they descend a rough cliffside. With the forest all around it, it resembles a scene from a fairy tale.
The river was surrounded by snow and ice patches in October! The trail leading down to these falls is uneven and steep, so proceed with caution. After that, you’ll have to get through fallen trees and slick rocks.
9. Upper Proxy Falls
There is peace and quiet at Upper Proxy Falls. Though not as large as the lower falls, the falls here rush into a pond that reflected the surrounding landscape, creating a great location for pics.
Though not as much as Lower Proxy, you’ll still need to scramble to reach the finest viewpoint of Upper Proxy Falls.
How to Get To The Proxy Waterfalls in Oregon?
Bend to Proxy Falls is a good 1and a half hour drive. This was done on the same day that we went to Terwilliger (Cougar) Hot Springs and Tamolitch Blue Pool. Due to Proxy Falls’ mountainous location and the possibility of road closures in the winter, be sure to check the state of the roads before visiting.
10. Tumalo Falls
Tumalo Falls is a massive waterfall that has a distinct sound before it is visible. It takes less than a minute walking from the parking lot to the first point of view but we liked the view better from higher up.
The viewing area at the very top of the falls is less than ten minutes’ hike, though it is mostly upwards, and offers far greater views. There are several locations from which you can get a good view of the falls, but we preferred the viewpoint near the parking lot for taking pictures.
We visited in the waterfall, when the snow had started to accumulate and some of the waterfall was already iced up, which made it even cooler in my opinion.
Drive time from Bend to Tumalo Falls is thirty minutes long. The last portion of the trip is on a dirt road with plenty of road imperfections, but the greater part of the trip is on a good paved road! The dirt road closes in wintertime, so getting to the falls will require an additional 2.5 miles of hiking each way.
11. Sahalie & Koosah Falls
Sahalie and Koosah Falls satisfy every kind of adventurer with an accessible viewing structure and available trail system. One can find both waterfalls on the gorgeous McKenzie River. One of the most scenic trails for hiking in Oregon, the 2.6 mile hiking loop that connects the two hikes through a small portion of the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail is strongly encouraged.
Although Koosah is considered to be the most popular, Sahalie is the bigger of these two waterfalls. Both have their own observation decks and parking lots. Drive times to the falls are 70 miles from Eugene and 60 miles from Bend.
12. Salt Creek Falls
One of the most massive single-drop waterfalls in the nation, Salt Creek Falls plunges over 280 feet into a stunning waterfall basin. Almost everybody will enjoy this amazing feat of gravity, much to the credit of the easily accessed boardwalk and viewing structure, located a mere fifty feet from the parking lot.
The falls are located 60 miles east of Eugene in the Willamette National Forest. The entire drive is on the paved Willamette Highway, which increases availability to the waterfall.
There are more ways to spend time in this breathtaking waterfall, such as a guided trail and a higher spur trail that descends to the falls’ base. In wintertime, visitors with the right gear can park at the Salt Creek Sno-Park, which is less than half a mile away, and easily hike to the striking scene that is bordered by snow.
13. Punch Bowl Falls
Punch Bowl Falls is reachable from the Columbia River Gorge along the famous Eagle Creek Trail. Punch Bowl Falls got its name after the enormous pool that the flow of water from above created. In addition to being a beautiful sight, Punch Bowl Falls is an a favorite swimming hole every summer long as well. Punch Bowl Falls is likely to be crowded with locals, visitors, and families, especially on weekends.
Punch Bowl Falls can be found less than two miles along the Eagle Creek Trail. A portion of the path passes close to the edge of cliffsides, and it is somewhat uphill. For more security, cable railings have even been set up in a few areas. Young kids should not hike this trail alone in my opinion.
The Eagle Creek Trail spans 13 miles, with Punch Bowl Falls just one of many sites and aquatic attractions to be discovered.  Outdoor enthusiasts will find Tunnel Falls, a remarkable piece of engineering, further along the Eagle Creek Trail. Undoubtedly one of the best getaways from Portland, this challenging canyon route remains in high demand.
14. Tamanawas Falls
Crossing the cascading waters of Cold Spring Creek for over 1.5 miles, the trail to Tamanawas Falls is enjoyable in and of itself. The route follows the eastern side of Mount Hood through a verdant, lush location, traveling multiple gradually larger drops that provide an idea of what’s to come.
When you arrive at Tamanawas Falls, you can’t help but be in awe at the way the water flows down the 150 foot volcanic cliff on top of you. Tamanawas Falls offers hours of amusement with its numerous viewpoints and seating areas, and its endless mist in the summertime keeps the area around it really fresh.
Although Tamanawas Falls is a famous waterfall, not many people visit it because of the 1.5 mile hike. During the week, early mornings are a great time to find some peace and quiet next to the gushing water.
15. White River Falls State Park
White River Falls is an amazing sight, falling over 90 feet into a beautiful pool of icy chilly water. It is hidden away in an otherwise arid and remote terrain, about thirty miles south of The Dalles and the Columbia River. Because of this, White River Falls is an ideal spot for cooling off in this region of the state throughout the hot summer days.
There’s a viewing platform right off the parking lot where you can see the falls. A half-mile back and forth hike leads to much closer views. The path is a little steep and winds its way around a century old, abandoned hydro power plant that made use of the rapid waters.
There’s a second trail that descends to a foot soaking pool, which is a real attraction to this hidden waterfall for many people.
