Get Soaked in Oregon

Cascade Locks, Oregon

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Added by Kim Moran

The must-do Oregon waterfall bucket list.

You can't visit Portland, Oregon without venturing out into the Columbia Gorge.

The Gorge is iconic to the Pacific Northwest and an essential drive for visitors. The views are amazing. They are gorge-ous, so bring your camera! The best part is that it's only a 20-40 minute drive outside of Portland metro so it's super accessible.

One of the most popular features about Oregon is it's waterfalls. Take I-84 east out of the industrial world and notice your brain relax as the views beautify. After about 35-40 minutes, take exit 35 and turn right onto Historic Columbia River Highway. Follow this scenic sidewinder all the way back west, passing a list of Oregon's must-see waterfalls as you go.

Most of the falls can be viewed from the road, but a few require a little extra hiking to get to.

This is a perfect travel route for large groups of people, especially out of state visitors. The route includes famous must-see falls such as Horsetail, Multnomah, Bridal Veil and Latourell.

If you're a hiker and need to move, you can park and hike to the falls that are not directly on the road, such as Lower Oneonta, Wiesendanger, Ecola, Wahkeena, Upper Latourell, and Fairy Falls. This area is also home to the trailhead of the popular Angel's Rest hike, a gorgeous lookout spot over the Columbia River.

Take the Historic Columbia River back west, and be sure to stop at the Vista House at the top of the cliff for a nice, well... vista.

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Hiking

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ADA Accessible

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Fairy Falls

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