Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
600.00 ft (182.88 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
2.00 mi (3.22 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The often overlooked Elowah Falls rush just off of the Historic Columbia River Highway.  Tucked away in a giant amphitheater of basalt, Elowah Falls drops cascading water an impressive 280 feet from McCord Creek.  As you make your way through the forest, be sure to avoid the ubiquitous poison oak. Also note that trail intersection signs were missing the directional indications for Elowah Falls, so kind hikers have added the appropriate information. The hike to Upper Elowah Falls is impressive, with a single-track trail that is cut high into the basalt cliff.  Not only does this trail provide excellent views of Hamilton Mountain and Table Mountain across the Columbia River, it is also home to a plethora of unique flora.  Look for the white shooting star, poison delphinium, mountainbells, broadleaf stonecrop, and the endemic flower, Barrett’s penstemon.  This is a hike you’ll be sure to remember!

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

Not Required

Pros

Two waterfalls. Trail along a cliff's edge. Endemic wildflower species.

Cons

None.

Trailhead Elevation

130.00 ft (39.62 m)

Features

Waterfalls
Big vistas
Old-growth forest
Wildflowers

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

11/02/2011
Beautiful spot to visit in fall... the waterfall is at low flow, which makes for a graceful ribbon falls, the colors along the trail are prettier, and it's often less crowded. The trailhead isn't marked like the other falls along the Gorge, so you kinda have to know where to find it, but it's worth the hunt.
07/17/2016
Completed this hike today. As its a Sunday, the trail was extremely crowded and down towards the falls its a pretty narrow switchback so it can make for a pretty slow hike on congested days like today.

Overall it was a good hike and there were even a few crazy people that were swimming at the base of the falls. I also wish the trailhead had a trashcan or bathroom so that we could have thrown away our dog's poop bags rather than carry them home with us in the car...
10/12/2013
A beautiful falls, of course. Especially in autumn when the scene is filled with color.
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