Latourell Falls: Short Hike, Beautiful Waterfall!

Latourell Falls is a 224 foot waterfall in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge that you just can’t miss!  The beauty of the falls and the ease of the hike are a great combination, no matter your fitness level.

Because the trail to the base of the waterfall is so short, you will want to get there early to avoid the crowds.  And there are other awesome waterfalls nearby that you will want to add to this adventure, trust me!

This article will talk about all of those details and more.  So let’s dive in.

Important Links

• Latourell Falls Info
• Latourell Falls Trail
• Hiking Backpack Checklist Freebie – Be Prepared on the Trails
• Hiking Journal – Never Forget the Details of Your Favorite Hikes Again!

Location

Latourell Falls is located in the Columbia River Gorge.  The trailhead is less than 15 minutes from the most photographed place in Oregon, Multnomah Falls.  You could stop and see both of these waterfalls in the same morning.  

If you’re planning on roadtripping around the Pacific Northwest, you’ll have a 1 hour drive from Portland, OR.  From other popular cities, the trailhead is 3 hours north of Bend, OR and 4 hours south of Seattle, WA.  

Fees

Let’s talk about the fees.  Latourell Falls is in Guy W. Talbot State Park and just like all Oregon State Parks, there’s a fee.  Even if you are just going to see the waterfall, there is a fee to park. 

The fee is $10 for Oregon Residents and $12 for Out of State Visitors.

At the parking lot there is a QR code that you can scan and use to pay the fee.  BUT you might not have phone service here.  So in order to not risk getting a fine, here are a few suggestions to pay said fee!

Pay Ahead of Time

The first option is to purchase your Day Use Parking Permit online ahead of time.  This pass is valid for an entire day and can be used at every Oregon State Park for that day.  In other words, if you are planning on visiting Latourell Falls and several other state parks all in one day, this pass will cover you. 

And the second option is to purchase an Oregon State Parks Annual Pass. This pass gives you access to all of Oregon State Parks and Beaches for 12 months from the month of purchase.  The resident pass is $60 and the non-resident pass is $75. 

The annual pass only makes sense if you are planning on visiting several state parks/beaches on several different days.  If you are a resident planning to spend more than 6 days in any of the state parks, this pass is perfect for you. And if you are a non-resident planning to spend more than 6 days in the state parks, again, this pass is the way to go.    

Just make sure the math makes sense before you purchase, or you might be wasting some money.

Parking

The parking lot for Latourell Falls has about 25 parking spots.  While this doesn’t sound like enough spots, the trail is short enough that there should be decent car rotation.  

Essentially, you can find the parking lot here. And the cool part is you can actually see Latourell Falls right from the parking lot, so it’s an easy trail to see and follow.  

Let’s get to the trail stats!

Trail Stats

If you want to know all about the hiking to Latourell Falls, there are 2 options for you.  So let’s look at the two trail options.

Short Hike to Latourell Falls

• Distance: 0.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 25 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Time on Trail: 15 – 30 mins

Obviously, this is a very easy hike. Some would even call it a walk.  But this is the most popular option for most people.

Now, if you want a little bit more of hike, let’s check out the 

Long Hike: Latourell Falls Loop

• Distance: 2.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 600 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Time on Trail: 1hour – 1.5hours

The Latourell Falls Loop is much more of a hike and will take you to the upper and lower Latourell Falls. The initial part of this trail is a bit steep, but the pay off of the waterfalls is worth it. 

The Trail

The main trail to see Latourell Falls is easy, flat and can be done quickly.  My husband and I hiked this short trail so we could hurry over to Wahclella Falls and hike that trail the same morning.  

We parked early, walked down to the waterfall, took our photos, and then moved on.  Yes, this was a very quick visit, but we were on a timeline!

I highly recommend getting to the parking lot early so you can avoid the crowds. You could also hike the longer loop trail to get away from the crowds.  

Oregon is loaded with beautiful waterfalls, especially in the Columbia River Gorge.  Here are a few nearby that you have to check out!

Other Waterfall Hikes in the Area

As previously mentioned, the most famous waterfall in all of Oregon is just about 15 minutes away.  This goes without saying that Multnomah Falls is a MUST see when visiting the Columbia River Gorge.    

Another great waterfall in the gorge is Wahclella Falls.  This waterfall is both beautiful and offers a longer hike.  After we stopped and saw Latourell Falls, we drove right over here and were able to beat the crowds for this trail too.

And finally, if you’re up for a little bit of a drive, head on over to Tamanawas Falls.  This waterfall had a slightly more challenging hike with it, but was still incredible and a must do!

Conclusion

Oregon is loaded with waterfalls, and Latourell Falls is one waterfall you definitely don’t want to miss!  The beauty of the 224 foot waterfall is incredible and perfect for all ages to enjoy.  

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com with any questions about the hike or the area!

-Happy Hiking