Overview

• Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (near Cascade Locks)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~220 feet (67 m)

• Trail Distance: ~1.9 miles round-trip via the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail from Starvation Creek Trailhead

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer

History & Background

Cabin Creek Falls is one of several beautiful waterfalls accessible from the Starvation Creek Trailhead along the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, east of Cascade Locks. The trail corridor follows the route of Samuel Lancaster’s iconic 1913–1922 highway, which was designed to celebrate and provide access to the natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge. Cabin Creek itself descends steeply from the forested slopes above the gorge, carving a narrow channel through the basalt cliffs before plunging 220 feet to the trail below. The falls sit near the base of the demanding Mount Defiance trail and are often visited alongside Starvation Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, and Lancaster Falls in a single outing.

Geology

Cabin Creek Falls plunges over the Columbia River Basalt that forms the cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge—the same massive lava formations that erupted 6–17 million years ago and created the dramatic canyon landscape of the entire gorge. The waterfall’s extreme height relative to its modest creek volume reflects the steep gradient created by the gorge’s sheer basalt walls, which force tributaries to drop hundreds of feet to reach the river corridor. The moist, west-facing canyon walls host lush moss and fern communities fed by the constant moisture from the falls.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cascade Locks, OR; Hood River, OR (~12 miles east)

• Trail Information:

  • From the Starvation Creek Trailhead (I-84 Exit 55, eastbound only), follow the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail west for approximately 0.9 miles; Cabin Creek Falls is passed en route to Lancaster Falls

  • The trail is paved, relatively flat, and described as universally accessible; the falls can be viewed from the trail without any off-trail scrambling

• Parking:

  • Paved parking lot at Starvation Creek State Park rest area (I-84 Exit 55, accessible eastbound only); no fee

• Accessibility:

  • The Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is paved and graded for universal access, making this one of the more accessible major waterfall viewpoints in the Gorge

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Peak water flow from spring rains and snowmelt; all three nearby falls running at full volume; lush green forest

• Summer: Reduced flow; still scenic; the shaded paved trail is pleasant on warm days

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; fewer visitors than spring; dramatic autumn light in the gorge

• Winter: High flows; the paved trail is generally accessible but can be icy near the falls spray zone

Nearby Attractions

• Starvation Creek Falls (190 ft)

• Hole-in-the-Wall Falls

• Lancaster Falls

• Mount Defiance Trail

• Hood River

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

  • Travel Oregon – Gorge Waterfalls

  • Columbia Gorge to Mount Hood – Universal Access Trails

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest