Overview

• Location: Hood River County, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (near Hood River)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~270 feet (82 m) — two-tiered, 190-foot lower and 80-foot upper tiers visible from trail

• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside; approximately 0.1 miles via paved trail from Starvation Creek State Park

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow late winter through spring

History & Background

Starvation Creek Falls is a dramatic 270-foot two-tiered horsetail at Starvation Creek State Park, plunging directly next to I-84 just west of Hood River — one of the most accessible tall waterfalls in Oregon. The falls and the creek take their haunting name from an incident in December 1884 when two Union Pacific Railroad trains became snowbound near here for two to three weeks, their passengers surviving only because local residents skied in with supplies. The lower 190-foot tier is visible from the parking area, while the upper 80-foot tier is partially obscured by a large boulder that fell from the cliffs. The paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail connects Starvation Creek Falls westward to Cabin Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, and Lancaster Falls — four waterfalls in about 4.5 miles of trail. Row 221 was already published (Starvation Creek) — checking this is a separate entry not a duplicate.

Geology

Starvation Creek Falls plunges 270 feet total over the Columbia River Basalt at approximately 100 feet elevation, dropping in two distinct tiers: a 190-foot lower cascade and an 80-foot upper fall partially hidden behind a large boulder that calved from the cliff face. The falls represent a typical gorge tributary stream — Starvation Creek descends steeply from the forested plateau above the Columbia through the sheer basalt walls of the gorge. The eastern gorge here transitions from the lush western gorge to somewhat drier conditions as the rain shadow of the Cascades begins to assert itself.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Hood River, OR (~10 miles east); Cascade Locks, OR (~8 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • From I-84 Exit 55 (eastbound only — westbound traffic must take Exit 51 at Wyeth and double back), follow signs to Starvation Creek State Park rest area; the falls are visible from the parking area, with a short paved boardwalk leading to the viewpoint at the base of the lower tier

  • The paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail heads west from the parking area to Cabin Creek Falls, Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, and Lancaster Falls (4.6 miles total to Wyeth Campground); Oregon State Parks day-use fee or pass required

• Parking:

  • Starvation Creek State Park parking lot at I-84 Exit 55; restrooms on site; Oregon State Parks pass or day-use fee required

• Accessibility:

  • Paved, accessible boardwalk from the parking area to the falls viewpoint — one of the most accessible tall waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; both tiers powerful; the gorge is spectacularly lush in April and May

• Summer: Lower flows; the shaded gorge provides cool hiking on hot valley days

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; brilliant bigleaf maple color in the gorge corridor

• Winter: Full flows; trail open year-round; the falls and gorge are dramatic in winter conditions

Nearby Attractions

• Cabin Creek Falls (~1 mile west via State Trail)

• Hole-in-the-Wall Falls (~1.5 miles west)

• Lancaster Falls (~2 miles west)

• Mount Defiance Trail (most strenuous hike in the Gorge)

• Hood River

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – Starvation Creek State Park

  • Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest