Overview

• Location: Multnomah County, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (Oneonta Creek, near Corbett)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~64 feet (20 m) — three separate plunges visible from a single viewpoint

• Trail Distance: ~4.4 miles round-trip from Horsetail Falls parking via upper Oneonta Trail

• Difficulty: Medium

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

History & Background

Triple Falls is one of the Columbia River Gorge’s most spectacular waterfall viewpoints — three separate plunges of Oneonta Creek visible simultaneously from a single promontory on the upper Oneonta Trail. Each of the three falls drops approximately 60–65 feet, and the combined spectacle of three parallel white ribbons falling through the green gorge forest is one of the finest waterfall panoramas in Oregon. The trail to Triple Falls is accessed from the Horsetail Falls parking area and climbs above the famous Oneonta Gorge slot canyon to reach the upper Oneonta Creek drainage. The route passes the walk-behind Ponytail Falls (Upper Horsetail Falls) on the way, making this one of the gorge’s richest trail corridors for waterfall density.

Geology

Triple Falls represents three parallel plunges of Oneonta Creek over a series of Columbia River Basalt ledges at approximately 900 feet elevation. The three separate channels reflect the way Oneonta Creek has carved multiple parallel slots through the columnar basalt, each channel creating its own distinct plunge at the same elevation. The sheer gorge walls and the perpendicular drop of the Basalt reflect the structural character of these ancient lava flows, which cool into columns that tend to fracture vertically rather than laterally.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Corbett, OR; Portland, OR (~30 miles west via I-84)

• Trail Information:

  • From the Horsetail Falls parking area (I-84 Exit 28), hike the Gorge Trail and Oneonta Trail uphill approximately 2.2 miles to the Triple Falls viewpoint; the route passes Ponytail Falls (0.9 miles) on the way

  • The full loop continues past Triple Falls back down to Oneonta Gorge (upper trail) and return via the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail; Oregon State Parks day-use fee or pass required

• Parking:

  • Horsetail Falls parking area off the Historic Columbia River Highway at I-84 Exit 28; Oregon State Parks pass or day-use fee required; fills quickly on spring and summer weekends

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; the upper trail involves significant elevation gain on natural surfaces

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; all three falls plunging powerfully; gorge at its most vivid green

• Summer: Lower flows; popular trail; the shaded gorge provides cool hiking

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; bigleaf maple turns gold; fewer crowds

• Winter: Full flows; trail generally accessible; icy conditions possible on steep sections

Nearby Attractions

• Ponytail Falls / Upper Horsetail Falls (82 ft, walk-behind — 0.9 miles from trailhead)

• Horsetail Falls (176 ft, roadside)

• Lower Oneonta Falls (slot canyon wade)

• Multnomah Falls (~5 miles east)

• Crown Point

References

• Links:

  • Columbia River Gorge NSA – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest