Overview

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

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~75 feet (23 m)

• Trail Distance: ~1–2 miles round-trip via Columbia River Gorge trail system

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Spring through early summer

History & Background

Dead Point Creek Falls is a 75-foot horsetail waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, west of Cascade Locks along the Oregon side of the gorge. It flows through a side drainage of the western gorge, an area managed by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the congressionally designated scenic area. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire severely burned portions of the western Gorge including areas near Cascade Locks, and recovery of the forest and trail system has been ongoing. The falls are part of the broader network of accessible gorge waterways that draws hikers and nature lovers from the Portland metropolitan area throughout the year.

Geology

Dead Point Creek Falls drops over the Columbia River Basalt cliff faces that define the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. The Gorge’s basalt walls were formed by massive lava flows 6–17 million years ago and subsequently carved by the Columbia River and the catastrophic Missoula Floods at the end of the last ice age. The tributary creeks of the gorge, including Dead Point Creek, descend steeply over these ancient lava formations before reaching the river corridor. The moist, west-facing aspect of the gorge walls supports a lush, moss-draped forest of Douglas fir, bigleaf maple, and vine maple.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Cascade Locks, OR (~5 miles east)

• Trail Information:

  • Access via a trail in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; the route follows the gorge corridor through forest recovering from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire

  • Check current trail conditions before visiting — some Gorge trails remain affected by the 2017 fire; trail surfaces may include fire-affected areas with fallen snags

• Parking:

  • Trailhead parking in the Cascade Locks or western Gorge corridor area; Northwest Forest Pass or day-use fee required at developed trailheads

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible; natural trail surfaces

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best water flow from Gorge rains; the recovering forest displays vivid green understory growth; waterfalls throughout the western Gorge at peak performance

• Summer: Reduced flow; warm and popular hiking corridor; fire recovery vegetation provides interesting contrast

• Fall: Flow returns with October rains; fall foliage spectacular in the gorge; quieter than spring

• Winter: High flows; Gorge can be cold and wet; icy conditions possible at higher elevations

Nearby Attractions

• Cascade Locks (Bridge of the Gods)

• Starvation Creek Falls

• Eagle Creek Trail (check current status)

• Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery

• Multnomah Falls (~20 miles west)

References

• Links:

  • Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area – USFS

  • Friends of the Columbia Gorge

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest