Profile

Overview

Location: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (Starvation Creek area, near Cascade Locks)
Waterfall Type: Plunge
Height: ~96 feet (29 m) in two tiers (33 ft upper + 63 ft lower)
Trail Distance: ~1.4 miles round-trip from Starvation Creek Trailhead via paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail
Difficulty: Easy
Best Time to Visit: Year-round; best flow in late winter and spring

History & Background

Hole-in-the-Wall Falls has one of the most unusual origin stories of any waterfall in Oregon — it is largely man-made. The falls were originally called Warren Falls, where Warren Creek tumbled naturally down the gorge cliff. When the Historic Columbia River Highway was built in the early 1920s, it ran close enough to Warren Creek’s course that high-water events repeatedly washed out the road. In 1938, rather than simply rebuilding or rerouting the highway, engineers blasted a tunnel through the adjacent basalt cliff and diverted the creek through it — creating the distinctive plunging-through-a-hole effect that gives the falls their current name. The tunnel now channels Warren Creek through the rock and sends it cascading in two tiers (33 feet upper, 63 feet lower) over the cliff face below. Today Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is one of four waterfalls visited on the popular paved trail from Starvation Creek State Park, alongside Starvation Creek Falls, Cabin Creek Falls, and Lancaster Falls.

Geology

Hole-in-the-Wall Falls drops through and over the Columbia River Basalt that forms the steep canyon walls of the eastern Columbia River Gorge. The tunnel blasted by 1938 highway engineers passes through this ancient volcanic formation — the same lava flows 6–17 million years ago that shaped the entire Gorge. The falls’ plunges are enhanced by the confined geometry of the blasted tunnel outlet, which concentrates and accelerates the water before it fans out on the basalt cliff face. At 390 feet elevation, the falls are set within the transition zone between the lush western Gorge microclimate and the drier eastern Gorge landscape near Hood River.

Directions & Access

Nearest City: Cascade Locks, OR (~8 miles west); Hood River, OR (~10 miles east)
Trail Information:
- From Starvation Creek State Park (I-84 Exit 55, eastbound only), follow the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail west for 0.7 miles; the trail passes Cabin Creek Falls before reaching the bridge and picnic area at Hole-in-the-Wall Falls
- The trail is paved and largely flat to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, making it accessible for strollers, bikes, and wheelchairs; beyond the falls the trail transitions to dirt and climbs steeply toward Lancaster Falls and Mount Defiance
Parking:
- Starvation Creek State Park parking lot off I-84 Exit 55 (eastbound only); Oregon State Parks day-use fee or pass required; picnic tables and restrooms at the trailhead
Accessibility:
- Paved, flat trail to the falls viewpoint — one of the most accessible waterfall experiences in the Columbia River Gorge; barrier-free to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls

Best Time to Visit

Spring: Best flows in March–May; all four Starvation Creek area waterfalls run powerfully; gorge wildflowers bloom; the most dramatic season
Summer: Reduced flow; the paved trail is pleasant in the shade; popular with cyclists and families
Fall: Flows return with October rains; bigleaf maple foliage is spectacular in the gorge; less crowded than spring
Winter: High flows; trail generally accessible year-round; icy conditions possible near waterfalls in hard freezes

Nearby Attractions

Starvation Creek Falls (190 ft, steps from the parking lot)
Cabin Creek Falls (220 ft)
Lancaster Falls (303 ft)
Mount Defiance Trail (most strenuous day hike in the Gorge)
Hood River

References

Links:
Books:
- Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
- Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest

Hole-In-The-Wall Falls