Overview

• Location: Multnomah County, Columbia River Gorge (near Corbett, Mount Hood National Forest)

• Waterfall Type: Plunge

• Height: ~520 feet (158 m) — Oregon’s tallest waterfall

• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside pullout; approximately 0.1 miles

• Difficulty: Easy

• Best Time to Visit: Seasonal only — late winter to early summer; dries up completely in summer

History & Background

Mist Falls, also called Coopey Falls Upper, is Oregon’s tallest waterfall at approximately 520 feet, yet it is entirely seasonal and invisible for much of the year. The falls emerge from a seep on a 520-foot basalt cliff face above the Historic Columbia River Highway in Multnomah County, fed entirely by groundwater seeping from the porous basalt above — there is no surface stream above the falls. In wet winter and spring conditions the seep becomes a dramatic plunge that mists and fans down the full height of the cliff, lending the falls their evocative name. By summer the flow vanishes completely, leaving only a damp basalt wall. Its seasonal, spring-fed nature and proximity to the roadside make it unique among Oregon’s major waterfalls.

Geology

Mist Falls seeps from the Columbia River Basalt cliff face at approximately 560 feet elevation, fed entirely by groundwater discharge from the porous volcanic rock above. The Columbia River Basalt here — formed by lava flows 6–17 million years ago — contains fractures and porous zones that collect and slowly release groundwater. When winter and spring precipitation charges these groundwater reserves, the discharge emerges at the cliff face and plunges the full 520 feet in a misting, veil-like cascade. The falls dries completely as summer progresses and the groundwater reserves are depleted, making it a purely seasonal phenomenon.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Corbett, OR; Portland, OR (~25 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • Short walk from a roadside pullout on the Historic Columbia River Highway; the falls appear on the cliff face above the highway and are visible from the road itself in wet conditions

  • The falls are only visible and active during wet weather periods — typically December through May; by summer there is nothing to see; plan visits after sustained winter or spring rainfall

• Parking:

  • Roadside pullout on the Historic Columbia River Highway; no fee

• Accessibility:

  • Short, flat access from the roadside; generally accessible for most visitors when the falls are active

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Best conditions; the full 520-foot height is most dramatic in March and April after extended rain

• Summer: Falls dry up completely — no waterfall to view; come in winter or spring only

• Fall: Falls may reappear with October rains, though typically modest

• Winter: Most reliable season; the falls appear after periods of sustained rainfall

Nearby Attractions

• Coopey Falls (~0.5 miles east on Historic Columbia River Highway)

• Angels Rest Trail

• Latourell Falls (~3 miles west)

• Crown Point Vista House

• Multnomah Falls (~10 miles east)

References

• Links:

  • Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area – USFS

  • Travel Oregon – Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest