Overview

• Location: Multnomah County, George W. Joseph State Natural Area (Columbia River Gorge, near Corbett)

• Waterfall Type: Horsetail

• Height: ~120 feet (37 m)

• Trail Distance: ~2.4 miles round-trip from the Latourell Falls trailhead via upper trail loop

• Difficulty: Medium

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

History & Background

Upper Latourell Falls is a graceful 120-foot horsetail above and behind the famous 249-foot Latourell Falls in the George W. Joseph State Natural Area at the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. The upper falls are accessible via the upper trail loop from the Latourell Falls parking area — a 2.4-mile circuit that first visits the famous lower falls, then climbs to Upper Latourell through mature Douglas fir and bigleaf maple forest to reveal a completely different perspective: an intimate mossy grotto at the base of a tall, slender horsetail. The property was donated to Oregon by George W. Joseph, a Portland attorney who had a cabin on the property and who left the land for public use when he died in 1930. The name Latourell honors Joseph Latourell, an early postmaster who settled in the area in the 1880s.

Geology

Upper Latourell Falls drops 120 feet as a slender horsetail over the Columbia River Basalt at approximately 700 feet elevation, above and set back from the main Latourell Falls canyon. The upper falls occupy a smaller side drainage that feeds the same watershed as the main falls. The two-falls loop reveals the layered character of the gorge’s basalt cliffs — both falls drop over the same geological formation but at different points along the canyon wall, creating dramatically different aesthetic experiences within a short distance.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Corbett, OR (~5 miles east on Historic Columbia River Highway); Portland, OR (~28 miles west)

• Trail Information:

  • From the Latourell Falls parking area on the Historic Columbia River Highway (I-84 Exit 28), hike the trail counter-clockwise — right fork to the main Latourell Falls viewpoint first, then continue up the upper trail approximately 1.2 miles to Upper Latourell Falls, then back down to the trailhead via the left fork

  • The upper trail involves some elevation gain through forest; the upper falls grotto is a quieter, more intimate experience than the main falls; Oregon State Parks day-use fee or pass required

• Parking:

  • Latourell Falls parking area on the Historic Columbia River Highway; Oregon State Parks day-use fee or pass required

• Accessibility:

  • Not wheelchair accessible — the upper trail involves significant elevation gain; the lower Latourell Falls viewpoint near the parking area is paved and accessible

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Full flows; the mossy upper grotto is most vivid and misty; gorge at its lushest

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

• Fall: Flows return with October rains; bigleaf maple turns vivid gold in the gorge

• Winter: Full flows; trail open year-round; icy conditions possible on steeper sections

Nearby Attractions

• Latourell Falls (249 ft, lower falls — same parking area)

• Shepperd’s Dell (~1 mile east)

• Bridal Veil Falls (~3 miles east)

• Crown Point Vista House (~4 miles east)

• Portland Women’s Forum Viewpoint

References

• Links:

  • Oregon State Parks – George W. Joseph State Natural Area

  • Travel Oregon – Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls

• Books:

  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb

  • Waterfall Lover's Guide: Pacific Northwest