Updated July 2026
Elowah Falls
A 213-foot single-drop plunge on McCord Creek into a mossy basalt amphitheater in the Columbia River Gorge. A short trail from the John B. Yeon trailhead leads to the base, and the route can be combined with Upper McCord Creek Falls.
Before you go
Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Elowah Falls drops about 213 feet. That makes it the 75th-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 89% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.
The Elowah Falls Trail (Gorge Trail #400) reaches it about 1.5 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 260 feet of elevation gain, rated easy. The nearest town is Warrendale. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (USFS) for closures and current conditions.
spring. Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.
More Oregon waterfalls
- Abiqua Falls · 92 ft
- Bridal Veil Falls · 118 ft
- Butte Creek Falls · 78 ft
- Clearwater Falls · 30 ft
- Double Falls · 178 ft
- Drift Creek Falls · 75 ft
- Dry Creek Falls · 74 ft
- Fairy Falls · 20 ft
Sources
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