If You Go
• In a nutshell: A mostly easy hike to a huge waterfall, with an option to hike to a second cascade
• General area: Western Columbia River Gorge (Multnomah Falls / Cascade Locks area)
• Season: All-year; falls best after a good rain
• Fees: None, with free parking
• Trailhead elevation: 118 feet
• Trail distance: 1.6 miles round trip to Elowah Falls; 3 miles round trip to Elowah and Upper McCord Creek Falls
• Elevation gain: 230 feet to Elowah; 712 feet to Elowah and Upper McCord Creek Falls
• Difficulty:Easy to moderately difficult
• Kids: Yes, but be careful in some dangerous areas
• Dogs: Sure
• Driving directions: From Portland, take I-84 east to exit 35, marked Dodson. Turn left at the stop sign, then immediately turn right onto the frontage road paralleling I-84. Drive east on the frontage road 2.1 miles and turn right into the trailhead parking lot at signs for John Yeon State Park trailhead. The lot is just before the road re-enters the I-84.
• Coordinates: N45 36.752 W122 00.326
Nearby options
If you finish this hike but still have a hankering for more waterfalls, consider heading just up Interstate 84 to Wahclella Falls Trail. At just 2.2 miles round-trip and mostly flat, the hike is another easy one with spectacular waterfalls in a deep and beautiful canyon. See the online version of this story for exact directions to the trailhead.