Frozen Latourell (Photo By Adam Sawyer)
Latourell Falls is the closest major gorge waterfall to Portland. The 250-foot falls are as powerful and ominous as they are beautiful. A 2.3-mile, 600-foot-elevation-gain loop hike is one of the more family-friendly jaunts in the gorge. Starting from the parking area, the path leads visitors high above lower Latourell to the less visited upper falls. (The throngs downstream pay almost no attention to the 100-foot upper Latourell Falls, a twisting beauty of a cascade.) After a creek crossing, the trail ambles through a beautiful Bigleaf maple forest before crossing the historic highway into the enticingly picnic-able Guy W. Talbot State Park. The trail then proceeds under the Latourell Creek Bridge, bringing you to the base of Latourell Falls before ascending back to the parking area.
Perhaps my favorite gorge waterfall, Latourell is one of the best examples of columnar basalt in the region. The bridge near the bottom of the falls serves as more than just a photo op—it’s a great spot to point out to the kids the visible evidence of the massive basalt lava flows that formed our region. These are some of the longest known flows in the history of the planet. Waves of lava came from eastern Oregon in spurts separated by thousands of years, creating layer upon layer of basaltic rock. Occasionally, the lower insulated layer would take longer to cool and fracture into 6-sided hexagonal columns. The eroded lava flow that Latourell Falls tumbles over today shows off several layers of the honeycombed basalt, as well as unbelievably colored green and orange lichens.
Due to its proximity and relatively low elevation, Latourell Falls is generally accessible all year round. Families can easily enjoy all the outdoor highlights the season has to offer—thundering high water flows, fall color displays, frozen amphitheaters, and my personal low-flow summer favorite, the “swallowing waterfall” pose. As always, proper preparation and gear are required for varying conditions.
-Adam Sawyer
Latourell in Summer (Photo by Krystin Sawyer)
Latourell in Late Fall (Photo By Adam Sawyer)
