11 Waterfall Trails in Oregon With Minimal Hiking Required

Oregon Waterfalls That Are Easy to Reach

Oregon has over 238 named waterfalls across all its different landscapes, with many just a short walk from the parking area. Here are 11 of our favorites, stretching from the Columbia River Gorge to the Cascade Mountains and Central Oregon high desert.

Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls stands 620 feet tall and gets more visitors than any other natural spot in the Pacific Northwest. 

You can see this famous two-step waterfall from a platform just 100 feet from the parking area. Walking from the parking area to the lower viewpoint follows a smooth, flat path good for wheelchairs. 

If you visit between May 26 and September 1, 2025, you’ll need a time-slot permit when arriving by car at the I-84 Exit 31 lot. 

This system helps handle the two million plus yearly visitors who come to see the falls.

Keep in mind that the old highway route to Multnomah Falls stays closed until Spring 2025 because of road work. You’ll need to use I-84 Exit 31 or try a bus instead.

Sahalie Falls

Sahalie Falls drops 73 feet along the McKenzie River with a wheelchair-friendly viewing spot.

April through June offers the best viewing when spring snowmelt makes the already impressive falls truly magnificent. During these months, the volume of water creates a thundering display you can feel in your chest.

Find these falls along Highway 126 in Willamette National Forest, about an hour from Bend. 

Koosah Falls

Koosah Falls drops about 64 feet into a deep pool just half a mile downstream from Sahalie Falls. Its name comes from a Chinook word meaning “sky,” perfectly describing how it seems to fall from the heavens.

This beautiful cascade formed from the same ancient lava that created Sahalie Falls. 

A short walk from the Koosah Falls parking area leads to a viewing platform, though unlike Sahalie, it does have some stairs making wheelchair access difficult. 

Ice Cap Campground sits nearby if you want to spend the night listening to rushing water just minutes from your tent. 

Latourell Falls

Latourell Falls drops 224 feet in one dramatic plunge in Guy W. Talbot State Park along the Historic Columbia River Highway. 

Bright yellow-green lichen grows on the dark rock walls, creating a picture-perfect scene straight out of a fairy tale.

You can reach the main lookout point by walking a short paved path from the parking area. No special permits need to be bought when visiting Latourell Falls, though dogs must stay on leash in the park. 

Horsetail Falls

Horsetail Falls drops 176 feet in a shape that really does look like a horse’s tail. You can see this impressive wall of water right from the Historic Columbia River Highway without even stepping out of your car.

A small viewing area waits just steps from the parking lot with no hills to climb. A small picnic area near the base offers a perfect lunch spot. 

White River Falls

White River Falls features a stunning 90-foot drop in two stages in an unexpectedly dry landscape. Upper section is called White River Falls, while the lower section goes by Celestial Falls.

East of Tygh Valley, this waterfall shows off a completely different setting than western Oregon’s green forests. Desert plants and open skies surround the unexpected ribbon of rushing water.

There’s a viewing platform just a short walk from the parking lot. From this spot, you can see both levels of the falls crashing through the rocky canyon.

If you can handle a moderately steep path, you can walk down to see an old power plant. This historic building supplied electricity to Wasco and Sherman Counties from 1910 until 1963.

Salt Creek Falls

Salt Creek Falls cascades 286 feet straight down. A viewing platform sits just 50 yards from the parking lot, making this impressive sight available to almost everyone.

Located off Highway 58 near Willamette Pass, you can easily visit during a drive through the Cascade Mountains. Look for signs about 23 miles southeast of the town of Oakridge.

Thoughtful design makes the viewing platform wheelchair-friendly with railings at the right height for seated viewing. 

Tumalo Falls

Tumalo Falls drops 97 feet in a beautiful display just a short drive from Bend in Deschutes National Forest. The main lookout point requires walking less than a quarter-mile from where you park.

Driving to the end of Tumalo Falls Road takes you through lovely pine forests before reaching this natural wonder. 

Susan Creek Falls

Susan Creek Falls features a pretty 50-foot cascade with three distinct steps, all reached by a well-built trail. Find it along the North Umpqua Highway in Southern Oregon where it hides among thick forest.

The one-mile round trip follows an easy path with very little climbing required. Signs along the way explain the local plants, animals and geology. 

Susan Creek sits within the larger North Umpqua Trail network. 

Toketee Falls

Toketee Falls drops 113 feet in two distinct steps through a perfectly formed wall of six-sided basalt columns. This natural rock frame creates one of Oregon’s most frequently photographed water scenes.

In the Umpqua National Forest in Southern Oregon, a viewing platform can be reached by walking a short 0.4-mile trail. Getting there does require climbing about 100 stairs, so plan accordingly.

Watson Falls

Watson Falls plunges 272 feet down a cliff covered in thick green moss, making it one of the highest waterfalls in Southwest Oregon. 

Lush plants growing on every surface make it look like something from a rainforest. Just off Highway 138 in the Umpqua National Forest, you’ll walk a short 0.6-mile round trip path with wooden bridges to reach viewing areas. 

While there’s some moderate climbing involved, good steps and railings make it manageable for most visitors.

Many visitors combine Watson Falls with nearby Toketee Falls for an easy waterfall day trip. 

Read More from This Brand:

• A Hidden 120-Foot Cascade in Oregon’s Umpqua Forest Hides Behind Perfect Hexagonal Basalt
• The Oregon Waterfall Guarded by Chest-Deep Waters and 100-Foot Moss-Covered Cliffs
• Oregon’s Second-Highest Waterfall Plunges 286 Feet Just Steps from Highway 58