Well....this will be one of the easiest reviews for me to write. Waterfall Alley!!! This area is…read moresimply FANTASTIC! Situated along scenic 74 mile Columbia River Gorge...I'd say it's about a 7 - 9 mile stretch of nothing but majestically perfect waterfalls! Along my cross country road trip I had the Columbia River Gorge on my to-do list...but I never expected such a stretch of waterfalls! I was in awe! This area is as good as it gets!!! One of the best places I visited in the USA! And for those who'd like to come here...it's simple. Waterfall Alley is located about 25 miles away from Portland....right on the borders of Oregon and Washington. I actually spent 2 full days exploring along the Columbia River Gorge...yet all the action...all the highlights...all my best memories came from here at Waterfall Alley, bar none! Here's a list of my favorite waterfalls and how I'd rank them, lol... 1. Multnomah Falls is the main event. It's the 4th tallest waterfall in the United States with the Upper Falls measuring at 542 feet and the Lower Falls at 69 feet high. There's a bridge connecting the base of the upper falls to the peak of the lower falls....it's a photographer's paradise! Unfortunately during this summer of 2020 amidst the pandemic, the bridge was closed. My advice for exploring is to arrive FIRST THING IN THE MORNING or it gets real crowded, real quick. Then you'll have tourists interrupting your pictures. There's a giant parking lot right off the Columbia River Gorge. It's free to park and viewing Multnomah Falls is free as well. 2. Latourell Falls - the first major waterfall you'll come upon while driving the CRG. Parking can be tight here. It's a short short walk to the base of the falls. Latourell Falls is 269 feet high! I climbed on some rocks and sat down to grab superb photos of it's entirety with myself in the pictures. I was thrilled to be here! It genuinely set the tone for Waterfall Way. You can hike to the top of Latourell Falls but what good would that be looking down from high above? All you need are photos at the base...and you'll be in pure bliss, lol. 3. Horsetail Falls - right before Multnomah Falls, this Horsetail Falls is located literally right off the side of the road. You can see this 176 foot waterfall as you're driving. I found parking here to be quite difficult and had to wait till someone eventually moved. Horsetail Falls is so unique being close to the road and yet the 176 foot drop was extremely impressive! 4. Bridal Veil Falls - this was a quiet area of Waterfall Way. There were 2 short walking paths here and one of them brings you to Bridal Veil Falls - a double cascading waterfall. Although it's not one sheer drop...I still appreciated this. I guess I just got spoiled by all the wonderful surroundings along the CRG. Bridal Veil Falls is easily accessible and there's a viewing platform. But I stepped below the viewing overlook platform and got myself in a few photos with Bridal Veil Falls in the background. 5. Wahkeena Falls - close to Multnomah Falls. Parking here was almost impossible. Finally I discovered some grass off the road where I parked. For Wahkeena Falls, I had to hike up a trail a short distance (about 1/2 a mile). Upon arriving at what I thought was Wahkeena Falls, I was slightly disappointed by the appearance. It was one basic waterfall trickling down the canyon walls. I took a few pics and decided to hike higher...but never uncovered any significantly worthwhile views. Ultimately, I just walked back down the trail. Overall, this Waterfall Alley was simply spectacular! If you skipped driving the rest of the Columbia River Gorge and just witnessed these waterfalls (humbling in and of themselves)...it would still make for quite a fulfilling day trip. Lastly, these waterfalls were virtually all roadside stops. You barely have to navigate hard to arrive at any of them. This Pacific Northwest area of the country is hands down 5 stars!

I've chosen this listing, "Waterfall Alley," because that's what the trek feels like. This could…read morealso be commingled with the Columbia River National Scenic Area, but that includes more than just waterfalls. Also, while reviewed and photographed separately, Multnomah Falls is within Waterfall Alley, and is the highlight of this drive. Coming from the west, and presumably from Portland, it is best to get off at Corbett (exit 22) and wind up the road to the Vista House, following all the signs at about 2 or 3 forks in the road. The view over the Columbia River Gorge is gorge(ous), especially on a clear day and the "alley" to all the falls seemingly begins there. The day of the visit was not amenable to picture taking of the panorama. The falls along the way include Latourell, Wahkeena, Bridal Veil, Multnomah, the rippling waters through Oneonta Gorge, and Horsetail. They all have different personalities, with some having trails up to them and others being "that's all, folks." Regardless, this road is a collection of natural treasures and a must for anyone visiting the Portland area, because it gives a feel for the unspoiled natural wonders in this corner of the state, though they don't necessarily define the entire state. If I had to pick a Top 5 for logos of Oregon, they would be: (1) the Portland skyline with Mount Hood looming beyond, (2) Multnomah Falls, (3) Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach, (4) Crater Lake, and (5) a meadow of Ponderosa type pine and mountains near Bend or Redmond, in Oregon's interior. So, there you have it, one of the five best Oregon highlights, and then some, are contained within this easy drive!

Bridal Veil Falls is one of those places that looks like a postcard even when your phone camera is…read morehaving an off day. Short walk, not much effort, and suddenly you're staring at a clean drop of water tucked into thick green forest. Compared to Nevada, this place feels like someone turned the saturation all the way up and forgot to turn it back down. The lower viewpoint gives you the classic shot, but if you wander a bit, you'll catch different angles and smaller side flows that most people ignore while they rush back to the parking lot. Wildlife bonus: geese everywhere, and yes... their turds are absolutely that big. Consider it part of the authentic experience. Then there's the unexpected highlight... a tiny Jesus figurine casually posted up on a wood waste bin like he's supervising the whole operation. Didn't expect spiritual oversight on a waterfall trip, but here we are. He seemed pretty calm about the crowd, the noise, and humanity in general. Probably seen worse. Overall: Easy access, great views, ridiculously green, and just weird enough to be memorable.

Bridal Veil Falls was the third waterfall that my wife, her mom, and I stopped by, around 8:51 am,…read moreto the Bridal Veil state park. It has a decent size paved parking lot (with spots for 15 cars or so), with a lot of surrounding greenspace. It has two trails, one a self-contained one that provides views of the nearby highway. The second goes down, to a bridge that crosses the Falls. The park also has an indoor bathroom. To get to the falls, one must take the downward hike to the path on the right. I got as far as the bridge to see the stream, but didn't realize until later that I needed to go further to actually see the falls. Notes: -- 118 feet high -- named for the resemblance to the delicate veil of a bride

Wahkeena Falls was such a great surprise. We made a quick stop here on our way to Multnomah Falls,…read moreand I'm so glad we did -- it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. The falls are powerful and beautiful, surrounded by lush greenery and mossy cliffs, and the mirrors were amazing, making the whole place feel extra magical. The short walk to the lower viewing area is easy and accessible, but if you want more, the trail continues uphill and offers even better views and a peaceful forest hike. It's also much less crowded than Multnomah Falls, which made the experience even better. Tips: Parking is limited, so try to go early. The trail can be slippery from the mist, so good shoes are a must. Highly recommend stopping here if you're exploring the Gorge -- especially as a stop before or after Multnomah Falls.

Wahkeena Falls was the fourth waterfall that my wife, her mom, and I stopped by, at 9:36 am. There…read moreis a parking paved angled parking lot with 20+ spots. One can then either take 10 steps or a handicamp ramp to get to a nice viewing spot. From that spot, one can climb a steep trail further to get closer to the falls. Notes: - named after the Yakama Indian word meaning "most beautiful". - 242 feet high

Beautiful place, paid I think it was $5 dollars and parked and went to the clothing optional area…read moregot naked and enjoyed nature absolutely loved it nobody there judges you and I got nice compliments as I'm a young guy 20 years old lol but man it's so pretty the trails are sandy and good on your bare feet so u don't really have to worry about wearing shoes I do recommend only for some areas the majority is sandy and soft though for the trails leading to the beach area obviously I can't post my naked pictures but god it's just heaven on earth you are surrounded by green tall grass and trees so very pretty :)

There is no beach other than the clothing-optional beach! I wish I had known... I thought surely…read morethere would be a beach area where I could take my children, but alas. It's a nice park otherwise, but we left disappointed without the beach day we'd set out for. Parking is $10 now, unlike some of the older reviews say.

Hint: Put Multnomah Falls parking in Google Maps for free parking. There's underpass for a short…read morewalk to the fall. The parking lot adjacent to the lodge charges $20. Multnomah falls each the second largest all year round waterfall in the country. It's so tall, has a stunning view of the water, the mist and the surrounding greenery. There's a deck at the base and a trail to the famous Multnomah Falls bridge (approximately 5 minutes walk up hill). The trail continues after the bridge to the top of the fall. The bridge has another gorgeous closer view of the fall. At the base, there's a lodge with a restaurant and gift shop. A cafe station was also available for hot drinks and small bites. The walk through the underpass is really nice, as you get to see the clear crystal water streaming away from the fall. We took some sips of the fresh water, it was so tasty, better than the bottled waters :p. This is where the historic Columbia River highway drive ends. It gets crowded by noon. So I'd suggest starting your excursion from this fall and drive thru the rest. Bring warm gears as it gets windy and cold closer to the fall (based on April weather) I love waterfalls and this was a fantastic family experience for us.

Multnomah Falls is one of the tallest year-round waterfalls. There are trails to walk up and be…read morecloser to the water falls. Benson bridge makes it so poetic from far. The trail to the bridge is not terrible but it's an incline for sure. Amazing view from the lower section and from the bridge. The cafe at the entrance is great. Got a hot chocolate to warm myself up. Gift shop is cool to check it out. There's a paid parking ($20?) and a free parking. Free parking is across the highway, further down walk less than 10mins. There's a tunnel walkway so you don't need to walk through traffic.

This is a very well maintained state park that had incredible views yesterday. The peacefulness of…read morethe rock can be felt as soon as you start walking it. It's very well maintained all the way to the top and there are even handrails. I highly recommend this hike for some peaceful time alone or with others to accompany you. Parking is about $10 by the way. Let the rock refresh your soul and revitalize your spirit as it did mine. There were many moments where I paused and stopped just to take in the the beauty that was presented to me on the trail. The views of the water below are gorgeous you can see from miles and miles from the top.

Amazing hikes & views at the park. Beacon Rock Trail, that goes up to the top of the rock, is well…read moremaintained and had gorgeous views the whole way up. Even the drive through the Gorge to get to the park is amazing. I would absolutely recommend visiting! Only issue I ran into was that the parking payment meter in the parking lot was broken and I had to buy a pass online and write the info on a scrap piece of paper like the taped-on signage on the meter said. Many over grown blackberry bushes, but they were not a problem.

What a great little place for hiking! I would call it more of a nature walk rather than a hike, but…read morethat's what makes it great for small kids or those in wheelchairs. There are two short trails that are less than a mile each. The Streamwatch Trail takes you along the water and even has a little underwater fish viewing area. There weren't any fish in March, but it must be pretty cool to watch the fish underwater during busier seasons. The Wetlands Trail takes you along a wooden boardwalk to literally go through a wetland area. Most of these trails are stroller/wheelchair friendly, but there are some parts that are on dirt and gravel, which may be a little trickier. There are also a lot of picnic tables along the Streamwatch trail, which would be perfect in warmer weather.

Been meaning to stop by and see what Wildwood has to offer, and finally did last weekend…read more Clearly they have loads to offer in the other seasons, but it's still peaceful and offers up a decent stroll or hike in winter. We took both the Wetlands and Streamwatch trails. You've got to be verrry careful right now on the oh-so slippery boardwalks of the Wetlands. It was very icy throughout the entire trail. The Streamwatch trail winds you through picnic areas, along the river, and by the underwater viewing area. We drove around past other trails and over to the family meadow and picnic area. Plenty of parking and the restrooms that were open were clean. There were a few structures and trail aspects that needed some tending to, but overall it's a lovely recreation area...peaceful now but probably loads of fun for families in the springtime!

Another gorg waterfall along the old historic highway. I just love the sound of the rushing water!…read moreWhile the majority of visitors to Oregon make a point to see Multnomah Falls, Shepperd's Dell, and others along the drive are well worth a stop. As you are about to cross a bridge, you will see the Shepperd's Dell sign. Pull over and park in the lot. It's a very short walk and you will to the fall and you will be able to take in a view of the moss covered bridge, the walking trail, with the waterfall in full view. Because not many stop here, you may have the place all to yourself or with just a few others. Oh, and this part of the drive along the Scenic Highway is lush, green and so beautiful. Oregon at its best!

Shepperd's Dell was the second waterfall that my wife, her mom, and I stopped by, around 8:40 am…read more One can park on turnouts on either side of the, with spots for at most 4 cars at a time. It is viewable from the road, with a closer view accessible via a short path with railings leading downward. Once at the bottom, one can climb a bit upwards following the path of the falls. My wife stayed back and took a nice picture far off picture. Notes: -- 46 feet high -- named for George Shepperd, a local dairy farmer who originally owned the land.

Great little park with river access. You do have to pay a small fee. Plenty of picnic tables and…read moreplaces to set up for the day while enjoying the river.

This is a fantastic beautiful park along Eagle Creek! With that said, the only negative was the $8…read moreday-use fee. Other parks with day-use fees around Portland currently usually charge $5, but they do have an annual pass you can get for a certain group of parks if you plan on visiting them regularly. There is a restroom (not just a porta-potty, but an actual restroom. Yay!), a playground, baseball diamond, and lots of picnic tables. Some of the picnic tables have in-ground charcoal BBQ pits, too. They also have a picnic shelter you can pay to reserve. For hiking, they have a few different trails to choose from and all were very well-maintained when we visited. One of the trails is even accessible for folks with mobility issues, all flat and wide. The park & trails have plenty of huge trees for shade, and the big main trail goes along the creek in several places. There are even a few spots where you can hang out right along the creek shore. Aside from the easy accessible trail, I'd say the other trails are mild to medium in difficulty just due to some of the hilly inclines, but we saw families with younger kids walking them without a problem.