Latourell Falls & Bridge – type: plunge falls

Is a miniature Niagara pouring over a steep bluff, as viewed from the original artistically designed bridge that spans the highway from cliff to cliff.  Latourell Falls is a wonderful introduction to the many waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge.

The 249 foot high, 20 foot wide plunge type Falls cascades down a cliff on the north side of Pepper Mountain in giant steps. Entablature jointing, a distinctive pattern evident in the Columbia River basalt flows, is very evident at the falls.  Stress, produced when lava cools and contracts, causes joints to form.  Columnar joints are found below the entablature.  They were formed perpendicular to the lower cooling surface and are beautiful prisms and columns. You can also see such jointing at Crown Point and Multnomah falls.  

A farmer, named Latourell, owned a boat dock on the river below the falls. He thought it would be a lucrative tourist attraction if he offered tours to the falls. To enhance their beauty, he brought in a fire truck and hosed down a part of the canyon wall so the falls could be seen better. The dirt washed down the creek and silted up his boat dock, so the whole venture was a bust. The area where the yellow lichen grows at the falls is where he hosed away part of the canyon wall.

Though you can view Latourell Falls from the highway, a short, paved, slightly downhill, path (wheelchair accessible) takes you to the Falls. You can walk clear down to the base & behind the falls, but you might get soaking wet, so stay up by the bridge. However, if you walk down to the base & behind Latourell, it is wet, wild, windy, wonderful, and worth it.

Another paved path (also from the parking lot) takes you to a short walk to a viewpoint.  And if you continue on, a vantage point where you can not only view Latourell Falls from above but view the 100 foot tall Upper Latourell Falls. Both of these waterfalls drop in white, horsetail forms and are very picturesque. In winter the ice forms thickly and makes for beautiful pictures.

photo courtesy of:  http://www.historicphotoarchive.com/loc/gorge.html and TravelPortland.com