After living in Oregon for the past six years, I have realized that the most remarkable thing about it is the amazingly expansive forests. And sprinkled through those old-growth forests are mystical, accessible, and must-see Oregon waterfalls.

There are so many waterfalls in Oregon to explore and visit for a day trip, weekend getaway, or camping trip. These must-see waterfall destinations can be enjoyed in the winter on a chilly hike or in the summer, where you might find a swimming hole.

I have explored over 15 waterfalls in Oregon and still have more on my list to check off. Of the Oregon waterfalls I have visited, I compiled a list of the best ones to see. If you find yourself in Oregon, take advantage of your chance to explore these easy-to-access and beautiful Oregon waterfall destinations!

1) Multnomah Falls – the most visited of the Oregon waterfalls

Multnomah Falls is the most visited of the Oregon waterfalls. These spectacular Oregon waterfalls rack up more than 2 million spectators annually, making it the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest!

Multnomah Falls is only a short 30-minute drive outside of Portland, and the views of that drive are stunning. The road taken is the Historic Columbia River Highway which snakes along the Colombia River. Along that road are many other waterfalls within close proximity. Everything is marked very clearly.

Multnomah Falls is very accessible to anyone that has mobility disabilities or isn’t prepared for a hike. There is a nice and well-maintained parking lot with a paved path that leads to the base of the falls. There is also a small coffee shop/gift shop, bathrooms, and a drinking fountain at the base of the falls.

For those prepared for a bit of a hike, there is a trail leading up to the bridge seen in the photo and to the very top of the waterfall. The path to the top of the falls is about 1 mile, but it is steep and can be slippery. Check weather conditions… in the winter when it snows, it gives a mystical Narnia vibe, but the trail to the top will be closed.

Wakeena Falls – 5 Minute Drive South of Mulnonmah Falls…

Along the Historic Columbia River Highway, we stopped at this Oregon waterfall called Wakeena Falls. It’s about a 5-minute drive south of Multnomah Falls. It was winter during this trip, but in the summer, I could walk up and take a dip or rinse my face with clear water.

Horsetail Falls is the last of the Oregon waterfalls I have visited on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Horsetail Falls is about a 6-minute drive north of Multnomah Falls. It is a short hike from the parking lot trailhead. The walk up to the waterfall has crazy views of the Columbia River Gorge. Once you reach the waterfall, the trail snakes right behind the water, as seen in the picture on the right.

2) Toketee Falls

Toketee Falls is one of the prettiest places I have ever been. The water is crystal clear blue, the rock formations are unique and geometric, and the waterfall is magnificent.

The falls are found within the Umpqua Forest, and the road taken there is Highway 138. It’s a little less than a mile from the trailhead to the viewing platform. The viewing platform is large and above the waterfall. The perspective from the platform is seen in the image below.

There is a fence with a large hole cut into it which leads down an unmarked trail that will reach the bottom of the falls. I chose to scramble down this trail to the base of the falls. It has challenging terrain, so I would only recommend doing that to people confident in their abilities.

At the base of the falls, there are giant boulders to sit on and enjoy the sights. I took one plunge into the water and scrambled out quickly because it was too chilly for me. I can’t wait to visit again next summer!

Visit other Oregon Waterfalls near Toketee Falls…

While visiting the area, I would recommend searching Google for “Oregon waterfalls along Highway 138” because there are many waterfalls along that road.

On my trip to the Umpqua forest, we meant to see a bunch of other Oregon waterfalls but ended up only seeing two because we spent so much time marveling at Toketee Falls.

Pictured above is Watson Falls, only a 6-minute drive from Toketee. The waterfall is 293ft tall and the tallest in Southern Oregon. The loop trail is only about a mile and takes you to a viewpoint at the base of the falls.

In the summer, it was quite refreshing to have a bunch of mist blowing and cooling me off. The surrounding terrain was covered with bright and vibrant green vegetation due to all the moisture from the falls.

3) Silver Falls State Park – Visit here to visit many Oregon waterfalls in one day

Silver Falls State Park is a fantastic option for those looking to see many Oregon waterfalls in one day.

I would highly recommend hiking the Trail of 10 Falls. It is a 7.2-mile loop that weaves through dense forest landscapes. As noted in the trail’s name, it passes ten spectacular waterfalls! The trail guides you behind a couple of waterfalls and offers several points of access to the base of the waterfalls.

These pictures were taken on a hot August day, so we ended up finding a swimming spot along the trail. We took a dip, swam with some fish, ate our sandwiches, and continued along our journey.

4) McDowell Creek Falls – one of the lesser visited Oregon waterfalls

If you ever find yourself in the Willamette Valley, I recommend checking out the McDowell Creek Falls Loop trail. This trail is a lesser-known hiking spot, so you are likely to run into fewer people while hiking.

There is a loop trail about 2 miles long and twists up and down through the forest. The trail starts at the Royal Terrace Falls trailhead, which takes you through the lush forest and leads down a wooden staircase to give you an excellent view of the waterfall seen in the two photos above.

If you look closely at the first photo of the falls, you can see a hiker wearing red shorts on the trail just to the left of the falls!

You will cross a quaint wooden bridge to the other side of the creek, where you can walk up to the waterfall and see it up close. If you keep following the trail, you will come across Majestic Falls, shown in the two pictures above and below this paragraph. In the summer, this would be a great swimming spot!

Suppose you find yourself in Oregon AND are looking for some over-the-top AMAZINGLY majestic and Narnia-like waterfalls and forests to explore. In that case, I hope you venture out and make your way down my top 4 waterfalls in Oregon list!

Lastly, if you make it out here, drop me a line… I’d love to hear how your experience was! Happy wandering and happy exploring!

Click here (or below) for insane waterfalls to visit when touring Iceland!