Elowah Falls

Columbia River Gorge / John B. Yeon State Park / Portland, Oregon, USA

About Elowah Falls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Elowah Falls (it can also be called Lower McCord Creek Falls) was another one of the distinct plunging waterfalls situated in John B. Yeon State Park.

This park sat more towards the eastern end of what we perceived to be the “waterfalls area” of the Columbia River Gorge along the Historic Columbia River Highway.

John_B_Yeon_SP_035_08172017 - Elowah Falls in low late Summer flow
Elowah Falls in low late Summer flow

Because of its plunging characteristic and overhanging vertical cliffs, this waterfall reminded me very much of Latourell Falls.

In fact, such overhanging vertical cliffs provided clear evidence of past lava flows giving rise to these hard layers of rock and ultimately the waterfall itself.

Moreover, if I took a glancing look at the photos of the two waterfalls, I could easily get them confused without examining them a bit more carefully.

Nevertheless, in the case of Elowah Falls, the McCord Creek was said to drop 213ft (though I’ve seen this figure as high as 289ft).

Columbia_River_Gorge_150_03292009 - Elowah Falls in high early Spring flow with Julie near the bottom providing a sense of scale
Elowah Falls in high early Spring flow with Julie near the bottom providing a sense of scale

It also required a little bit more of a hike to access it (though not by much as it was said to be about 1.6 miles round trip).

Those factors alone made this waterfall a relatively hidden gem as it was far less popular than most of the drive-by waterfalls in the area.

Since the Elowah Falls was on McCord Creek, at one point, it was referred to as the McCord Creek Falls before it was renamed to Elowah by a mountaineering organization based in Portland called the Mazamas.

As a matter of fact, there was an Upper McCord Creek Falls further upstream of the Elowah Falls, which I managed to reach by a separate hike.

So you could argue that Elowah Falls could have been called the Lower McCord Creek Falls.

John B. Yeon’s Efforts

John_B_Yeon_SP_005_08172017 - The trailhead for both the Elowah Falls and the Upper McCord Creek Falls in John B Yeon State Scenic Corridor
The trailhead for both the Elowah Falls and the Upper McCord Creek Falls in John B Yeon State Scenic Corridor

The trail to Elowah Falls was within the boundaries of the John B. Yeon State Park (I guess it’s now called the John B. Yeon Scenic Corridor).

Yeon was a Portland businessman who was instrumental in the completion of the Columbia River Highway at a time when the project was plagued with mismanagement and cost overruns.

He apparently took personal ownership of the project as a volunteer roadmaster for Multnomah County, but his devotion to the project costed him his own business endeavors and investments.

Nevertheless, the existence of the road connecting most of the Columbia River Gorge waterfalls, which most motorists take for granted these days, could be attributed to Yeon’s efforts.

Experiencing Elowah Falls

John_B_Yeon_SP_008_08172017 - An old water tank situated near the trailhead for Elowah Falls
An old water tank situated near the trailhead for Elowah Falls

From the trailhead right next to a freeway entrance for the I-84 (see directions below), the trail immediately climbed past an old water tank then switched back and continued rising towards a trail junction in 0.4 miles.

At the junction, I kept left to continue onwards to Elowah Falls.

Going right at this junction would lead up a steep trail to Upper McCord Creek Falls, which would nearly double the round-trip length of the overall hike if I were to add it to this hike.

The trail would continue to gently climb for the next 0.1-mile before starting to descend some narrow ledges then resuming alongside the McCord Creek.

Columbia_River_Gorge_128_03292009 - Julie past the trail junction and keeping on the path leading to Elowah Falls
Julie past the trail junction and keeping on the path leading to Elowah Falls

When I first did this hike in late March 2009, the trail veered left then switched back along McCord Creek to the falls.

However, on my second visit, the trail was re-routed to the right and made a sharp switchbacking descent on an eroded hillside.

I’m sure this part of the trail would be in constant maintenance as conditions seemed to be in a perpetual state of flux here.

Next, the narrow ledge trail meandered alongside McCord Creek in a more gradual descent eventually leading to a footbridge crossing right before the base of the Elowah Falls.

Columbia_River_Gorge_146_03292009 - Elowah Falls fronted by a footbridge being blasted by the mist from the waterfall's high early Spring volume
Elowah Falls fronted by a footbridge being blasted by the mist from the waterfall’s high early Spring volume

In high flow (like it was when Julie and I first visited in late March 2009), it was tremendously misty, windy, and slippery around the footbridge.

Yet, in lower flow (like on my second visit in August 2017), I was better able to appreciate the open amphitheater as the scene was less turbulent.

Therefore, I could get a closer look up at the overhanging cliffs giving rise to the waterfall’s freefalling plunge.

But unlike Latourell Falls, the cliffs seemed to have a less pronounced columnar appearance.

John_B_Yeon_SP_028_08172017 - Elowah Falls visited by only a handful of people even in late Summer though its flow was far less than in the Spring
Elowah Falls visited by only a handful of people even in late Summer though its flow was far less than in the Spring

With all the rocks strewn at the base as well as some giant boulders strewn next to the footbridge, I was reminded of where they came from and how prone rock slides were here.

I even noticed what appeared to be a tiny cave further upslope from one of the rock slides, where a thin ephemeral waterfall was still flowing.

Anyways, since this waterfall required a 3/4-mile hike (or 0.8-mile based on the signage) to get here, it wasn’t nearly as busy as at Latourell Falls.

So it was a relaxing and enjoyable visit.

John_B_Yeon_SP_036_08172017 - Looking up at the cliffs flanking Elowah Falls, which revealed overhangs as well as a hidden cave towards the bottom right in this photograph
Looking up at the cliffs flanking Elowah Falls, which revealed overhangs as well as a hidden cave towards the bottom right in this photograph

After having my fill of this falls, I went back the way I came and wound up spending under an hour away from the car (not counting adding the hike up to Upper McCord Creek Falls as part of this excursion).

Authorities

Elowah Falls resides in the John B. Yeon State Scenic Corridor, which is within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon. It is administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual members. See Membership Options.
Content is for members. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: columbia river gorge, portland, multnomah, oregon, waterfall, pacific northwest, mt hood, mount hood, historic columbia river, john b yeon, state park, cascade locks, mccord creek



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Gorgeous (Elowah Falls) June 14, 2010 12:46 am by Stephanie - One of the most rewarding shorter/easier hikes that I've done. It's definitely worth the very short patches of barely steep inclines. There is a path less traveled, however it makes for an amazing hike when you happen to visit this extraordinary beauty... A bit more of a strenuous hike toward the top but this little… ...Read More

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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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