Four Gorge waterfalls sit along one easy trail, and the first is a 50-foot walk from the parking lot
Most Gorge waterfall hikes make you earn the first view. This one hands it over before you’ve finished locking the car: a short boardwalk, about 50 feet from the parking area, leads straight to Starvation Creek Falls.
And that’s just the opener. Starting from the same trailhead, a mostly easy path strings together three more falls, and the whole thing is open year-round, which makes it a smart pick when fall rain gets the creeks flowing.
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The trail at a glance
Plan on about 4.3 miles out and back, with a few short spurs to waterfall viewpoints. Elevation gain is only around 145 feet, so this is an easy outing that works for most ages and fitness levels. Dogs are welcome on a leash.
The route follows the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail west from the trailhead, and the waterfalls show up one after another. Bring a rain jacket anyway, because the spray and the Gorge weather do what they like.
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The four waterfalls, in order
Starvation Creek Falls comes first: about 190 feet over two tiers, viewed from a small picnic area. It’s the easiest waterfall payoff on the whole trail, and a fine stopping point if you’re short on time.
Next up is Cabin Creek Falls, around 220 feet in two tiers, with a scramble trail that drops toward its base. My pick for the best of the bunch: it feels wilder than the roadside view of the first fall.
Then comes Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, about 95 feet tall, and it has a good backstory. It’s man-made: a tunnel built in 1938 diverts Warren Creek through the cliff, creating a waterfall that never existed on its own.
The finale is Lancaster Falls, with an upper tier of roughly 250 feet and a smaller lower drop of about 20 feet. It’s the turnaround point, so you can finish the route on a high note and head back the way you came.
Make a day of it
Starvation Creek sits west of Hood River, so pair the hike with lunch in town. Our guide to things to do in Hood River covers where to eat and what else to see.
Still hungry for more Gorge falls? The Horsetail and Ponytail Falls hike lets you walk behind a waterfall, and the Oneonta Trail to Triple Falls is another good one.
Parking and permits
Starvation Creek State Park requires a day-use parking permit, and you can buy a one-day permit on site. Oregon State Parks lists day permits at $10 per vehicle for Oregon residents and $12 for non-residents.
Which of the four would you stop at if you only had an hour?
Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, and lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone.
Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.
