Triple Falls Hiking Guide
Triple Falls does exactly what its name promises: Oneonta Creek splits across a basalt lip and drops in three parallel channels into the pool below, which is a rarer sight than the Gorge's many single-plunge falls. The trail climbs 1,142 feet over 1.6 miles from the Historic Columbia River Highway, passing above the Oneonta Gorge slot on the way, and can be extended into longer loops for those who want more.
The Climb
From the Horsetail Falls trailhead the route switchbacks up past Ponytail Falls — where the trail passes behind the water in a rock alcove, which is a highlight in its own right — then contours above the Oneonta Gorge before climbing to the Triple Falls viewpoint. It is steady rather than steep and the tread is good. Two to three hours round trip for most people.
The Viewpoint and the Creek
The main viewpoint looks across at the three channels from a rocky perch. Continuing a short way brings you to a crossing of Oneonta Creek above the falls, which is straightforward in low water and genuinely dangerous in high flow — people have been swept here. If the creek is running hard, the viewpoint is your turnaround, and that is the correct decision rather than a disappointing one.
Fire Recovery
This whole section burned in 2017 and the trail was closed for years. It has reopened, but the slopes show it: standing dead timber, exposed ground, and a greater tendency to shed rock after rain. Windy days carry a real risk from falling snags. Check the Forest Service status page before you go, since sections of the Gorge network still close periodically for hazard work.
Loop Options
Triple Falls can be extended into loops taking in Oneonta Gorge, Wahkeena and Multnomah, turning a two-hour outing into a full day of waterfalls. The Oneonta Gorge slot itself — the wade up the creek bed through the narrows — is a separate and much riskier proposition that has been affected by log jams and closures; do not confuse it with the trail above. Confirm what is open before committing to a linked route.
Parking and Practicalities
The Historic Columbia River Highway trailheads are small and fill early, with narrow roadside options. No permit is required here, unlike Multnomah. Leashed dogs are permitted and cope well, though the creek crossing above the falls warrants care with them. There are no facilities at the trailhead itself, though Multnomah's lodge is minutes away.
Hiking tips for Triple Falls
- Turn around at the viewpoint if Oneonta Creek is running high — the crossing above the falls has swept people away.
- Take the short detour behind Ponytail Falls on the way up; walking behind the water is a highlight in itself.
- Avoid windy days on this burned slope, where falling snags are a genuine hazard years after the fire.
- Do not confuse the trail with the Oneonta Gorge slot wade below it — that is a separate and far riskier undertaking.
- Check Forest Service status before planning a linked loop; Gorge sections still close periodically for hazard work.
Nearby trails to explore
- Multnomah Falls
- Wahclella Falls
- Angels Rest
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Triple Falls is the Gorge hike for people who want more than a roadside viewpoint. Use TrailMates to find Portland groups linking waterfall loops along the historic highway. Download the TrailMates app to join them.