Latourell Falls plunges 249 feet over columnar basalt cliffs. The waterfall is named after Joseph Latourell, an early settler and prominent citizen who was known for his hospitality and skill with the violin. The Latourell family hosted dances at their home in the late 1800s that drew visitors who came by rowboat from as far away as Camas to the west and Cascade Locks to the east.
A pleasant 2 mile loop trail starts up from the parking lot and follows the creek up a lush canyon to Upper Latourell Falls and returns down the other side of the creek to the highway, passing under an unusual bigleaf maple tree. Latourell Falls is in Guy W. Talbot State Park, but the upper valley is part of George W. Joseph State Natural Area.
Latourell Falls is the westernmost major waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge. From downtown Portland, travel east on I-84 20 miles to Exit 22. Drive 1.6 miles uphill to Corbett. Turn left on Highway 30, the Historic Columbia River Highway and drive east 5.1 miles. Just after crossing a long, narrow bridge, the parking lot is on the right and is well-marked with a sign. Either walk up the short steep path near the west end of the parking lot for an elevated vista of the falls, or follow a paved trail from the west end of the lot near the bridge that leads to the base of the falls.
