In the Pacific Northwest, rain-drenched weather brings about an explosion of wild flowers and new growth to our native deciduous species. It also affords us all the opportunity to bask in thundering Pacific Northwest waterfalls as well.
Shoulder season adventures in the PNW can be a little challenging. Many winter sports are winding down for the year, and summer access into higher elevations are many months away. This makes waterfall chasing one of the best activities for this time of the year. From the Columbia River Gorge to the rugged high desert of Central Oregon, there is no shortage of cascading beauties. These are my top five waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest and some localized tips to get the best shot at each location.
Proxy Falls
Proxy Falls is easily one of the most spectacular waterfalls I’ve ever seen. It is an absolute sublime symphony for all of your senses. It plunges 227 feet from the porous end of an ancient hanging valley, surrounded by towering, lichen encrusted pines. Located along the cinema worthy landscapes of the winding McKenzie Pass, Proxy Falls was formed around 6,000 years ago as a result of glacial and volcanic activity in the Three Sisters Wilderness area.
There are two different falls along the looped trail. “Lower Proxy” is most often photographed, being the aesthetically pleasing cascades of the two. From the base, Lower Proxy seems to spring from a sliver of the above forest. It slips down the sleek moss covered rocks and runs out through the basin below. I cannot recommend Proxy highly enough as a photographer’s dream.
Local Tip: Work your way around the base of Proxy and play with different shutter speeds. This place is compositional heaven and the high-sided valley that surrounds the falls, cuts off most of the available light, allowing much longer exposures. Just remember to bring your tripod.
Koosah Falls
What this waterfall lacks in plunging height, it makes up for with its impossibly aqua blue water and a setting that feels ripped straight from the Land Before Time. The pristine and aqua crystalline McKenzie River filters through Basalt rock before exploding just upriver at Sahalie Falls. It eventually arrives at Koosah before running out to Carmen Reservoir.
There are multiple vantage points and every shade of those trademark Pacific Northwest greens. This makes for endless opportunities to add images to your portfolio. The word Koosah is Chinook for “sky.” One look at these waters and it’s definitely not hard to tell why!
Local Tip: There are several well-marked viewpoints for this waterfall. I recommend heading down the trail a couple hundred yards. Take the easy-to-spot footpath down the right side to the river. From here, you have an ultra-enchanted setting of massive ferns dripping with mist from the falls. You also have an unimpeded view of Koosah and the spectacular Mckenzie River as well.
White River Falls State Park
This is truly one of the most unique waterfalls in all of Oregon. One look at the scene and setting will tell you exactly why: it’s right in the middle of the desert. Snaking its way down the rugged eastern flank of legendary Mt. Hood, the White River runs out for hours towards the middle of the state and its picturesque high desert topography.
This is very different from the iconic waterfalls of the northwest. White River Falls is almost totally bereft of any type of trees and vegetation that you would expect to find. The starkness of the location adds a wonderful storytelling element to the images taken here. The exposed Basalt shelf lends an earthen tonal range not typically found in waterfall photos. This location also has a couple of incredible viewpoints that allow you to be eye level with the river as it spills over into a perfect splash pool basin 90 feet below. This is an absolute must-see in Oregon, and well worth the small trek off of the beaten path to get there.
Local Tip: For three seasons of the year, White River Falls has a beautiful, clear blue icy flow that ebbs with the local weather patterns. During the summer, the dry and sunny conditions are melting the White River Glacier at historic rates. This results in huge amounts of milky white glacial outflow. The scene ends up being muddy and monochromatic in camera, making it less than ideal for landscape photography.
Abiqua Falls
Close your eyes, and do your best to picture what you believe to be a quintessentially perfect waterfall. If you’ve never been lucky enough to visit Abiqua, chances are you are visualizing something very similar. This absolute slice of overgrown heaven is a Pacific Northwest heavyweight. The litany of wonderful images produced at this spot never ceases to inspire a serious sense of wonder.
Cascading almost 100 feet from the above creek, Abiqua Falls is rung by the most impressive Basaltic amphitheater that I’ve ever seen. It provides a very “hidden paradise” vibe to all who visit. The black rock fishbowl exhibits fantastic columnar jointing along the walls, giving them a patterned appearance that has to be seen to be believed. The lichen and moss-stained landscape adds an ethereal, painterly quality to the surroundings. There really aren’t enough words or superlatives to truly illustrate the majesty that is Abiqua Falls.
Local Tip: If the water levels aren’t running too high, consider safely crossing Abiqua Creek by stepping on the exposed flat boulders that create a crosswalk across the narrow channel of the run out. Just remember to pack your water shoes. From there, the tree-lined ridge above becomes much more dramatic. You are able to get the left half of the Basaltic amphitheater in frame. This is a nice touch and unique differentiator to the classic images from the main viewpoint. Also, bring microspikes or sturdy waterproof boots. The hike down can be very muddy and it is steep enough that the use of established ropes is often necessary.
Panther Creek Falls
Panther Creek Falls in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in inimitable and enchanted. It is similar to Proxy Falls in that the main section elegantly flows down channels carved in the black, moss covered rock wall. Unlike Proxy Falls, there is a second cascade — just adjacent to the main feature — that plummets in a heavy, curtain-like fashion. It’s so unbelievably stunning that it can be overwhelming and hard to know where to start pointing your camera. There are two main viewpoints: the upper provides a nice bit of perspective and scale to the scene, while the lower offers the classic views and is much more photographer friendly.
Local Tip: On sunny afternoons from the lower viewpoint, periodically turn away from the waterfall and check for light rays in the trees. The position of the sun, and the prevalence of water moisture in the air, typically find each other at this spot in a dance of light that is every photographer’s dream. It’s always tough to predict when and where one might see the revered “god rays.” Although, this spot has consistently provided me with this spectacle whenever these conditions are present.
All of the above waterfalls are accessed via short hikes with varying degrees of elevation change and difficulty. None of them are in the backcountry and wouldn’t be rated any higher than intermediate in terms of ability. If you need to access nature in ways other than by foot, the Columbia River Gorge offers many waterfall viewpoints that accommodate and offer full ADA accessibility!
Article by Nathan Lee Allen.
