Oregon: Latourell & Bridal Veil Falls

The first waterfall you see as you drive into the Columbia River Gorge is Latourell Falls, and it makes quite an introduction (I guess you could say it’s Gorge-ous?). The falls plunge 224 feet over a massive wall of black basalt that has a large patch of bright yellow lichen growing on it.



It’s an easy walk to the falls, and since there we were there on a weekend there were quite a few people standing around taking selfies and pictures. This is the view looking up at the falls while trying to avoid getting too much spray from the falls on the lens.



And looking back at the bridge over the creek below the falls.



From there we headed back onto the Historic Columbia River Highway, a stretch of road constructed between 1913 and 1922 that was the first planned scenic roadway in the country. The next stop was Bridal Veil Falls, which is reached by a short but slightly steep trail that drops down the hillside and crosses Bridal Veil creek on a bridge.



Even though it was winter, the area below the falls was green with moss and ferns.



The creek plunges over two tiers creating a waterfall that is about 118 feet tall. At the very top of the falls you can see part of a bridge for the Columbia River Highway that was constructed in 1914.



For a few decades these falls didn't really run, the water was diverted away to a nearby mill. You can see traces of the mill complex along the trail.



One thing that I love about this area is how green it is, and how much moss covers everything (like rocks, concrete and trees).



And one last shot before heading up the hill, looking back up the creek toward the falls: