Fairy Falls
Multnomah County, Oregon
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 20 ft (6.1 m)
- Location
- Multnomah County, Oregon
- The walk
- About 2.2 miles round trip
- Ground & access
- A steep ascent with switchbacks and spray; ice can be treacherous in winter even when the trail remains open. The accessible lower Wahkeena viewpoint is not an accessible route to Fairy Falls.
Park at Wahkeena Falls day-use area and follow Trail 420 uphill past Wahkeena Falls, the stone bridge and switchbacks to Fairy Falls.
Plan your visit
Wahkeena Trail 420 from Wahkeena Falls day-use area to Fairy Falls
The Forest Service places Fairy Falls 1.1 miles up the trail. The full Wahkeena Trail and Multnomah loop are longer routes.
A steep ascent with switchbacks and spray; ice can be treacherous in winter even when the trail remains open. The accessible lower Wahkeena viewpoint is not an accessible route to Fairy Falls.
Where to start
Use parking at Wahkeena picnic/day-use area along the Historic Columbia River Highway, half a mile west of Multnomah Falls.
Timing & water
Forest Service status checked October 27, 2026: open. Snow, ice, storm debris and changing restrictions still require a current check.
Before you go
The Forest Service lists no fee for Trail 420.
Visitor informationMore waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Wahkeena FallsResearched visit notes242 ft (73.7 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.3 miNW- Shady Creek FallsRoadside view from the Multnomah Falls I-84 parking lot177 ft (54 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.5 miNE
- Mist FallsFull view from Benson State Recreation Area; rough optional scramble to base518 ft (158 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.5 miNW
- Dalton FallsPartial guide: distant pond-shore view; identity as the historic Dalton Falls is uncertainMultnomah County, OR0.6 miW
Lower Multnomah FallsPaved viewpoint walk and seasonal permits documented69 ft (21 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.6 miNE
Multnomah FallsResearched visit notes620 ft total · Multnomah County, OR0.6 miNE- Dutchman FallsPaved and dirt trail above Multnomah Falls; summer parking permits33 ft (10 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.8 miNE
Wiesendanger FallsResearched walking route49 ft (15 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.8 miE- Ecola FallsBusy trail from Multnomah Falls Lodge past the top of the falls55 ft (16.7 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.9 miE