Gorton Creek Falls
Hood River County, Oregon
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- Not recorded
- Location
- Hood River County, Oregon
- Access status
- Partial guide: official trail ends at Emerald Falls; last 100 yards is an unofficial creek scramble
- The walk
- 0.6 mile on foot from the trailhead; 1.5 miles round trip
- Ground & access
- Level path to Emerald Falls, then a wet scramble over mossy boulders and logjams. Expect to get very wet when the creek is high. Poison oak.
From the Wyeth Trailhead, follow the trail 100 feet to the junction near Gorton Creek and go straight ahead on the wide path along the creek, not left on the Wyeth Trail or right on the Gorge Trail. After a nearly level half mile, reach a 10-foot slide called Emerald Falls, where the official trail ends. The final approach to the 115-foot falls is an unofficial route of about 100 yards up the left side of the creek over boulders, roots and logjams. Stay next to the creek and avoid the steep, slippery slope to the left. Families with small children should turn around at Emerald Falls.
Plan your visit
Wyeth Trailhead, creekside path to Emerald Falls, then an unofficial boulder scramble up Gorton Creek to Gorton Creek Falls
Oregon Hikers gives 0.6 mile on foot from the Wyeth Trailhead to the falls and 1.5 miles round trip with 150 feet of elevation gain. The last part is a scramble of about 100 yards.
Level path to Emerald Falls, then a wet scramble over mossy boulders and logjams. Expect to get very wet when the creek is high. Poison oak.
Where to start
Wyeth Trailhead, south of Wyeth Campground: I-84 Exit 51, right onto Herman Creek Road, left after 0.2 mile on the 228 spur, then 0.2 mile keeping right. The trailhead is open May through September; in the off-season use the Wyeth HCRH Trailhead.
Timing & water
Oregon Hikers lists the hike as all year, but the Wyeth Trailhead itself is open May through September.
Before you go
Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
- Emerald FallsShort creekside trail to the end of the official pathHood River County, OR0.1 miN
- Summit Creek Falls30 ft (9.1 m) · Hood River County, OR2.1 miE
- Camp Benson FallsPartial guide: the last section uses a powerline maintenance road that is not confirmed as an official trail85 ft (25.9 m) · Hood River County, OR2.2 miE
- Nick Eaton FallsEstablished trail from Herman Creek TrailheadHood River County, OR2.4 miW
- Lindsey Creek Falls53 ft (16.2 m) · Hood River County, OR2.5 miE
- Harrison FallsHood River County, OR2.7 miE
- Lower Lancaster FallsState trail and Mount Defiance Trail to the lower tier20 ft (6 m) · Hood River County, OR3.2 miE
- Lancaster FallsTrail to the lower tier of the falls231 ft (70.4 m) · Hood River County, OR3.2 miE
- Hole-in-the-Wall FallsPaved trail from Starvation Creek Trailhead to a picnic-circle view96 ft (29.2 m) · Hood River County, OR3.4 miE