Dog Creek Falls is a 33-foot vertical horsetail fall that's located in Washington. It's a beautiful side trip that you can enjoy while visiting the area or passing along Highway 14.
The waterfall is certainly not the tallest in the Pacific Northwest, but it is a beautiful place to take a break from a long car journey. It's one of the most visible waterfalls in Columbia River Gorge, particularly on the Washington side, where the waterfalls are generally more hidden than on the Oregon side.
Dog Creek Waterfall is very close to several other waterfalls on the Washington side of the Gorge. Keep reading to explore a few of these nearby falls!
Need to Know
Here's what you need to know about Dog Creek Falls:
Pass/Fees: There are no fees associated with parking at or visiting Dog Creek Falls.
Amenities: No water, no restrooms.
Getting There
Getting to Dog Creek Falls is a pretty easy task. It's located along Washington State Route 14 and only requires a short, 0.1-mile hike to the viewpoint.
If you're coming from the east, the turn is on the right side of the road. You'll merge right off the highway and into the large parking area. The Dog Creek sign is at the far end of the lot, just to the left of where the short hike begins.
If you're coming from the west, about 10 minutes west of Bingen, and just after/before the Dog Creek marker sign, take a sharp left to get to the Dog Creek Falls Observation site. You'll pull into a paved parking area that's attached to the path to Dog Creek Falls. It's at the far end of the parking lot.
The parking lot coordinates are: 45.71006600602393, -121.67092364342291
Dog Creek Falls Trail
The Dog Creek falls trail is very short. It starts at the far end of the parking lot, just off Highway 14, and goes back into the woods away from the Columbia River.
The waterfall is just ahead, only 0.1 miles from the parking area. There are a few different trails in this area that you can take to get there. All of them are only slight detours to the same destination.
There are no facilities at the waterfall or in the parking area. This means that you'll have to pack out anything you bring in. This includes trash. At the waterfall, you'll find a nice spot to sit down and have a picnic, but there are no tables or chairs.
The waterfall is 30 feet tall and plummets into a swimming pool that's large enough to jump into and cool off on a hot day.
Waterfalls Near Dog Creek Falls
Near Dog Creek Falls Observation Point, you'll find several other waterfalls that are worth exploring.
Spirit Falls
Distance from Dog Creek: 2.5 miles
Spirit Falls is located further east of Dog Creek and is accessed via a hike into the woods. It's in Cook, Washington. To get there, take Cook-Underwood Rad in Cook, Washington, up from Highway 14 and past the Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery.
It's only a 4-minute drive from the Dog Creek Falls parking area. The trail is very steep to get there despite only being a 0.7-mile hike. It's important to note that as of August 2022, this area is closed due to wildfire danger.
Starvation Creek Falls
Distance from Dog Creek: 1.88 miles
Starvation Creek Falls is a larger waterfall on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. It's in Starvation Creek State Park. It's 190 feet tall but only requires a 0.1-mile hike in to see it. It's a family-friendly trail, and there are necessary amenities, like a restroom at the trailhead.
Cabin Creek Falls
Distance from Dog Creek: 2.08 miles
Cabin Creek Falls in Oregon is a 220-feet waterfall that requires a 2.1-mile hike in and out. It's near Cascade Locks. It only takes about an hour to do the entire hike and see this fantastic waterfall.
The Columbia River Gorge and Waterfalls
The Columbia River Gorge is well-known for the number of waterfalls that can be found on either side of the river. In Oregon, there is a higher concentration, particularly of waterfalls that are near, and even visible from, the highway.
If you want to explore some of the waterfalls that the Columbia River Gorge has to offer, we highly recommend that you start on the Oregon side and spend time visiting:
Multnomah Falls
Wahkeena Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Fairy Falls
Punch Bowl Falls
Metlako Falls
On the Washington side, there are fewer, easy-to-access waterfalls, but they include:
Falls Creek Falls
Hardy Falls
Siouxon Creek Falls
Rock Creek falls
Sweeny Falls