Gorton Creek tumbles down one of the formerly not well known little side-canyons in the Columbia River Gorge. Now, like the Gorge itself, it is fairly popular with photographers. This verdant place is even on many photo workshop itineraries. That’s because it’s a short hike in, is very green, and has two lovely waterfalls that are not well visited generally.
Parking at the end of the campground just off the Wyeth exit, a 1/4-mile walk will take you to the first falls, which is so small it has no official name. The second one, called Gorton Creek Falls, involves either scrambling up along the steep left side of the creek on a user-made path, or hopping rocks and logs along the creek proper, and probably getting your feet wet. It’s only another 1/4 mile up the creek.
The second method is good if you want to get pictures along the creek, but it’s best to have shoes or sandals that can get wet. The potential shots are more numerous when water is high, in late winter and early spring. This year the water is fairly low, which means it’s easier to hop rocks up the creek but harder to get good creek shots (in my opinion).
In fact on this recent visit, for the first time, I didn’t do any creek pictures, only shooting the two waterfalls. The bottom image is from a previous year, in high spring flow. The more rain, the greener everything is. So it’s wise to try and plan a trip to the Gorge during or at the end of a wet springtime.
Very nice photos. Oregon is a lot like the mountains of my Country.
Thank you Eduardo, then you must be as familiar with rain as we are!
Yes, very much familiar!!! lol
Absolutely beautiful Michael
Thanks so much de Wets!
I agree. The bottom shot is particularly magical.
Thanks a bunch Murray!
That bottom shot is really excellent, nice work. (the others are good too, don’t want them to feel left out)
Thank you Patrick!