Historic Columbia River Highway
Wahkeena Falls (OR)

Simon Benson, a principal benefactor of the Highway, donated the 400-acre tract surrounding this site in 1915 to the people of Portland. There is a trail and a stone bridge that goes across the water near this waterfall. There are also picnic tables and a stone and wood pavilion.

These falls were once known as Gordon Falls, for F. E. Gordon, a pioneer landowner. Because there was confusion with the nearby Gorton Creek and Gordon Creek near the Sandy River, in 1915, a committee changed the name to Wahkeena Falls and Wahkeena Creek. This name is said to be a Yakama Indian word meaning, 'most beautiful.'