Willamette Falls
Willamette Falls
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
191 reviews
Excellent
77
Very good
63
Average
26
Poor
17
Terrible
8
Matthew G
Portland, OR1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Couples
This is a very underutilized and under developed area of the Willamette. There’s an old mill right by the falls that’s a total eyesore and should’ve been torn down a long time ago. The city decided to kill the idea for a recreation and water access area there and you can’t see the falls from the viewpoint from the road. This spot could be much better utilized by the city with some proper planning.
Written 22 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jasmine38Chichester UK
Chichester, UK1,971 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
The picture on Trip Advisor is actually of the dam, which is not particularly impressive. You can't actually see the falls - they have been inaccessible for 150 years. There are apparantly plans to renovate the area as its mainly full of derelict industrial plant and buildings currently and not at all attractive. This would also provide a route to the falls. However, when this will happen who knows. As it stands I couldn't recommend.
Written 15 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashley H
Kansas City, MO1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Couples
The photos on trip advisor way overinflated my expectations of what this was going to be! I also researched this on the NPS website and used the address to navigate from their page, which was not to the overlook pull out. Even on a day with nice weather, the falls were dirty and covered in moss/green water. Not very pretty to look at, at all. Luckily we were on our way back from downtown Portland to Silverton, so Oregon City wasn’t too far out of the way and this wasn’t a charge to stop in a national park or anything. There is an auto shop across the street that has a tow-mater from cars, where we turned around from the address provided by NPS. That was probably the highlight of the visit!
Written 9 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MEPHX
Phoenix, AZ163 contributions
Jul 2020
Very disappointing. There is no good place to see the falls without kayaking. There is no view of the falls from the highway scenic turnout across the river from the town in July when all the trees are leaved out - maybe you can see the falls from here in the winter. We walked along a promenade on top of the cliff, at the top of the municipal elevator, which was a nice walk on a flat surface, but the viewing the falls is still not great. When we were there only one panel of the dam was open so there was very little water flowing anyway. The river is lined with a power plant and old factory buildings - not a pretty river view. Not worth the drive from Portland to see these falls.
Written 29 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fredSeattle_Wa
seattle, wa187 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Second largest falls in the US. Lots of vantage points to get a good look. Especially impressive at flood stage. The closed paper mill, blue heron on the Oregon city side is proper as a park- if it happens it will be a great place to get really close to this impressive feature.
Written 20 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jazzie F
Canandaigua, NY404 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
By visiting, you can see the past and present, and imagine what the future might bring to the area.
What will strike you first is not the falls. It's the industrial feel of the site, from locks to paper mills (one closed and decrepit, the other decrepit), to run down power plant, to spillways, to debris boom, etc. It seems that the only thing not developed is the immediate fall areas. And everything is so run down!
This by itself should entice you to visit what is still an amazing horseshoe waterfall area and the second largest in the states by volume. To know that not long ago this was a pristine place for trading and fishing and to see what it once was ....it's interesting in a bizarre way to see how it is now. The docent at the historical society said there is interest in demolishing the closed paper mill but that there are many chemicals to be cleaned up first. So many that it's difficult to find funding to tackle such a large project. Too bad. On the other side, there's talk of demolishing some of the downstream buildings and opening it up for recreational access and development. Will the circle close? Will the areas's potential for housing, recreation, and community pizzaz be realized? You'll have to decide for yourselves.
So if you're in the area, stop by and admire these nice water falls and the history that surrounds them. For best viewing, go during high water so you can see and hear them. It might be fun to take a falls boat trip, see the salmon run, and watch people fishing, none of which took place when we visited in December. If you stop at the Route 99E viewpoint, behind you is the Oregon Historical Museum. We spent a couple of hours there, not bad. From there, you can take the promenade trail that starts at the VFW and walk to either the elevator or the steps down to Main Street. Steps are better so you can walk along the creek making it's way to the river.
What will strike you first is not the falls. It's the industrial feel of the site, from locks to paper mills (one closed and decrepit, the other decrepit), to run down power plant, to spillways, to debris boom, etc. It seems that the only thing not developed is the immediate fall areas. And everything is so run down!
This by itself should entice you to visit what is still an amazing horseshoe waterfall area and the second largest in the states by volume. To know that not long ago this was a pristine place for trading and fishing and to see what it once was ....it's interesting in a bizarre way to see how it is now. The docent at the historical society said there is interest in demolishing the closed paper mill but that there are many chemicals to be cleaned up first. So many that it's difficult to find funding to tackle such a large project. Too bad. On the other side, there's talk of demolishing some of the downstream buildings and opening it up for recreational access and development. Will the circle close? Will the areas's potential for housing, recreation, and community pizzaz be realized? You'll have to decide for yourselves.
So if you're in the area, stop by and admire these nice water falls and the history that surrounds them. For best viewing, go during high water so you can see and hear them. It might be fun to take a falls boat trip, see the salmon run, and watch people fishing, none of which took place when we visited in December. If you stop at the Route 99E viewpoint, behind you is the Oregon Historical Museum. We spent a couple of hours there, not bad. From there, you can take the promenade trail that starts at the VFW and walk to either the elevator or the steps down to Main Street. Steps are better so you can walk along the creek making it's way to the river.
Written 26 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ConnieR
Vancouver, WA113 contributions
Willamette Falls is sort of like a miniature Niagara Falls. It is best seen in the late fall, winter, and spring when the water level is high. In summer, the water flow can be very low. There is a historical marker here if you like reading about Oregon history. The natural beauty of the falls is, unfortunately, marred by the giant industrial mill that is alongside the river. Still, the falls can be an interesting wayside stop.
Written 27 January 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gagarin239
19 contributions
Jun 2019
The falls are beautiful, but Oregon official spit on tourists, because there is no place to look on them. Second biggest in North America falls are not a tourist attraction at all, there is no infrastructure, no excursions, no nothing. Best seen from kayak, but there is no rental service.
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gcavener
Oregon City, OR89 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
This wonderful waterfall is partially obscured by the industrial installations all around it. It is a great part of Oregon history dating back to the Oregon Trail days. It is a spot for the annual eel harvest that is a community event in Oregon City. It looks like the local municipalities may make the falls more visible to the public. I hope so.
Written 9 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shays01
Oregon City25 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Nothing in the way of interaction, exploration, or interpretation ... all you can do is pull over and observe. The old Blue Heron Paper Mill and the locks have changed the historical appearance of these falls and to some might be quite unattractive. Nevertheless, the Oregon Falls (not cascading, like those in the Gorge, but more like Niagara Falls, if smaller) played a significant role in Oregon history and are in and of themselves pretty spectacular to see. Don't miss them!
Written 15 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are dogs allowed? I have two small Yorkies. We would like to visit the museum History Center also, but if I cannot bring them in we won't be able to.
Written 8 February 2018
You can certainly walk the dogs on lease on the walk to see the falls but you will need to contact the Museum about the dogs. I see someone sent you the phone number. That should help.
Written 10 February 2018
Depending upon what part of Lake Oswego you are in it is between 6 and 8 Miles. There is a jet boat that leaves Portland and goes to the Falls which is a lot of fun. It may not run all year around so best to Google it and see. If you want a bigger Falls at least height wise I’d consider a visit to Mulnomah Falls east of Portland.
Written 25 October 2017
Is it worth the 3-hour bustrip (return) from Portland to the Falls and how long should I allocate to be there? I plan going very early in the morning and returning before lunchtime. I shall be in Portland in mid-December. Thanks
Written 28 September 2015
I would not go just for the falls. If you want a local experience and do the elevator, short hike, museum and then lunch in downtown maybe but in December it might be less than perfect weather
Written 23 June 2016
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