White River Falls State Park — Attraction in The Dalles

We have been meaning to check this waterfall off of our Oregon bucket list and today, the 4th of July 2024, we made the trek out to Tygh Valley.

The nicely maintained park was green and beautiful. It was also completely full. We parked back by the main entrance gate and walked down to the park.

The waterfall from the top is definitely a good looking one, but once you make the decision to hike down the trail to the powerhouse and swimming area, you get to see the full power of this epic place.

The trail down is definitely a bit of a trek, as noted by most everyone else it's not for everyone, but my 43 year old self and my 7 and 9 year old made it down without issue. Coming back up was not as fun, but we all made it without dying. I wouldn't recommend this hike down if you're not comfortable relying on your feet or have any medical problems that make breathing difficult.

Once you get to the bottom, the powerhouse is a very cool spot to check out. There is a great swimming hole that was pretty packed with people enjoying the heat on this wonderful holiday afternoon. It's pretty shallow most of the way across and it's also pretty cold which will help you cool down if your interested in swimming or at least getting wet.

Coming back up is tough for sure, but there are multiple good places to catch your breath or drink water. Make sure you bring water down. Any amount will do, but you will want it for sure.

All in all l, I'm glad we made the trek out here to see this special place. The drive out is pretty and has a lot of nice scenery.just seeing all the mountains coming from the south is pretty epic. This is definitely a place worth making the trek out too if you're within a couple hours, in my opinion. Awesome spot. The dogs...

Nature and history are both available to enjoy here. The park is easy to find, parking was easy and there is a restroom and picnic spots. Dogs are allowed on leash although we experienced 1-2 off leash and unattended. The viewpoint for the main waterfall is easily accessible and close to the parking lot.

The main waterfall is stunning to view, hear and feel. A short walk along a paved upper trail leads to the holding area of the former hydroelectric plant operation.

The hike down into the canyon is not a developed trail. It’s a steep, rough path made by many feet traversing the same soil over a long period of time. It’s filled with outcrops of jagged rocks with a set of old, worn wooden stairs near the bottom (see my pic). There are no handrails or safety guards at any point. I wouldn’t recommend this hike for young kids, dogs or anyone with a disability or health condition that might prevent them from climbing down or, more importantly, climbing back up. Carry water and use sun protection as there is no shade.

The park service has clear signage about the risks for this hike, including the distance from the trail to the nearest hospital.

All that said, if you’re young and strong and/or an experienced hiker, go for it and enjoy the views!

The history here is very interesting. The abandoned pump house at the bottom of the canyon made for some neat photos despite being locked up and inaccessible (which is understandable considering its current state).

It was well worth a stop, especially when combined with exploring other historic sites and abandoned buildings in...

Such a beautiful place! Really enjoyed our time there today, first time coming here and will be back. I was expecting it to be super busy because of Memorial Day, I was pleasantly surprised how quiet and peaceful it was! The falls are honestly one of the biggest I have seen in the PNW, and I grew up here!!

The caretakers are two of the sweetest people I have ever met! My kids were playing in the sprinkler while I was in the bathroom washing my hands. Afterwards we filled our water bottles and were approached by an older man who asked how our day was going and how happy he was we came out to visit :) 10 minutes later we were still talking about how I was using a film camera to take pictures of the waterfall, and how his wife is a great photographer as well. His wife was playing in the sprinkler with my youngest daughter who was having a blast!! Honestly I could have sat there all day and just chit chatted with them both!! If nothing else go to these falls just to meet the caretakers, I wish I could remember their names (I'm horrible at remembering peoples names), but they have been there since 2012!! We will be back...