Yosemite Falls is often bone dry in October, but this Columbia Gorge waterfall is just getting good

Yosemite Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, and in October it is often a streak of wet rock. If a thundering waterfall is the whole reason for your fall road trip, this is the month to point your car somewhere else.

The good news: the West Coast has a waterfall that does the exact opposite. It sits in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, and it gets better as the rain moves in.

---

Psst, we made you a West Coast Adventure Map. Nearly 1,900 of our favorite spots, already pinned, ready to load into Google Maps in two clicks: grab it here.

---

Why Yosemite Falls goes quiet

Yosemite Falls drops 2,425 feet in three tiers, and it runs entirely on snowmelt. Flow peaks in late spring, then the water thins out, and the National Park Service says the falls are often dry from late July or August through October.

Don’t cancel the trip, though. The Lower Yosemite Fall trail is an easy, paved 1-mile loop with about 50 feet of elevation gain, and it stays open year-round. Park staff have noted that the water typically returns around November, once the storms and snow come back, so a late-fall visit can catch the revival.

Wahclella Falls, the one that likes the wet months

Wahclella Falls in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is a 1.9-mile round trip with about 300 feet of climbing, so it’s a gentle outing rather than a slog. The trail winds up a mossy canyon to a lower cascade that drops roughly 60 feet into a pool, and the whole place feels like a hidden amphitheater.

Fall is when it shows off. Foliage color is usually peaking by early October, salmon spawn in the stream and at the base of the falls in late autumn, and winter snowmelt and rain often make the falls roar. In winter, a third cascade sometimes appears above the upper tier. That’s a better waterfall payoff than a dry cliff, and it’s my pick for any November trip.

One honest note: skip the trail during or right after heavy rain. The area burned in the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, and flash flood and landslide risk is real on wet days. Check with the Forest Service for current trail conditions before you drive out, and park with a Northwest Forest Pass on the dash (a national forest day pass also works).

How to build the trip

Yosemite and the Columbia Gorge are a long haul apart, so treat them as two separate fall getaways rather than one loop. Pick the Sierra for crisp-air valley walks and the possibility of returning water, and pick the Gorge when you want a waterfall that’s far more likely to be earning its name.

Which one is going on your list first? Tell us where you’re headed this fall.

Trip tips: grab a rental car to get out here, lock in your hotel before the good rooms are gone, or skip both and book a camper van instead.

Rules and fees change, so always confirm current requirements before you go.