Fairy Falls is a 20-foot fan-shaped waterfall on a spring-fed tributary of Wahkeena Creek in the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, Oregon. Small as it is, it sits on Wahkeena Trail 420 above Wahkeena Falls, and Wikipedia notes it is popular with photographers.
The falls
The falls form a single 20-foot veiling horsetail about 10 feet wide, spilling down a rock wall on an unnamed tributary. Ledges of basalt split the water into lacy strands over a mossy, fern-lined slide, and a second mossy slide marks where the tributary meets Wahkeena Creek. Springs feed the stream, so it runs all year.
Getting there
The hike starts at the Wahkeena Falls trailhead on the Historic Columbia River Highway, which has a toilet with running water. No pass is required. Wahkeena Trail 420 climbs past Wahkeena Falls and Lemmons Viewpoint, then turns inland to Fairy Falls, about 1.2 miles from the trailhead with 500 feet of gain. Willamette Week described the trail in September 2026 as official and well maintained. A 5-mile loop also returns by way of Multnomah Falls on the Larch Mountain Trail.
When to go
The falls flow year-round, fed by springs.
On site
WTA lists dogs as allowed on leash.
History and name
A University of Oregon archive photograph labels the falls Ghost Falls.
Nearby
Little Necktie Falls is about 0.2 mile away, and Wahkeena Falls about 0.3 mile, both on Wahkeena Creek. Mist Falls is about 0.5 mile away and Multnomah Falls about 0.6 mile.
Distances are straight-line.