Kwanesum Falls is a waterfall on Moffett Creek in Multnomah County, Oregon, in the Cascades region, with a total height of about 145 feet. It lies about 5.8 miles southwest of Cascade Locks and roughly 23.6 miles east of Gresham as the crow flies.
At 145 feet it stands in the tallest quarter of Oregon’s 425 waterfalls with a recorded height, ranking 68th; the typical Oregon waterfall is about 54 feet.
The Cascades are a high volcanic range of snow-capped peaks, deep glacial valleys and dense conifer forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock and true firs, with abundant rain and snow on the western slopes. Basalt cliffs and lava flows give the region one of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in the country. Moffett Creek carries 10 recorded waterfalls, and Kwanesum Falls is the tallest of them.
There are 71 recorded waterfalls in Multnomah County. Wauneka Falls, is under a mile away. Apocalypse Falls, 25 feet high, is under a mile away. Upper Moffett Falls, 45 feet high, is under a mile away.
Kwanesum Falls is located at 45.6052° N, 121.9681° W. The listing is based on the World Waterfall Database, one of the sources compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey in its inventory of waterfalls and rapids of the conterminous United States. The creek name is confirmed against the federal Geographic Names Information System. The exact position has not yet been verified on aerial imagery, so treat the map pin as approximate. Details on trails, parking and access have not been documented for this waterfall yet.