United States · Oregon
Celilo Falls
Celilo Falls was a tribal fishing area on the Columbia River, just east of the Cascade Mountains, on what is today the border between the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Celilo Falls drops over a series of steps on the Columbia River. It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Oregon, United States. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Celilo Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Oregon are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
Getting there
- Base town Oregon, United States
- Country United States
- Region Oregon, United States, North America
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Celilo Falls
United States
Height—Width—
Most similar
Churchill River
Canada
Height—Width—
Also a cascade waterfall and in Canada
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
We don't have a reliable crest width for Celilo Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
45.64945, -120.97792
Quick answers
Where is Celilo Falls?
Celilo Falls is in United States (Oregon). The nearest base is Oregon, United States. Its coordinates are 45.6495, -120.9779.
When is the best time to visit Celilo Falls?
Peak flow is April to June. Snowmelt-driven: April to June is the big-water window, and some falls almost disappear by late summer.
What can you do at Celilo Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Celilo Falls?
The usual base is Oregon, United States. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
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