Willamette Falls

One of the largest waterfalls by volume in North America, largely hidden behind a century of industry

The Willamette Falls is a broad, horseshoe-shaped waterfall on the Willamette River, about 1.5 km from downtown Oregon City. It is one of the largest waterfalls by volume in North America — wider and more powerful than its modest fame might suggest. For most of its industrial history, the falls have been hidden behind paper mills, locks, and other works, and public access has been severely limited.

The Blue Heron Paper Mill, which occupied the site for decades, closed in 2011, and the long-delayed Willamette Falls Legacy Project has been working to restore public access to the riverfront and the falls. The Willamette Falls Locks — a historic canal lock system completed in 1873 — sit just below the falls and are the oldest multi-lift navigation locks in the United States. Check the current state of public access before visiting, as the restoration project has progressed in stages. The McLoughlin Promenade on the bluff above offers a partial view of the river in the meantime.

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A story
Willamette Falls is the second largest waterfall by volume in the United States — outdone only by Niagara. For the Indigenous Clackamas people, it was one of the most important salmon-fishing sites in the Pacific Northwest. When settlers arrived, they immediately built mills at the falls, obscuring it behind industrial works that have blocked public access for more than a century. Restoration efforts are ongoing.

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