NW Waterfall Survey: Lancaster Falls

Height: 303 feet

Tallest Drop: 231 feet

Num. Drops: 2

Stream: Wonder Creek

Lancaster Falls is one of a trio of waterfalls seen along the Mount Defiance Trail in the central Columbia River Gorge. The trail passes immediately below the falls, allowing up close access to the final 20 feet of the falls. However this is just a fraction of a much taller waterfall. Wonder Creek heads in a spring high up the mountain, sending a small but extremely consistent volume of water plunging 231 feet over a mossy cliff, then channeling into a narrow slot and fluming down about 50 feet before plunging the final 20 feet adjacent to the trail. The upper falls can be easily seen from Interstate 84 and from across the Columbia River, but foot access is only possible via a very steep, extremely crumbly climb up the adjacent slope. Those who do wish to attempt to get close, wear long pants because poison oak is profuse in the area.

This waterfall did not have a name until 1970, when at the suggestion of Gertrude Jensen and Donald Sterling the Oregon Board of Geographic Names gave its title for Samuel C Lancaster, the engineer responsible for designing and constructing much of the original Columbia River Gorge Highway.

"The waterfall seems small at first glance, but from the right angle, the large upper tier is visible through the trees."

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