Shannon B.
Yelp
With so many beautiful parks and trails along Columbia River Gorge's "Waterfall Alley", you might decide to drive right on past Starvation Creek on your way to Hood River from Portland (or vice versa), and that would be alright with me. The fewer folks that stop here, the more peaceful and pristine these falls will remain.
I could not believe how lucky I was to have this place all to myself (well, along with my 10-year-old and his dad). We visited on a Friday afternoon in August and spent about an hour just marveling at the beauty here, with nary another soul gracing our path.
After a brutal hike up to Angel's Rest (1200 feet of elevation gain!) on a previous day, we were so happy to be able to access these 190-feet, 2-tiered falls with just a short, easy walk from the parking/rest area. Without much effort at all, we were able to enjoy these falls, take plenty of pictures, and play a bit in the creek as if it were our own private oasis.
From the restrooms, take the eastward path up the hill, following the right fork at the historical marker which tells the tale of a Union Pacific train stranded here during a snow storm in December 1884.
You can see most of the falls from the shaded picnic tables, but if you want to get the best view, you need to be willing to do some dry climbing to the right, or some wet creek crossing to the left - your choice. For the creek, you'll want to wear some grippy water shoes, as those rocks are slippery. Bring your backpack of goodies and you'll find a nice concrete pad up top where you can have a sweet picnic or cold brew if you wish.
This place was easily one of our favorite experiences while visiting Oregon.
The following linked map is quite handy for choosing your stops along the Historic Columbia River Highway (HCRH): http://oregonstateparks.org/ckFiles/files/HCRH_BikeMaps.pdf
And this hike guide gives info about the trails and other falls which can be reached via Starvation Creek State Park. https://gorgefriends.org/hike-the-gorge/starvation-creek-ridge-loop.html