Hole-in-the-Wall Falls sits inside Starvation Creek State Park, so the walk in comes with the park around it: marked trails, signed junctions and, usually, other things worth a stop on the same day.
What brings people back to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is how different it looks from one visit to the next. A wet spring week and a dry August afternoon can feel like two different places.
Geology and background
What makes Hole-in-the-Wall Falls special
Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, also known as Warren Falls, is a 96-foot man-made waterfall on Warren Creek in Starvation Creek State Park, Hood River County, Oregon. Its main drop is 60 feet. It is a waterfall built by engineers, not by geology, and that is what makes it worth seeing.
It was created in 1938, when Warren Creek was diverted through a tunnel to prevent washouts of the Columbia River Highway. The diversion worked: the highway stopped washing out. The price was the natural cascade the creek had made, Warren Creek Falls, which was shut off when the water was sent through the tunnel instead. One waterfall was traded for another, and the man-made one has been running ever since.
Its neighbours are very close. Lower Lancaster Falls is 0.2 miles away, Lancaster Falls 0.2 miles away and Cabin Creek Falls 0.3 miles away, so this stretch of the gorge holds several falls within a short walk of each other.
There is no ancient geology behind Hole-in-the-Wall Falls. It dates to 1938, when Warren Creek was diverted through a tunnel to protect the Columbia River Highway from washouts. The tunnel turned a road-engineering fix into a waterfall: the creek now drops 96 feet, with a 60-foot main drop, where the tunnel sends it out. The natural Warren Creek Falls, the cascade the creek had formed on its own, was shut off by the same diversion.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal: the gorge is deep and reception is patchy.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, so recent rain is your best guide. Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
The Columbia River Gorge is one of Oregon’s busiest outdoor areas. Arrive early or late: the middle of a summer weekend is peak time, and the trailhead lots along the gorge can be full by late morning.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes: leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise. Do not enter the tunnel the creek was diverted through.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Pair it with Lancaster Falls and Lower Lancaster Falls, both 0.2 miles away.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Remember this fall is man-made: the 1938 tunnel is the story, and the viewpoint is the place to take it in.
Check the Starvation Creek State Park page on the day for closures.
Most waterfalls form where a stream crosses from hard rock onto softer rock. The soft layer wears away faster, the hard lip is left overhanging, and over thousands of years the fall slowly cuts its way upstream.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Flow tends to peak in spring with snowmelt and seasonal rain, and again for a day or two after a big storm. By late summer smaller falls can drop to a thin ribbon.
The trail and the viewpoint
We do not have a trail length for Hole-in-the-Wall Falls yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
Facilities depend on Starvation Creek State Park: larger parks usually have a signed trailhead, restrooms and a parking area, while smaller reserves may have none of these.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
No entry fee is listed. Parks may still charge for parking or day use, and federal lands often accept an annual pass instead.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Hole-in-the-Wall Falls
Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is in Starvation Creek State Park, Oregon. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (45.68612, -121.70205) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our Oregon waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Hole-in-the-Wall Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Weekday mornings are the quietest. On summer weekends, popular falls can fill their parking by mid-morning, and the viewpoint becomes a queue.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Hole-in-the-Wall Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Hole-in-the-Wall Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, Oregon located?
Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is in Starvation Creek State Park, Oregon. Its GPS coordinates are 45.68612, -121.70205.
What kind of waterfall is Hole-in-the-Wall Falls, Oregon?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Hole-in-the-Wall Falls?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
No fee is listed, though parking or day-use fees may apply. Most falls are open dawn to dusk; check the managing agency for seasonal closures.
Is Hole-in-the-Wall Falls good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Hole-in-the-Wall Falls is worth a detour, especially after rain. Check the flow before you go, start early to beat the crowds, and stay well back from the edge.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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