Umbrella Falls Hike
Waterfall · about 59 ft high | Oregon
4.1 mi loop
840 ft
Moderate
Umbrella Falls Hike at a Glance
The Umbrella Falls hike is 4.1 mi loop with 840 ft of elevation gain.
| Falls height | About 59 ft |
|---|---|
| Elevation at the falls | ≈ 5,300 ft |
| Distance | 4.1 mi loop |
| Elevation gain | 840 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Your time: about 1 h 45 min of moving time at Naismith pace (3 mph plus 1 hour per 2,000 ft climbed); about 2 h 15 min at a relaxed pace. A 160 lb hiker with a daypack burns roughly 1,010 kcal.
Adjust for your pace and breaks →Route line not shown. The 4.1 mi distance and 840 ft of gain for this hike are verified (oregonhikers.org), but we don't yet have a trail track we trust, so the map shows only the destination. Carry an official map.
About Umbrella Falls
Umbrella Falls is a waterfall in Oregon, about 59 feet high, on land managed by Mt. Hood National Forest. Its height is from waterfallsnorthwest.com.
The Hike
The hike to the falls follows the Umbrella Falls Trail: 4.1 miles as a loop with about 840 feet of elevation gain, from Elk Meadows Trailhead. Distance from oregonhikers.org. By the National Park Service difficulty formula (distance against climb) that puts it at Moderate.
Before You Go
- A Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) is required. (oregonhikers.org)
- Umbrella Falls Trail is usually snowed in from mid-November to early June. (hikingproject.com)
- A self-issued wilderness permit is required and wilderness rules apply. (oregonhikers.org)
- Rock around waterfalls is slick when wet; stay on the trail and back from the edge.
- Check Mt. Hood National Forest for current conditions, closures and parking before you go.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the hike to Umbrella Falls?
The Umbrella Falls Trail to Umbrella Falls is 4.1 miles as a loop with about 840 feet of elevation gain.
Where does the Umbrella Falls hike start?
It starts from Elk Meadows Trailhead.
How tall is Umbrella Falls?
Umbrella Falls is about 59 feet high.
Is there a fee to hike to Umbrella Falls?
A Northwest Forest Pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) is required.
Safety Information
Current Hazards
- Slippery wet rock near the falls
- Fast, high water after rain or snowmelt
- Check weather before departure
Turn-Around Time
1:00 PM (2:00 PM summer)
Plan to reach the falls by this time so you are back before dark.
Essential Gear Checklist
* Critical items - do not hike without these
Emergency Contacts
Emergency / Search & Rescue
911Point Forecast
NWS Point Forecast →In most of the US, backcountry search and rescue is dispatched through 911 — tell the operator you have a hiker emergency and your GPS coordinates.
Downloads
Sources for The Umbrella Falls Guide
Where the trail data, elevation and route line on this page come from.
- Verified against
- oregonhikers.org
- Distance
- oregonhikers.org
- Falls height
- waterfallsnorthwest.com
- Falls location
- waterfallsnorthwest.com
- Elevation
- ≈ Copernicus GLO-90 elevation model at the falls coordinates (via Open-Meteo)
Conditions change. Check the land manager for closures, fees and weather before you go.
Nearby Hikes
Other hikes within 30 miles of Umbrella Falls.