Starvation Creek State Park

Tucked along the Historic Columbia River Highway in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, Starvation Creek State Park delivers one of Oregon’s most accessible waterfall experiences. The park’s centerpiece — Starvation Creek Falls — plunges 186 feet down a basalt cliff face and is visible just steps from the parking area, making it ideal for travelers who want a stunning payoff without a punishing hike.

The park sits at a former rest stop along Interstate 84, roughly 10 miles west of Hood River. Despite its compact size, it serves as a launching point for some of the Gorge’s best trail connections. The Starvation Creek to Viento trail links to neighboring state parks along the old highway route, winding through Douglas fir forest with periodic views of the Columbia River below. The Mount Defiance Trail, one of the most grueling day hikes in the Gorge, also starts nearby — gaining nearly 5,000 feet over roughly six miles to panoramic summit views.

Starvation Creek is a day-use park only, so you won’t find camping here. Viento State Park, just two miles west, offers tent and RV sites if you need a basecamp. Spring is the prime season — snowmelt swells the falls to their most dramatic between April and June, and wildflowers line the surrounding trails. Summer brings drier conditions and thinner falls but warmer temperatures for longer hikes.

Come for the waterfall, stay for the trail network. It’s a small park that punches well above its weight.

Explore Nearby

• Lost Lake sits within the Widow Mountain Wilderness Study Area — Public Land
• Historic Columbia River Highway — Scenic Byway in Oregon
• Little Mountain Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Washington
• Sandy Wild and Scenic River — Public Land in Oregon
• Mount Hood National Forest — National Forest in Oregon