About Latourell Falls Trailhead (Guy W. Talbot)
Guy W. Talbot State Park, also known as Latourell State Park, is a quiet picnic area located on the Historic Columbia River Highway across from the trail to Upper Latourell Falls. The park features a modern picnic shelter available for rent and a gently sloping grassy hill shaded by Port Orford cedars, Douglas-firs, alders, and maples, ideal for relaxation or casual games. A short walk beneath a historic 1914 bridge leads to the base of Lower Latourell Falls, a 224-foot cascade over columnar basalt adorned with chartreuse lichen.
For a moderate 2-mile hike, follow the Latourell Falls Loop trail, accessible via a staircase up to the highway. The trail winds over rocky terrain, through dense forest, and across four small wooden bridges, following Latourell Creek to Upper Latourell Falls—the third tallest waterfall in the Columbia Gorge. This two-tiered falls features a hidden block drop followed by a plunge into a pool, with the return route crossing to the opposite bank of the creek. The upper falls and surrounding trail lie within George W. Joseph State Natural Area, donated to the state in 1934 and 1942. The park borders the small town of Latourell, and visitors are asked to respect private property.