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Latourelle Falls, Oregon, in autumn.

by Bonnie Moreland
Latourell Falls
10/23/2019

The falls plunge 224 feet over a massive wall of columnar basalt - some of the best formations in the Pacific Northwest - before cascading hastily towards the Columbia River. This waterfall is usually most recognized for the large patch of bright yellow lichen adorning the cliff face to the right of the falls, and this characteristic has led many famous photographers to give this location their treatment. The falls were named for Joseph Latourell, a well known settler of the area. It isn't known exactly when the falls were officially named. In 1887 Joseph Latourell was named postmaster of the Rooster Rock Post Office, one of the first in the area. Apparently the pronunciation of this waterfall is closer to the word lateral, then the fancy french way I was attempting.