"Elowah Falls is the most overlooked major waterfall in the entire Gorge... Whereas Multnomah may be plagued with 10,000 visitors per summer day, Elowah may see only 30-50 that same day."

"In 1916 the United States geological survey determined the height of the falls to be 221 feet."

"Note, in my book I state that Elowah Falls is 289 feet high. This is incorrect. Though the height of 289 feet is commonly stated, the true height of Elowah Falls is about 220 feet, with Upper McCord falls being an additional 69 feet, thus totaling the oft-stated figure of 289 feet. Various waterfall websites have corrected their estimates also: here is the entry on Northwest Waterfall Survey: http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/waterfall.php?num=1933."

"I measured the falls to be 213 feet tall, but my rangefinder generally has a margin of error of about +/-10 feet. So....vindication! Scott, is that your blog? If so good work digging up that info!"

"At certain places along the trail to the falls its possible to see Elowah and a part of Upper McCord Creek Falls in tandem, which could have possibly led to the idea that it was one series of waterfalls. Turns out the USGS had sent a survey team to determine the height of the falls in 1916 - their efforts produced a height of 221 feet. We measured the falls in 2009 to be 213 feet tall, so the only way the height of 289 feet could have materialized is if Upper McCord Creek Falls were included."

"Elowah falls is an indian name and was given the falls in 1915 by a committee representing the Mazamas and other organizations."

"This waterfall was named by a Mazamas committee in 1916. It had been called Pierce falls up to that point."

"...the falls were known as McCord Creek Falls, but in 1915 the Mazamas successfully had the falls renamed to Elowah - the meaning of which is unknown. Apparently around the time when the name was changed, the falls were also known as Pierce Falls."

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"When the original Columbia River Gorge Highway was constructed, the road crossed McCord Creek at approximately the same place Interstate 84 does today, but the falls were completely visible at the time (they can't be seen from the highway now unless the trees are bare)."

Actually, it crossed exactly where the westbound lanes are today, and the falls are visible in a quick and fleeting, partially obscured glimpse if one knows exactly where to look. In the early days of the highway, I am sure many would stop and look from the bridge.

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