I'm surprised that nobody has posted a review for this park yet, but heeeey... I'm happy to be the first one! Best known for its' ravishing views of Latourell Falls, Guy W. Talbot State Park is a small park located off of the US-30 better known as the East Historic Columbia River Highway. It's located just a few miles past the Vista House at Crown Point, so it's a great stop off if you are planning on visiting the Vista House, Bridal Veil, or Multnomah Falls.
When pulling into the parking lot, you'll notice two trails; one leading behind the viewpoint and one that leads downward towards the falls. The trail leading up will take you to the top of the falls and it continues onward from there. I was able to make it to the top of the falls, but I turned around since I was limited on time. The trail seems to continue upward behind the top of the falls. The hike up to the top is short but it's all uphill. I would rate it easy to moderate depending on your skill level, but it's less than a mile to reach the top and the incline is gradual. I would still recommend hiking shoes or at least shoes with good traction since the trail can be wet and muddy, especially after rainfall.
If you're not into hiking, you can easily access the viewpoint from the parking lot! There's a good amount of space to set a tripod up if you want to get the perfect picture. The paved path leading down to the falls will take you so close that you'll feel like it's sprinkling outside! The view up close is just something close to amazing! There's adorable bridge on the other side that connects to a trail that will take you underneath the US-30 overpass. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to follow the trail, but I'm thinking that it might connect to the trail that leads to the top of the falls.
When I got to the park around 9:30 am, there was virtually nobody there and tons of parking available. But when I left, I noticed that the parking spots started filling up. I went on a rainy Sunday morning, but I can only imagine how busy this park gets during the spring and summer! There are a few benches to rest or to have lunch if you choose to do so. There are also restrooms available, but they're the non-flushable toilets, so hold your nose on the way in! I would definitely recommend to stop here and explore on the way to Multnomah Falls! Latourell Falls is gorgeous and the trails are really peaceful. read more