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Archer Falls is a lofty but lacy waterfall located in a deep valley on the west side of Archer Mountain on the Washington Side of the Columbia River Gorge. The falls plummet 218 feet over a very large, very exposed, very well formed outcrop of the McCloskey Andesite formation before the creek drops under the huge expanses of talus in the canyon below the falls. Archer Creek has a very small drainage area at this point in its length, and as a result, the falls will run dry by May in most years.
- Archer Falls is the Adopted name of this waterfall.
- Known Alternate Names: Columbia Falls, Marshall Falls, Archer Creek Falls
Archer Falls is the most commonly used name for this waterfall, but it has been known by many titles. The BLM refers to it as Columbia Falls (the surrounding protected zone is the Columbia Falls Natural Area). The falls were also once known as Marshall Falls in some circles of the Mazamas, for one of their members who used to lead hikes there.
Archer Falls is located within a protected area, and the BLM asks that the falls and canyon not be approached from the bottom to protect the habitat of several endangered species native only to the Columbia Gorge. The falls are, however, distantly visible from several areas on the Oregon side of the Columbia River.
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