The White River rises on the eastern flank of Mt. Hood and flows easterly, dropping into the canyon of the Deschutes River over an attractive set of stepped waterfalls.

From 1910 through 1960, the falls were also the site of a small hydroelectric generating station. Water was diverted above the falls and run to a powerhouse near the base. The operation always had problems with siltation and was finally rendered obsolete by the completion of The Dalles Dam on the Columbia in 1960.

A steep trail runs down to the derelict powerhouse, which still contains much of the old installed equipment and also allows access to the river below the falls.