MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. – The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office coordinated a multi-agency effort resulting in the successful rescue of a critically-injured teenager who fell down a 100-foot embankment while hiking the Elowah Falls Trail, east of Warrendale.

The rescue included a combination of ground teams, including the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Green Hornets, Cascade Locks Fire, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (MCSO SAR) and Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue (PNW SAR).

At approximately 6:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026, the Bureau of Emergency Communications received information about a 17-year-old who was hiking with his family in the John Yeon State Scenic Corridor. The teen reportedly fell off the main trail, landing on rough terrain around McCord Creek. He sustained significant injuries.

Rescuers used technical rope systems and a litter basket to lift the teenager.  More than a dozen SAR volunteers and rescue workers carried the injured hiker out of the wilderness and through the creek bed to the paved Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail.

All search and rescue teams returned with the teen to the command post by 10:30 p.m. An AMR ambulance was standing by to transport the teen to Cascade Locks Airport. From there, a LifeFlight helicopter transferred him to a hospital to be treated for critical injuries.

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office extends its appreciation to Cascade Locks Fire, MCSO SAR, PNW SAR, and AMR for their assistance in this complex operation.

The teen remains in an area hospital. No additional information is available at this time.

Photos from the incident are being released. Please credit the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in full. Because there are multiple 'MCSO' agencies within Oregon (including Marion, Morrow, and Malheur counties), using the full name of the sheriff’s office ensures better accuracy.

About MCSOSAR 
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (MCSOSAR) team is a volunteer organization whose objective is to serve the community by searching for and rescuing lost or injured persons in wilderness or urban areas, assisting with evacuations during emergencies, assisting law enforcement with evidence searches, and educating the public. MCSOSAR is the primary search and rescue resource for Multnomah County and the western Columbia River Gorge.