Details
Region: Columbia Gorge
Location: Multnomah Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, Multnomah County OR
DEN Rating: 7/10
Trail to Lower Viewpoint:
- Trail Length: 0.1 miles total
- Hike Time: 2 minutes each way
- Trail Surface: paved
Trail to Benson Bridge:
- Trail Length: 0.5 miles total
- Hike Time: 5-8 minutes each way
- Trail Surface: paved
Trail to Top of Falls:
- Trail Length: 2.0 miles total
- Hike Time: 30-45 minutes each way
- Trail Surface: paved with sections of dirt and rocks
Trail Type: out and back
Trail Difficulty:
- very easy 1/10 to lower viewpoint
- easy 3/10 to Benson Bridge
- moderate 6/10 to top of falls
Popularity: 10/10
Family friendly: Yes
Pet friendly: Yes
Handicapped Accessible: YES to lower viewpoint and lodge
Swimming: no
Camping: no
Restroom: flush toilets at lodge
Season: Year round
Pass or Permit: For Historic Highway lot – none required
For I-84 lot – timed entry parking permit required late May – early September 9AM – 6PM. Pass costs $0 with a $2 processing fee. Pass link: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/waterfall-corridor-permits/pages/default.aspx
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Standing at a mighty 620 feet (632 according to Nortwest Waterfall Survey – I agree with their assessment), Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest accessible waterfall and perhaps the state’s most iconic landmark. It’s close proximity to Portland and it’s ease of access make it Oregon’s most visited location as well, with over 2 million visitors per year. And simply put, it is truly beautiful.
Multnomah Falls plunges into the Columbia Gorge in two main tiers – the towering 542-foot upper tier and the shorter 69-foot lower tier, with an 11-foot cascade between the two. Benson Bridge spans the creek just above the brink of the lower tier. A short 10-foot third tier hides out of view above the main falls. Pools have formed at the base of every tier but all are inaccessible for swimming. The falls thunders during the wet season, becoming more gentle in the summer and early fall. It’s quite pretty at all flow levels, making it a great spot to return to and appreciate the seasonal variety – no matter the season, Multnomah Falls never fails to impress. There are a lot of maples in the falls vicinity which dress the scene up in autumn gold in October. During freezing weather the falls turns into a winter wonderland even if there is no snow as the mist forms huge icicles on the cliffs. And of course the spring paints the falls area in lush greens dotted with wildflowers.
There are several viewpoints. The lowest viewpoint gives the you postcard view of Multnomah Falls and is handicapped accessible. It is always busy, often packed during the summer. The view from Benson Bridge is fantastic on both sides, with a clear view of the upper tier on one side and a neat view looking over the brink of the lower tier on the other. The bridge is also a very busy spot where visitors gather to take in the views. Many visitors do not venture beyond Benson Bridge.
I’ll be fully transparent, getting a moment like what you see in the photos in this article where the bridge is empty is not the norm. In fact it is nearly impossible to catch a glimpse of the empty bridge even during freezing conditions. Multnomah Falls is literally the single most busy natural site in Oregon and most likely the entire Pacific Northwest with double the annual visitors of Crater Lake all passing by one relatively small viewpoint and then congregating on the bridge. In these photos I only had a moment to get the shot before the next person walked onto the bridge. If you are looking for solitude, look elsewhere.
Continuing up the trail is a workout – it’s half an hour of fairly steep switchbacks to the reach the Top of Falls Viewpoint, where you can look out into the Columbia Gorge and watch the water drop away as it pours over the brink of the falls. The Top of Falls Viewpoint is cleverly constructed out of heavy glass which elminates the possibility of anyone falling off, and is set back just enough that it is not visible from the lower viewpoints. The pretty 3rd tier is just to the side of the viewpoint as a little bonus. If you’ve got the time it’s definitely worth the sweat, especially in the evening as the sunset view from here is one of the best you’ll find. There are also a few other decent views of the main falls at the switchback corners en route to the viewpoint.
The viewpoint at the top of Multnomah Falls is a fantastic spot for sunset – just bring a flashlight for the trek back down to the parking area.
Sunset Over The Columbia
Patterned clouds with sunset colors are framed between evergreen branches with the colors reflected in the Columbia River below as viewed from the top of Multnomah Falls. This was one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen in the gorge, and I count myself lucky to have been at such a fantastic vantage point to … Read more
If you make it to the Top of Falls Viewpoint and you have an extra hour, take the Multnomah Creek trail upstream over the little Hobbit-esque bridge, past cascading Dutchman Falls, and through the very cool trail section beneath an overhanging cliff to Weisendanger Falls. The creek canyon is very pretty and Weisendanger Falls is a great spot to relax on the pebbly beach at the falls base. Continuing up the trail above Weisendanger Falls leads past Ecola Falls (which cannot be viewed) and up into the severely burned headwaters of Multnomah Creek. Turn right at the trail junction to continue up and over Multnomah Ridge before descending to meet the Wahkeena Creek Trail. Adding an extension to Weisendanger Falls adds around one fairly easy extra mile to the hike with an additional 150 feet or so of elevation gain. The full Multnomah – Wahkeena loop hike is one of the most popular hikes in Oregon, leading past five viewable waterfalls along with incredible views. I haven’t written an article on this full loop hike yet but when I do I will link it here.
For families with kids looking to cool off during the summer, there is a great wading area on Multnomah Creek along the path from the I-84 parking lot. It’s not scenic since it’s sandwiched between the freeway and train bridge, but it’s a very kid friendly & dog friendly spot with clean, shallow water (1-2 feet deep), gentle current, and pebbly streambed.
During the wet season keep your eyes open for Shady Creek Falls to the right of Multnomah Falls. There is no access to Shady Creek Falls due to the falls being used as a water source for Multnomah Falls Lodge and the very steep terrain below it’s two plunges. It’s actually a very pretty and fairly tall falls (180 feet) whose existence is simply overshadowed by it’s neighbor. Shady Creek Falls can be viewed from the I-84 parking lot if you stand near the little kiosk.
Cheery Multnomah Falls Lodge has welcomed visitors to this Oregon landmark since 1920. The upper floor of the lodge features a wonderful restaurant with Northwest cuisine. It’s honestly quite good and surprisingly affordable for such a seemingly upscale place, offering views of both Multnomah Falls and it’s forgotten neighbor Shady Creek Falls through the steep glass roof. Patio seating is available in the warm season and fireside seating is available in the cool season. It’s extremely popular for Sunday Brunch and is a great date spot for lunch, happy hour, or an early dinner. It’s open 9AM – 6PM daily. Yes you can make a reservation (a good idea for weekend brunch) but having a reservation does not guarantee you a parking spot!
The lower floor of the lodge includes a gift shop, snack bar, info center, and nice (but often busy) restroom facilities. There is also a coffee and ice cream cart which is normally open (occasionally closed during bad weather). A section of open picnic tables are located along the creek near the lodge as well. Multnomah Falls takes the cake for the most developed waterfall in the Pacific Northwest. Thankfully the lodge and surrounding development is tastefully done and looks like it belongs here.
The Eagle Creek Fire did leave a lasting mark on the Multnomah Falls area. The flames actually came within about 30 feet of Multnomah Falls Lodge, which was saved as a result of intensive fire-fighting efforts. Overall the fire damage is fairly low around the base of the falls and Benson Bridge but it is visible here and there. Sadly there is much more damage along the switchbacks heading up to the Top of Falls Overlook and there was some trail damage as well. Above Weisendanger Falls the damage is severe.
Multnomah Falls can get extremely busy. On summer days there is now timed entry passes to park at the main I-84 lot. The real problem is that your timed entry pass does not guarantee there will be a parking spot available – sometimes people stick around for all day. There are shuttle buses that run during the high season, and when the I-84 lot gets full the gate closes so that you have to use the shuttle bus service (reader boards along I-84 will indicate if this is the case). If you’re on the Historic Highway and lot is full you should head to nearby Wahkeena Falls (0.4 miles west on the Historic Highway), park there, and take the short connector trail through the forest to Multnomah Falls. During the high season there is also a shuttle trolley that stops at all of the major Historic Highway sites including Multnomah Falls. My high-season strategy is to go to Multnomah Falls on summer evenings after 6PM after the timed entry permits are done for the day – there are far less people in the evening and the light is even throughout the waterfall area.
Multnomah Falls as viewed from the main lower viewpoint on a pleasant September evening. I waited here for about 20 minutes before the bridge finally cleared for a few seconds. In the middle of the day it is virtually impossible to get a photo without anyone on the bridge.
Multnomah Falls Classic – H
Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest major waterfall and also it’s most visited natural location, with over 2 million visitors annually. Getting a shot like this with no one on Benson Bridge took both timing and patience. The trick is to visit either early in the morning or around sunset when fewer people are around and … Read more
Cautions
Overall this is a very safe location up to Benson Bridge – no big dropoffs and the trail is paved with trailside railings. Beyond the bridge the trail has some rough and uneven patches due to fire damage, and the elevation gain is nearly 700 feet in a mile so it’s not just a pleasant stroll to the top of the falls. You will sweat. Bring water. A tumble from the Top of Falls Viewpoint would be fatal but the viewpoint is well-designed so accidents here are essentially impossible. A few patches of poison oak lurk trailside between Benson Bridge and the Top of Falls Viewpoint.
Getting There
There are two parking lots for Multnomah Falls. The biggest lot is directly off I-84 exit 31. The smaller lot is opposite Multnomah Falls Lodge on the Historic Columbia River Highway, which can be accessed via Ainsworth State Park exit 35 or Bridal Veil exit 28 (eastbound traffic only). If you’re on the Historic Highway and the lot is full, try parking at Wahkeena Falls (0.4 miles west) and walking the pretty connector trail to the lodge.
Photographer’s Tip
Patience. This is the most visited location in Oregon. I normally visit Multnomah Falls either on cloudy bad-weather days or in the evening as there are less people. Set up your gear and wait for the short window when the bridge is empty. Like many spots in the Columbia Gorge, the falls will be backlit around midday in June and July. There is decent autumn color around the falls, and dramatic terraces of icicles can form quickly in freezing weather. When the creek is running full there can be a lot of mist on the bridge which makes shooting the upper tier of the falls from the bridge difficult. There are amazing sunset views at the Top of Falls Viewpoint and about 200 yards before the viewpoint along the trail.
The classic view of Multnomah Falls from the lower viewpoint. It’s late summer and the flow has reduced significantly, revealing a soft and gentle side to Oregon’s most visited waterfall.
Multnomah Falls Classic – V
Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s tallest major waterfall and also it’s most visited natural location, with over 2 million visitors annually. Getting a shot like this with no one on Benson Bridge took both timing and patience. The trick is to visit either early in the morning or around sunset when fewer people are around and … Read more
The blue hour emphasizes the aquamarine tones in the icicles surrounding Multnomah Falls after a major series of winter storms in January 2017. The falls are a spectacle any time of year, but become almost surreal when Jack Frost visits and the wind grows bitingly cold. Winter scenes like this don’t last long, often disappearing completely within a matter of days.
Multnomah Falls In Winter
January 2017 saw a string of winter storms and freezing conditions which lasted for well over a week throughout the Pacific Northwest, closing the I-84 freeway through the Columbia Gorge for several days. The moment it opened I braved the icy pavement and 50 mph headwind to reach the frozen wonderland that Multnomah Falls had … Read more
Links
General Links:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=30026
https://oregon.com/attractions/multnomah_falls
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/oregon/multnomah-falls-trail
https://www.nps.gov/articles/multnomah-falls.htm
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Multnomah-Falls-4051
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/multnomah_falls_hike
Multnomah Falls Lodge:
https://www.multnomahfallslodge.com
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/crgnsa/recarea/?recid=30028
Weisendanger and Dutchman Falls:
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Wiesendanger-Falls-4049
https://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/waterfall/Dutchman-Falls-4048
Timed Entry Permit (I-84 lot, summer only):
https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10089144
https://www.oregon.gov/odot/waterfall-corridor-permits/pages/default.aspx
Transportation Options:
https://www.waterfalltrolley.com
The top of Multnomah Falls is one of the best spots in the Columbia Gorge for sunset, where cameras can zoom in on this view of sunset colors reflected off the mighty Columbia River’s rippling waters. Just bring a flashlight for the hike back down to the parking area.
Fire On The Water
The top of Multnomah Falls is one of the best spots in the Columbia Gorge for sunset, where those that make the trek are rewarded with this view of sunset colors reflected off the mighty Columbia River’s rippling waters deep in the gorge below. I returned a few times with my zoom lens to capture … Read more
