Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is a two-tier waterfall on Multnomah Creek, where a drop of about 620 feet cuts through a basalt cliff in the Columbia River Gorge. From the lower viewing area you can see the whole shape: a high, narrow upper fall spills past a bridge, then the creek drops again into a broad lower cascade and pool. This is one of Oregon’s best-known natural landmarks, with more than two million visitors a year, so expect company. The height and the way the water divides into two very different falls make it worth a stop on a Gorge drive.

The paved walk to the base view is short. For a closer look, climb to Benson Bridge; the path is only 0.2 mile each way but gains 335 feet, with short pitches as steep as 16 percent. The climb is paved, but it is not level or ADA-compliant. The base still gives you the full falls, so there is no need to take on the hill if that approach does not suit you.

Benson Bridge crosses Multnomah Creek between the two tiers, 105 feet above the lower falls. From the bridge you can look up toward the upper drop, then down toward the lower cascade and pool. It is the signature close view, and the best place to make a photograph that shows how the two parts fit together. Keep the bridge in the frame with the upper fall rising behind it, or angle down to include the lower pool. The bridge can be crowded, so leave room for people to cross and take turns at the railing.

Above the bridge, a steep route climbs through mossy, ferny forest on 11 switchbacks to an overlook near the top. That is a worthwhile extension if you want more hiking and a view over the cliff, but it is a separate effort from the easy base stop. The lower viewpoint and bridge already give you two close, distinct perspectives.

Look across the cliff and you can pick out six layers of Grande Ronde Basalt. They record more than 400,000 years of volcanic history, exposed here as Multnomah Creek cuts through the rock. The creek is fed by underground springs from nearby Larch Mountain, so the falls run year-round; flow is usually strongest in winter and spring.

The reinforced-concrete Benson Bridge was built in 1914 as part of the Columbia River Highway project, proposed by engineer Samuel Lancaster and funded by Portland lumberman Simon Benson. A subcontractor left the mark “R. L. Ringer, 1914” hidden in the concrete; winter frost later exposed it. The historic lodge beside the falls dates to 1925 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From Interstate 84, use Exit 31 and follow the pedestrian underpass beneath the highway and railway to reach the lodge and falls area. The Columbia Gorge Express also stops here. There is parking, but the lot is limited and popular weekends can be busy. If you only want the main attraction, the base and bridge are enough; the upper overlook is a steep add-on. Hikers looking for a longer day can connect with the Wahkeena and Return trails for a roughly 5.5-mile loop past several waterfalls.

The lodge has a restaurant, espresso stand and gift shop, handy for a meal or coffee before or after the walk. There is also visitor information at the falls.