Multnomah Falls–Franklin Ridge Loop

The Multnomah Falls–Franklin Ridge Loop is a 12.4-mile loop from Multnomah Falls Lodge, climbing above the falls, crossing Franklin Ridge, and descending through the Oneonta Creek drainage before returning west on Gorge Trail #400. It gains about 3,400 feet and loses the same on the way back. Allow about 8½ hours with short stops. The lower approach is paved and crowded; the ridge is quieter, steeper and harder to follow. Some route write-ups list 11 miles, but the connected mapped line for this full loop measures 12.35, so plan for the longer day. Choose it for a demanding tour of both creek valleys, not for a quick look at the waterfall.

From the Lodge, walk to the lower viewpoint, where the first drop is 69 feet, then take paved Larch Mountain Trail #441 up to Benson Bridge. The route steepens beyond the bridge into a succession of switchbacks. At about 1.1 miles, take the short spur to a wooden platform at the top of the upper falls, then double back to #441. The falls drop 620 feet in total across two main tiers and the small break between them; the bridge frames both drops from below, while the upper platform puts you beside the top cascade. After rejoining #441, cross Multnomah Creek, follow its west bank past small cascades, then cross back. Most of the falls-area crowd is left behind as the path climbs toward Franklin Ridge. The turn onto Trail #427 comes about 2.7 miles from the Lodge and is unmarked, so have the route loaded before reaching the junction.

Franklin Ridge Trail #427 trades the paved waterfall approach for a rougher, less-traveled climb. Its open sections look toward Mount Adams, Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River and the Oneonta Creek drainage. The path can be difficult to follow, especially at the unmarked turnoff; a navigation app or offline map is useful. Near the far side, the trail drops west of the ridge before reaching the signed junction with Oneonta Trail #424, a descent that can feel counterintuitive if you expected to stay on the crest. Follow #424 past Triple Falls and Upper Oneonta Falls to Lower Oneonta Falls. Stay left for Gorge Trail #400 back toward Multnomah Falls; the right-hand Horsetail Falls Trail leads to the Historic Highway and is a different, one-way option that needs a shuttle.

Use the large parking lot at I-84 Exit 31, between the eastbound and westbound lanes, then walk under the freeway and along the paved creek path to the Lodge. The Historic Highway has very limited roadside parking and is a poor backup in busy periods. A timed-entry reservation applies to Exit 31 arrivals during the late-May to early-September season; check the current dates before setting out. No separate permit is required to hike, and dogs must be leashed. The Lodge has a restaurant before or after the hike; no food stop is verified along the ridge or creek sections, so carry what you need for a full day.