Multnomah Falls to Devil’s Rest

This 8.4-mile out-and-back starts at Multnomah Falls Lodge and climbs 2,368 feet to Devil’s Rest. It links the Falls’ overlooks and Multnomah Creek’s smaller cascades with a wooded summit and a rocky Gorge outlook just before it. Allow about five and a half hours. It is a strenuous half-day hike, with steep climbing early and again on the ridge.

From the Lodge, reach the lower-falls overlook, then climb paved Trail #441 to Benson Bridge. Beyond the bridge, tight switchbacks lead toward a wooden overlook near the upper tier’s brink. Return to #441 and continue beside Multnomah Creek past smaller cascades. The 620-foot waterfall is spring-fed from nearby Larch Mountain; six Grande Ronde Basalt flows in its cliff record more than 400,000 years of Gorge geology. From the wooden platform, frame Benson Bridge between the two tiers. The Falls approach is crowded, especially in the first 1.5 miles.

At the signed junction, turn onto Wahkeena Trail #420 for a gentler climb of about 0.7 mile, then take #420C for another steep climb. After roughly 0.6 mile the grade eases along the ridge; old-growth trees and patches recovering from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire break up intermittent views. A brushy spur reaches a rocky ledge about 0.2 mile before Devil’s Rest; it is a better Gorge viewpoint than the wooded summit and may show Mount Adams on clear days. At the final Y, keep right for the survey marker at the rocky outcrop.

The large free lot is at I-84 Exit 31; it fills early and the entrance closes when full. A timed reservation is required during the summer parking season, but no separate hiking permit is needed. Leashed dogs are allowed. The Lodge’s snack bar and restaurant are at the trailhead, not along the route. The upper trail is snow-dependent in winter, and uneven footing continues through the switchbacks.