It was 8:00 am. My mom and I were driving along I-84 toward my grandma’s place in Idaho for Thanksgiving. We’d gotten up early for the 7-hour drive. As we neared the exit for Multnomah Falls, I realized this was a unique opportunity.
The Multnomah Falls parking lot is usually packed, so Bryan and I never go, despite living only 30 minutes’ drive from Oregon’s most famous waterfall. I looked back at the clock. We were only 30 minutes into our long drive to Idaho, but…
“Let’s check out Multnomah Falls on the way,” I said. “It’s the tallest waterfall in Oregon.”
I pictured we’d make a quick stop and admire the waterfall. But it wasn’t until 3 hours later that we returned to the car, hungry and certainly running late, but happy. Beyond the Multnomah Falls main viewpoint is a 5.1-mile loop hike that takes you right up to the top of Multnomah Falls and then past 5 more waterfalls before returning to Multnomah Falls itself.
Most people miss the Multnomah Falls hike and see only the waterfall from the parking lot viewpoint. Make sure not to miss the stunning world of waterfalls beyond the postcard view at the entrance! In today’s post, I’ll share the highlights of the Multnomah Falls hike and everything you need to know to experience it yourself. Stay tuned for a video preview of the hike later in this post.
Starting out on the Multnomah Falls Hike
The Multnomah Falls parking lot was miraculously not full when we arrived around 8:00 am. Crossing the pedestrian bridge from the parking lot to the waterfall viewpoint, we glanced over the bridge railing.
“Are those salmon?” I exclaimed, squinting at the creek below.
It was late November, the end of the fall salmon run, and the salmon were indeed returning to Multnomah Creek to spawn. It’s easy to be distracted by the giant waterfall, but if you go in fall, make sure to look out for salmon as well!
After ogling the salmon for a few minutes, we looked ahead to the huge waterfall. It rose behind a busy pedestrian square anchored by a stone lodge. Despite the early hour, the square was already lively with people wandering to and fro, buying food from sidewalk vendors. The scent of candied nuts wafted over from a food cart. All around, visitors were chatting and staring up at the waterfall.
We stared up at it, too. Multnomah Falls is a two-tiered waterfall, plunging from high cliffs before leveling out and then plunging further. A stone footbridge crosses the waterfall at the midpoint.
We made our way up the path to the bridge. It’s a very short, 0.2-mile paved walk to the bridge from the entrance.
“Wow!” exclaimed my mom from the bridge. Looking down, the powerful lower waterfall plunged into a mossy stone basin below. We watched the water continue downstream through a channel deeply cut into moss-covered cliffs.
Beyond the bridge, the trail started climbing in steep switchbacks up the hillside toward the top of Multnomah Falls. We found ourselves drawn to those switchbacks. The top of the falls were only another 0.8 miles past the bridge, after all…
“Switchback 1 of 11!” announced my mom, pointing to a signpost.
Then she quickly outpaced me, disappearing around the corner. I grinned and hurried to catch up.
As we climbed, views of the Columbia River materialized before us. We left the crowd below at the lower falls and the bridge. By the time we reached switchback 7, other hikers passed only occasionally. The hike had already been beautiful, but now it was peaceful, too.
Viewpoint at the Top of Multnomah Falls
At the top of Multnomah Falls, a circular, wood-planked platform rimmed with railings forms an upper viewpoint. When I reached it, my mom was already on the platform.
She turned, her eyes wide, and pointed over the railing.
I peered over the edge. The top of the falls was right there, the water disappearing out of sight. I caught a spell of vertigo as my gaze followed a stream of water down the plunge.
On the other side of the circular platform, the waterfall’s top tier cascades down a short rockfall. This upper cascade is totally obscured from sight from the lower viewpoint, so it doesn’t make it into any of the iconic Multnomah Falls photos.
The Multnomah Falls Hike Beyond the Top of the Falls
After seeing the top of Multnomah Falls, we were hooked. A trail map posted near the viewpoint showed the trail continuing, passing several other waterfalls. We thought again of the long drive to Idaho, but decided it’d be fine. We’d just have to hike fast to avoid a long drive to Idaho in the dark.
The trail beyond the top of Multnomah Falls gets narrower and uneven in places, but it’s in good condition. It’s fine as long as no one in your group needs to walk on even surfaces.
At the next signpost, we studied the distance markers. The map showed a loop trail starting at Multnomah Falls and ending at Wahkeena Falls, just half a mile up the road from Multnomah Falls. A trail connector parallels the road for that half mile, so you don’t need to walk near traffic. Adding up the distances, we found it was about 5 miles. Totally achievable for a day hike! Here is the trail entry on AllTrails, so you can find the Multnomah Falls hike map and full details.
We did the Multnomah Falls hike in November 2021, four years after the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. The Eagle Creek Fire began on the nearby Eagle Creek trail and burned nearly 50,000 acres in the Columbia River Gorge, including the Multnomah Falls hike. The fire damage along the trail is still clear, but the lush, mossy forest is coming back.
The trail follows Multnomah Creek upstream, which plunges into full-on waterfalls three more times: Dutchman Falls, then Wiesendanger Falls, and then Ecola Falls. In between waterfalls, the creek cascades over moss-covered boulders, creating an idyllic streamside walk.
The loop hike then turns away from Multnomah Creek and contours around the hillside into the Wahkeena Creek basin. The trail crosses the creek at the base of the short but whimsical Fairy Falls before continuing downhill to the dramatic Wahkeena Falls.
The spray from Wahkeena Falls is wonderfully refreshing. A powerful wind filled with waterfall mist blows over the trail.
Wahkeena Falls has its own trailhead and parking, so you can park there instead and do the loop in the other direction. The parking is pretty competitive at both trailheads, but it’s worth checking both.
For a video preview of this fabulous loop hike, check out our video below.
Permits and Parking for the Multnomah Falls Hike
There are three potential parking lots you can use for the Multnomah Falls hike:
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A Multnomah Falls parking lot off of Exit 31 on I-84. This is the one we used. It’s connected to the main lodge viewing area by a pedestrian walkway.
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A Multnomah Falls parking lot along the Historic Columbia River Highway. This parking lot is right next to the lodge.
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The Wahkeena Falls parking lot
During the peak tourist season (May 24 – September 5 in 2022), permits are required between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm. If you go in a different year, check the permit website for the peak season dates.
There are two different kinds of permits: One permit for the Multnomah Falls parking lot off I-84 (#1 in the list above), and the other permit for accessing the “waterfall corridor” on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The waterfall corridor is the section of the historic highway between Bridal Veil Falls and Ainsworth State Park. Most of the larger waterfalls are in this corridor, including Multnomah Falls and Wahkeena Falls. Accordingly, you’ll need this permit to try for a parking spot in lots #2 and #3 above.
The permits are only $2 per car (in 2022), but they often sell out, so reserve one online before you go. The electronic ticket confirmation is what you’ll need the day of your visit, so no need to print anything. Just be sure to have the ticket available on your phone.
Even with a permit, parking isn’t guaranteed, but it’s definitely more likely than without one!
Other Great Hikes to Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls
If you enjoy the Multnomah Falls hike, you may also enjoy these other hikes to Columbia River Gorge waterfalls. Click the links to read our blog posts about these other hikes.
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Eagle Creek: This legendary hike travels through a dramatic canyon, with innumerable waterfalls cascading down the high cliffs. The trail is cut right into the cliffs, and cable handrails are bolted into the cliff face for safety.
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Triple Falls: Beginning from the enormous Horsetail Falls at the trailhead, this hike climbs up the hillside, travels right behind Ponytail Falls, and then enters the Oneonta Gorge. It crosses the gorge on a footbridge at Middle Oneonta Falls and then travels up the side of the gorge to a unique triple waterfall, aptly named Triple Falls.
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Hamilton Mountain via Pool of the Winds: On the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge, Hamilton Mountain is a waterfall hike and view hike in one. It was not burned in the Eagle Creek Fire, so the forest is lush and fully intact. The picturesque Rodney Falls cascades gradually over moss-covered rocks right at a footbridge. Just upstream, hikers can peer into a rock chasm to see (and feel) the blast of waterfall mist from the upper waterfall beyond: the Pool of the Winds.
Other Adventures in the Pacific Northwest
Thanks for joining us on the Multnomah Falls hike! For more adventure ideas in the Pacific Northwest, check out our PNW Trip Planner. You can find adventures near you and filter by season and difficulty level. There are weird and wonderful things to explore any time of year. The trip planner links to blog posts to help you plan your next adventure.
Happy exploring!