Multnomah Falls — Attraction in Washougal

🌊 Why Multnomah Falls Tops the Charts Iconic Beauty: A two-tiered waterfall plunging 620 feet, making it the tallest in Oregon.

Accessibility: Just off I-84, with paved trails and a historic lodge at the base.

Photogenic Appeal: The Benson Bridge offers a dramatic view between the upper and lower falls.

Year-Round Flow: Fed by underground springs, it flows even in dry seasons.

Visitor Amenities: Includes restrooms, gift shop, café, and interpretive signage.

🧭 Quick Visitor Snapshot Feature Details 📍 Location Columbia River Gorge, near Bridal Veil 🥾 Trail Options Easy walk to Benson Bridge; longer hike to top 🚗 Parking Limited—arrive early or use shuttle 📸 Best Time to Visit Morning light and spring runoff 🧳 Pro Tip Permits may be required in peak season Multnomah Falls isn’t just a tourist magnet—it’s a symbol of Oregon’s natural grandeur. If you’re ever up for an ASCII tribute to its cascading tiers or want to explore lesser-known waterfalls nearby, I’ve got plenty of ideas to flow with.

make a very detailed review on Multnomah Falls Absolutely, Adriana! Let’s dive into a full-spectrum review of Multnomah Falls—Oregon’s most iconic waterfall and a natural wonder that’s practically etched into the state’s identity.

🌊 Multnomah Falls: Oregon’s Crown Jewel Located in the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls is a two-tiered cascade plunging a total of 620 feet, making it the tallest waterfall in Oregon and one of the most visited natural attractions in the Pacific Northwest.

Upper Falls: 542 feet

Lower Falls: 69 feet

Drop Between Tiers: 9 feet

Google Maps Rating: ⭐ 4.8 from over 10,000 reviews

Address: 50000 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Bridal Veil, OR 97010

🏞️ What Makes It Special Year-Round Flow: Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, it flows even in dry seasons.

Benson Bridge: A historic footbridge built in 1914 that spans the lower cascade—perfect for dramatic photos.

Multnomah Falls Lodge: Built in 1925, this stone lodge offers dining, a gift shop, and interpretive displays.

Accessibility: You can see the falls from the base with minimal walking, making it ideal for all ages.

🥾 Hiking & Exploration Trail Distance Elevation Gain Highlights Base to Benson Bridge 0.2 mi ~50 ft Easy walk to the iconic bridge Top of the Falls Trail 1.2 mi ~700 ft Steep switchbacks with panoramic views Wahkeena Loop 5 mi ~1,600 ft Connects multiple waterfalls via lush forest The hike to the top is steep but rewarding—expect 11 switchbacks and sweeping views of the Columbia River Gorge.

🧭 Visitor Experience Parking: Free lots nearby, but fills quickly—arrive early or use the Columbia Gorge Express shuttle.

Permits: Timed-use permits may be required during peak season (May–Sept).

Facilities: Restrooms, café, gift shop, and interpretive center at the lodge.

Crowds: Very busy on weekends and holidays; weekdays and early mornings are quieter.

📸 Photography Tips 📍 Best Vantage Points: From the base, Benson Bridge, and the top lookout

🌅 Golden Hour: Early morning light hits the falls beautifully

🌧️ Rainy Days: Mist adds drama—just protect your gear!

🗣️ What Visitors Say “Even more beautiful and breathtaking than the best pictures. The hike to the top lookout is totally worth it.” — John E “Stopped in, service was fab, food was delish & got some dessert to go.” — Local Guide “This waterfall is a must visit if in the Portland area. To visit is free, just pay the parking ahead of time.” — Guillermo Rangel

🧳 Tips for a Stellar Visit 🧢 Dress in Layers: Gorge weather can shift quickly

🥾 Wear Good Shoes: Trails can be slick, especially in spring

🧺 Pack Snacks: The lodge café is great, but options are limited

📶 Offline Maps: Cell service can be spotty

🐕 Pets: Allowed on leash, but not ideal for steep trails

🧠 Final Verdict: Is It Worth It? Absolutely. Multnomah Falls isn’t just a waterfall—it’s a symbol of Oregon’s wild beauty and geological drama. Whether you’re stopping for a quick photo or hiking to the summit, it delivers awe in...

🔥MUST SEE🔥 and experience!! Very limited parking lot. Early birds get to park up close Otherwise a bus shuttle will pick you up from 3 miles away at another very small car lot. You can hike in 🥾

$20 parking fee up close, meaning Infron of Lodge and falls. 2-3 disabled parking spots.

You can see the falls from the street, and you can also walk a paved pathway all the way to the bridge half way up the falls. SPECTACULAR VIEWS AT THE BRIDGE , and keep going up for closer views. The bridge has a view of the water pooling at base of tallest cascade. The sounds of the water pouring over the mountain are very powerful and peaceful at the same time. The path up the falls is covered in thick, lush mossy trees and ferns, gorgeous and green 💚. *There is a little informative wild life center. *There is an Esspresso/Coffee Stand *A Snack Shack *Large Souvenir Gift Shop *Plenty of Restrooms *Elevators to *Lodge *Tasting Rooms *Restaurant *Terraces *Bar Being up close to this Stunningly Majestic Nature filled me with Awe and Wonder. You breath in the mist from the water all around you. You can smell the wet moss , trees and earth, it is refreshing to the soul, if you like that sort of thing😁💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 I didn't want to come down from the mountain, I would have stayed there all day and night to see the waterfall in different lighting, mist and fog. I would love to see and hear what it looks like at night 🌙 . The Stone Lodge is beautiful with large fireplace, beamed, vaulted ceilings, classy and and cozy. I will have to revisit to try the menu and tasting room. You might want to plan to make this an all day visit and not rush off to anything else, because you might , like me, find MULTNOMAH FALLS a spectacular place to be and not want to leave 😉 I had a 6 hr. drive home, or I would have stayed, eaten at the lodge by the fire place or the terrace over looking the falls, and tried the tasting room!🥃 I Hope YOU make the journey to see the AMAZING MULTNOMAH FALL

• Sidenote The path up to the falls is wide enough for a *baby stroller *wheelchair *(service) dogs allowed ** Several large viewing areas, to take photos, sit on benches and enjoy the view all along the path up to the bridge. Path becomes more narrow and inclined once you cross the bridge , but still places to stop, for...

Honest review, the waterfall itself is very beautiful and definitely a sight to see IF you can handle the chaotic/insane parking situation.

In advance, we “reserved” a parking ticket online for $2. It included instructions on where to park coming from the Portland area, and a time slot (1hr) asking us to arrive as close to the start of it (10AM on a Friday in our case). Note that the time slot basically asks you to arrive at your designated time, but then you can stay for longer than the 1hour slot.

Well, as we’re driving down the highway and are about to take the exit to the parking lot, there are digit signs saying the parking lot off-ramp is closed because it’s full. On the highway, they have your typical parking lot arm gates so you can’t even TRY to wait for a spot in the parking lot. You just have to keep going. NOWHERE on the ticket, nor highway signage did it say anything else about what to do or where to find additional parking. There’s the tiny parking lot on the scenic highway that’s right next to the falls, but that’ll set you back $20 and that’s if you get lucky that the worker lets you in because someone else is leaving at the right time.

So, don’t bother with the reservation ticket. If it’s not a true reservation setup they should just abandon the idea.

Also, consider going later in the day (maybe 4pm onward) because all guides/websites/articles say to go early so everyone tries to do that. Maybe between 8-9:30 you’ll have luck but anytime after that and you’ll be fighting to find a spot.

In the end, I let my girlfriend go and see the falls while I kept driving. I had seen them before but the fact that we couldn’t find a spot so that both of us could enjoy it totally ruined...