Touch Grass: Multnomah Falls
Mentioning Portland to someone often elicits similar responses from many people, and similar places: Powell’s, Voodoo Donuts, and on the nature side – the majestic Multnomah Falls. Located in the Columbia River Gorge northeast of the city, Multnomah Falls is actually one of many waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway, another of which is Horsetail Falls, covered by the Quest on March 8 2024. This is because when the Quest initially attempted to visit Multnomah Falls, the parking lot was full. As Travel Portland says, “Oregon is a state where water regularly flows down from on high. Multnomah Falls — all 620 feet (189 m) — stands above the rest as Oregon’s tallest waterfall.” This is backed up by the Forest Service, which states on its website that “Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with more than 2 million visitors stopping by each year to take in the views. Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies, but is usually highest during the winter and spring seasons.”
While a hike is not required to experience the Falls, there is one available which is, according to All Trails, a “2.3-mile out-and-back trail near Bridal Veil, Oregon. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 30 min to complete.” For a more comprehensive guide to the hike, visit its section on the All Trails website. There are also ways to view the Falls without undertaking any amount of hiking, and more information about the accessibility of the site is present in a video on the Forest Service website. The main viewing areas of the Falls, as well as the hiking trail and the picturesque bridge across them are all free to the public right now. However, “A Timed Use Permit will be required daily from 9:00am until 6pm from May 24, 2024 through Sept. 2, 2024. Permits will be available online at www.recreation.gov for a $2 transaction fee starting May 10, 2024,” according to the Forest Service website. It is also a good idea to, per the Travel Portland website, “Whether you climb to the top for spectacular views or peer up from the bottom, dress warmly and wear shoes with traction. The waterfall’s spray makes the entire area cool and slick. Dressing for the water also means you’re already prepared for rainy weather if storm clouds happen to roll into the Columbia River Gorge during your visit.”
At the bottom of the Falls there is also “The Multnomah Falls Lodge, which is run by a concessionaire, is well maintained with restrooms, a Visitor Center, a snack bar, a gift shop and a restaurant that is fully ADA accessible. The visitor information area within the lodge is jointly staffed by Friends of Multnomah Falls, volunteers, and the U.S. Forest Service. Offerings include a simple trail map and brochures about Multnomah Falls in multiple languages,” according to the Forest Service website. The lodge “was built in 1925 to serve throngs of tourists who came to view the spectacular sights of the Columbia Gorge,” and is “made of every type of rock found in the gorge,” per Oregon.com, which also includes more information on the history of the site as well as other driving routes to get there that are more scenic than the direct one on the freeway. On the Lodge’s website, they say that their “restaurant inside the Historic Lodge is open seven days a week and reservations are encouraged, but NOT required.” Reservations as well as a version of their menu can be found on their website, as well as their hours which are 9:00am-6:00pm on weekdays, and 8:00am-6:00pm on weekends. The Falls themselves are open for daytime use only.Getting to Multnomah Falls is a roughly 40-minute drive from Reed, its exit on the freeway being on the left. Without a car, the Forest Service gives alternative options, saying, “The Columbia Gorge Express offers daily bus service between the Gateway Transit Center in Portland, Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks and Hood River, Oregon. Summer options include the Waterfall Trolley based in Corbett, Oregon. There are other commercial shuttle and ebike options that can be found with a quick search on the Internet.” Day trips to the Falls and surrounding geological areas of the Columbia River Gorge are also an option, and most leave from Portland. Tripadvisor also has a list of some highly rated ones. To learn more visit its section on the Forest Service website. So, go out and touch grass (and water) at Multnomah Falls!