Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Recreational Activities

Waterfalls

Multnomah Falls

Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. Nearly two million visitors a year come to see this ancient waterfall.

Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies, usually it's highest during winter and spring.

Multnomah Falls offers one of the best places in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to study geology exposed by floods. Five flows of Yakima basalt are visible in the fall's cliff face.

How to get to Multnomah Falls

• Traveling West on Interstate 84, you may access Multnomah Falls via the Historic Columbia River Highway at Exit 35 or you may use the freeway parking lot by taking Exit 31.
• If you are traveling East on Interstate 84, you may access Multnomah Falls via the Historic Columbia River Highway at Exit 28 or you may use the freeway parking lot by taking Exit 31
• It is recommended that people with disabilities use Exit 28 (traveling East Bound) or Exit 35 (East and West Bound) for direct access to the lodge.
• If you are traveling East and would like to see the key waterfall area in the gorge you may take Exit 17 or 18 and follow the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Multnomah Falls Visitor Center

Located off Interstate 84 or on the Historic Columbia River Highway (Oregon Highway 30)

(503) 695-2372

Brochures, books and maps of the Columbia River Gorge and the Pacific Northwest. Northwest Forest Passes available

The Forest Service information center is open seven days a week form 9 AM to 5 PM. The desk is staffed jointly by the Friends of Multnomah Falls and the U.S. Forest Service. The staff is happy to serve you and answer your questions about the falls and the Columbia River Gorge.

A brochure about Multnomah Falls is available in Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Russian.

Visitors may also inquire about free trail maps of the area and for the serious hiker several detailed maps can be purchased.

Hiking Loops Near Multnomah Falls

From the information center, visitors can follow the 1.2 mile trail that climbs approximately 600 feet to the top of Multnomah Falls. This trails provides great views of the falls and the Columbia River Gorge.

Once at the top of the falls, hikers can continue onward for six miles to the top of Larch Mountain or take the six mile Wahkeena Loop trail.

• Stay on the paved trail at all times.
• Make sure that pets are on a leash and In control at all times.
• Do not litter or throw coins into the creek.
• Extinguish and properly dispose of cigarette butts.

Map: Hiking Loops Near Multnomah Falls

Benson Bridge and The Lodge

The complementing architecture around the falls, Benson Bridge and Multnomah Falls Lodge are features that makes this waterfall special.

Benson Bridge, crafted by Italian stone masons, allows visitors to cross the falls between it's lower and upper cataracts.

In 1914, Simon Benson, a prominent businessman and owner of the falls at that time, erected the bridge. Before then, a log bridge was in its place. Benson gave the 300 acre site to the City of Portland. In 1943, final ownership of the site and lodge was transferred to the USDA Forest Service.

The Lodge was built in 1925 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It had dormitories and four rooms for overnight stays. Overnight accomodations are no longer available. Every type of rock found in the Columbia River Gorge is represented in the Lodge.

Inside the lower level of the Lodge is a USDA Forest Service Information Center, a snack bar, and a gift shop. In the upper portion of the lodge is a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The restaurant is assessible by elevator for people with disabilities.

Other Waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

Through millenniums of geologic events, waterfalls have found their home in the Columbia River Gorge. A visit to the area is not complete without a visit to its breathtaking waterfalls.

Listed below are waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge which shouldn't be missed and how to get to them.

OREGON

This great density of waterfalls is accessible from a portion of the Historic Columbia River Highway. You can get there from I-84.

If you're coming from the west, you can exit at Troutdale (Exit 17), Lewis and Clark State Park (Exit 18), Corbett (Exit 22), Bridal Veil (Exit 28 or Dodson (Exit 35).

If you're coming from the east, you can exit at Dodson [Exit 35], Bridal Veil [Exit 28] or Corbett (Exit 22].

Latourell Falls

Type: plunge
Height: 249 feet
Access: car or hike
In Guy W. Talbot State Park, this fall of Latourell Creek is named after Joseph Latourell, a prominent Columbia River Gorge settler. It is on the Historic Highway, 3.4 miles west of Exit 28 off I-84. It's a short walk to the viewpoint from the park's picnic area to the viewpoint.

Upper Latourell Falls

Type: plunge
Height: 75-100 feet
Access: hiking
This is 0.8 miles along the trail from Latourell Falls (above). You can get to both falls from the Historic Highway, 3.4 miles west of Exit 28 off I-84. It is possible to walk behind the falling water.

Sheppards Dell Falls

Type: tiered
Height: upper falls 35-50 feet; lower falls 40-60 feet
Access: car or hiking
The two tiers of this falls can be seen from the bridge crossing at Sheppards Dell State Park, two miles west on the Historic Highway from Exit 28 off I-84. The lower falls is a horsetail formation and the upper falls is a plunge formation.

Bridal Veil Falls

Type: tiered
Height: upper falls: 60-100 feet; lower falls 40-60 feet
Access: car or hiking
Bridal Veil Creek abruptly drops twice. The parking area for this falls is about one mile west of Exit 28 off I-84. A short trail winds down to the base of the lower tier. Along the pathway, look across the Columbia River towards views of seasonal falls on the Washington side of the Gorge.

Wahkeena Falls

Type: tiered
Height: 242 feet
Access: car or hiking
This fall along Wahkeena Creek can be seen from the Wahkeena picnic area across the Historic Highway. There are parking spaces at the picnic area. It is 0.5 miles west of Multnomah Falls. The Yakama Tribe word "wahkeena" means "most beautiful."

Fairy Falls

Type: fan
Height: 20-30 feet
Access: hiking
This waterfall along Wahkeena Creek is 1.1 miles up from the trailhead of Wahkeena Trail #420. You can access this trailhead at Wahkeena Falls, which is 0.5 miles west of Multnomah Falls on the Historic Highway.

Triple Falls

Type: segmented
Height: 100-135 feet
Access: hiking
The Triple Falls viewpoint is on Oneonta Trail #424, 1.7 miles from its trailhead. The trailhead is 0.8 miles past the junction with Horsetail Falls Trail #438. The Horsetail Falls trailhead is 2.5 miles east of Multnomah Falls on Historic Highway. Triple Falls plunges along Oneonta Creek. It is of triplet form, not triple as the name implies.

Horsetail Falls

Type: horsetail
Height: 176 feet
Access: car or hiking
This classic example of a horsetail formation along Horsetail Creek can be viewed from a turnout on the Historic Highway, 2.5 miles east of Multnomah Falls.
Just west of this wealth of waterfalls is the historic Vista House at Crown Point State Park. This historic building on the Historic Columbia River Highway provides a gorgeous panorama.

Tanner Creek and Eagle Creek Area

Wahclella Falls

Type: tiered
Height: upper 15-25 feet; lower 50-70 feet
Access: hiking
This thunderous waterfall is in the Tanner Creek area. To get there, turn off I-84 at Bonneville Dam (Exit 40) and proceed south several hundred yards to the Tanner Creek Trail parking area. Start at the trailhead and hike 0.5 mile to the trail's end at the falls. East Fork Falls can also be seen streaming above the descent from a vantage on the west side of Tanner Creek.

Metlako Falls

Type: plunge
Height: 100-150 feet
Access: hiking
The viewpoint is 1.5 miles from the trailhead of Eagle Creek Trail #440 on Eagle Creek Park. If you're coming from the west on I-84, take Exit 41. If you're coming from the east, you'll make a U-turn: take I-84 west, exit at Exit 40, go on I-84 East and take Exit 41. The waterfall was named in 1915 after the legendary Indian goddess of salmon.

Punch Bowl Falls

Type: punch bowl
Height: 10-15 feet
Access: hiking
Punch Bowl Falls may sound short but it is exquisite and is a classic example of a punchbowl formation. Like Metlako Falls, it is also at Eagle Creek Park. If you're coming from the west on I-84, take Exit 41. If you're coming from the east, you'll make a U-turn: take I-84 west, exit at Exit 40, go on I-84 East and take Exit 41. Hike 2.1 miles from the trailhead of Eagle Creek Trail #440 (0.6 mile past Metlako Falls viewpoint) to a short side trial leading to the falls.

Wah Gwin Gwin Falls

At the back of the Columbia Gorge Hotel, Wah Gwin Gwin Falls flows from Phelps Creek to drop 208' into the Columbia River.  The third highest falls in the gorge, the name comes from the Native American dialect meaning, "rushing and tumbling waters."

WASHINGTON

Most waterfalls are limited to the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge because landslides modify the steepness on the Washington side. The entire region's bedrock material is tilted slightly southward. When it is water saturated, the upper basaltic layers on the north side of the river slide into the Gorge. Thus, waterfalls on the Washington side are fewer and smaller.

But mentioned here is a waterfall complemented by 600-foot geologic projection, Beacon Rock.

Beacon Rock is adjacent to State Route 14, Washington State's main highway along the Columbia River. To get to the Beacon Rock area from I-84, take Exit 44 Cascade Locks and cross Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River to Washington State. Take S.R. 14 westward for 7 miles until you are greeted by the impressive Beacon Rock.

Hardy Falls

Type: horsetail
Height: 80-120 feet
Access: hiking
Turn north off S.R. 14 onto the spur road across from Beacon Rock. Drive 0.3 miles to the picnic area and the trailhead of Hamilton Mountain Trial. After a moderate climb of about 1.25 miles, reach two short spur paths. The upper path to the far right leads to a viewpoint overlooking the drop along Hardy Creek.

US Forest Service - Columbia River Gorge NSA
Last Modified: Tuesday, 08 May 2007 at 16:41:30 EDT