Multnomah Falls

ROAD TRIP
Summer 2016
6:30AM
My toddler woke up, full of energy, «Mama, let’s go to the falls. It’s gonna be AMAZING!»
8:00AM
Breakfast time! My little girl had a banana and Fruit Loops. She refused to have eggs, sausage, and a biscuit. I don’t blame her, they were pretty crappy.
9:30AM
We arrived at Multnomah Falls. We easily found parking at the lot.
10:00AM
My toddler was getting sleepy and fussy but we decided to hike all the way to the top.
10:30AM
We were on 2 of 11 switchbacks and my toddler wanted to be carried. She kept saying,“I’m hungry,” «I wanna go to the hotel,» or «I’m sleepy, mama!» Ughhhhhh. why oh why did I leave the snacks in the car!!! None of the 12 people in my fambam brought snacks with them either. D’oh!
10:53AM
While resting on 4 of 11 switchbacks, we considered giving up and returning to the base. My fambam was going all the way so I was determined to finish. My hubby and I finally decided to continue the trail to the top despite our kid’s tantrums. We took turns carrying our 30-​pound little girl, at the end of each switchback.
11:36AM
We made it to the top of the falls!!! WOOOO! Going down was a little easier but we still had to carry our daughter. At least she fell asleep in my arms most of the way down, it was nice to get a break from her tantrums.
12:06PM
We were done!!! Hooray!!! We walked to Multnomah Falls Restaurant to eat.

While reading various articles, I heard about this waterfall. After our flight into PDX, we decided to drive straight to Multnomah Falls, since that was the closest we’d be to it.
We had decent expectations, but wow this place was amazing! First, Google Maps took us past it. We were somewhat freaking out, but it turned us around and allowed us to drive past Horsetail Falls, another waterfall up the road. There was absolutely no one there, so we stopped to take pictures and enjoy ourselves.
Afterwards, we drove down to Multnomah, which was even more beautiful. We loved the view so much! After asking around, we decided to hike up to the bridge. We had assumed it would be a longer, more difficult hike, but it actually only took about 5 minutes on a paved trail.
I totally recommend checking this place out if you’re ever in Portland!

Wow!!! Such a beautiful place Oregon is full of gorgeous locations and this is one of the top on the list! If you are going to hike to the top come prepared water and good hiking shoes! The trail is very narrow and dangerous in some spots. The closer you get to the top it begins to get muddy so don’t wear anything nice or it will be covered in mud. Definitely worth the hike though the views are breathtaking!

It was an enjoyable experience being able to see this landmark. They have a gift shop, info center and food stand right across from the parking lot. There’s lots of tourists at the base and the bridge so it’ll be difficult for an unimpeded view for photos. About a quarter mile before you’re at the bridge. Another 1 – 2 miles uphill before you reach the overlook. While the overlook has a creek, there’s nothing at the overlook. You’re unable to see the water actually going down, just the very tippy edge of it. Not entirely sure if this is worth your time and the exertion.

Such a nice place for anyone visiting Portland, It’s absolutely beautiful here! We didn’t hike to the top but only went to the bridge for picture taking, but you have that option if you want to continue up. I also liked that there was a bathroom/​food/​drink and gift shop!

Go chasing waterfalls! If you’re in Portland area, make some time to stop by Multnomah Falls. It’s a short drive from downtown Portland.
We came here around 2 pm on a Friday afternoon and it was fairly busy, it’s a tourist spot so that was expected. You can see the bridge and the waterfall from the base near the parking lot without having to walk much. A short walk up will get you to the bridge. From there about 1.5 miles up, you get to the top of the waterfall.
The view from the top of the waterfall isn’t really as impressive. There are different viewpoint of the area along the trail.
The best view of the bridge and waterfall is from the bottom.

When I visited OR in the past, it was always during winter which was not a good time to hike Multnomah Falls. With summer just beginning, it’s a great time to get a picturesque hike in and take in the beautiful scenery. Unsure as to which trail to choose, we decided to start off with the trail to the top which is 1 mile. Although 1 mile sounds easy, it turned out to be a strenuous hike with many unprepared people stopping along the way.
Additionally, there is a restaurant and snack bar where many people procured ice cream cones, an information center that wasn’t too helpful when I asked about bike trails in the area, a bathroom, and a water bottle refill machine. See photos.
If you don’t want to hike, Multnomah Falls is majestic and photogenic at the base any time of the year.

Multnomah Falls is beautiful and has different viewpoints, the first is at the base, no climbing necessary, if you climb a little, you get to a bridge closer to the falls. Then there are about 11 switchbacks that take you to the top of the falls, if you are not in-​condition or dressed in appropriate activewear (I recommend tennis shoes, not sandals/​heels, you would be surprised) it can be quite a climb.
It is pretty at the top, but I recommend going the opposite way, it is about six miles round trip and you pass several waterfalls and come down the switchbacks. The opposite way has the same amount of climbing up, it is on more on a trail versus sidewalk/​gravel. The trails are very beautiful either way you go. Although, it can get crowded, I was still able to get pictures without other people in them.
What’s nice is when you get to the end, there is a little snack shack, coffee place, and restaurant if you are hungry or thirsty. You can even stop in the restaurant bar upstairs for a drink, or just snacks too. Do not miss, this is a definite stop off of HWY 30!

Loved it here! So pretty and a great work out. We hiked all the way to the top of the falls. Since it is basically an uphill walk the whole time I was very tired but proud once I reached the top.
The view from the bottom and the top of the falls is amazing and makes you appreciate nature.
We went on a cloudy day which was nice because it wasn’t too hot to hike. Great tourist destination not to be missed!

Really enjoyed my time here. The views are amazing, and the hike is rigorous without being overly difficult. Also, it’s only about 45 minutes outside of Portland with traffic, and admission is free, so you really don’t have an reason not to come out here.
The falls themselves are all viewable from the initial viewing area at the base of the falls. You can then climb up a little higher to get onto the bridge, which is a pretty great view of the falls as well. Up about another mile from, you can get to the level where the falls originate, and then about another mile will get you to the summit of the actual trail. There are plenty of places to rest on the way if you want to go slow, and the trails themselves are pretty smooth all-​around, despite being pretty much completely uphill. The good thing about the trail is that it filters most of the casuals out, so it’s far less crowded at the top.
The only cons are the logistics surrounding this place. It’s an utter tourist trap, and even in rainy weather, the crowds don’t really die down. The trail is sort of narrow, and you often have to wait for slower hikers when climbing up the falls. It can also get hard to get a good picture of the falls without dozens of tourists clogging up your picture. As a result, I highly recommend coming EARLY.
Make sure to pack enough water, and if you are prone to injury, get those hiking poles out. I hope to come back one day on a sunny day, and early, so I can do the trail without much interruption and human interaction, ha.

I wonder if anyone’s ever gone to see a waterfall, looked up, made a disgusted face and said «man, that waterfall is hideous.» Well, if that’s ever happened, that person doesn’t appreciate true beauty.
Multnomah Falls, I recommend anyone and everyone to make their way to make their way here at least once in their lifetime. Next to the Columbia River Gorge, the longest drop on this beautiful waterfall is 542 feet. Also, everything along the way as you drive to get to the falls is also breathtaking. This is a spectacle to see, something only the hands of God can create. I also recommend anyone that’s able to, to hike on up to the top and overlook the falls. It can be a strenuous hike up, but well worth it. There’s a look out point that stands over the edge of the rocks where the water meets the end of the ledge. Also, you can spend some time upstream where the river is shallow enough to hop around and enjoy. Obviously, be careful!
This is a picture perfect location with so much to take in. The beauty, the wonder, the peace and the serenity. Make sure to take plenty of pictures. Also, go inside the information center so you know how the waterfall came to be and some pretty interest facts.

Visiting Portland? Then you gotta make an effort to come here! It’s a nice change of pace for me since I am not used to seeing a working waterfall. In LA the working waterfall with tons of gushing water is sooooo rare! I definitely loved every bit of it.
If you want to hike it you can. If you want to just take a picture it’s a short and easy walk to get to. There are tons of people visiting as it is usually a tourist destination so expect to see lots of people especially during the weekend. But don’t let that discourage you from visiting. It’s really not that bad.
I totally recommend it! 2 thumbs up! Best of all it’s FREE! So there’s no reason you shouldn’t come see natures beauty!
Tips:
Free parking
Free restroom
There’s vendors selling ice cream and drinks.

We stumbled upon this mammoth of a waterfall on April 25, 2016 at around 7 PM. There weren’t many people around this time so that provided us a great opportunity to take pictures and lots of them without feeling rushed. It probably took us less than 10 minutes or so to hike up to the bridge to take more pictures.
You can hear the water falls driving along the highway. This was the first of many stops we took to check out the waterfalls along the scenic route.
Definitely check this falls out when you’re in Oregon.

Absolutely breathtaking!
You must visit Multnomah Falls if you’re in Oregon!
Take the scenic route aside from the highway, it’s beautiful. You can also stop at the smaller waterfalls along the way.

Get there early — before 8 am. We probably got there around 730 and found parking easily on Sunday morning. By the time we left it swarming with people.
You can see the beauty immediately as you walk out from the parking lot across the street. It is a little weird seeing such a big waterfall so close to the street in a way out of its element.
There’s a mile hike up a zigzag paved road to the overlook of the fall. My friend and I stupidly had no idea we would literally end up at the very top of the fall looking down when we started the hike. Imagine how surprised we were when we got to the end. Haha it’s a little mind blowing when you realize the gorgeous ginormous fall you were looking at from below is the same one you’re standing above when you get to the top. Don’t take the length of 1 mile lightly, it’s not the length but the elevation. Crazy how much a bit of elevation can affect your body. My friend was easily out of breath and I started feeling dizzy in between.
The hike is really nice especially when the wind blows and makes all the leaves flutter and tall trees sway. At the start of the hike you’ll be close enough to the water to feel it’s mist.
The day we went the rescue team was training on the bridge and kept people waiting to cross for half an hour at a time I think. We got lucky and passed before the halt. But also good to know if there is an accident of falling off the bridge or something there are people that can come to your rescue.

Multnomah Falls is just breathtaking and the hike up to the waterfall was so gratifying. Like what everyone says, this place is definitely a popular tourist destination so expect a lot of people even on a weekday.
I believe there’s around four or maybe even more main waterfalls around the area… depending on which way you were coming from. I first stopped by Wahkeena Falls and was already amazed by how big the waterfall was. I think Wahkeena also had a bridge and a small hiking trail. Just a 3 – 5 min drive later, I can hear Multonomah Falls from a distance. Once I saw it, my mouth literally dropped and the sight was sooooooo beyond disbelief. I can’t believe something like this actually exist. Multnomah Falls is spectacular. I was soooo in love I literally ran towards it with my mouth opened haha and just starred dumbfounded. My bf snapped me back to reality and asked me when I wanted to head to the bridge? I just wanted to stare at the waterfall forever. Keep in mind, we went on a heavy rainy day. By the time, we reach Multnomah it stopped raining and the sky looked kind of clear? Once we got the the bridge, it started to lightly sprinkle. We asked a few tourist to see if the view at the top was worth it, and of course it was… such a dumb question. I’m not sure how long the hike was, because in the middle of the hike up to the very top, it HAILED and poured so hard. My bf and I was soaked and luckily his camera gear was okay. Overall, definitely worth the hike up. There is a viewing deck at the very top which was FLOADED by all the rain so my feet was soaked. You can definitely see the water coming down, but you won’t be able to see the bottom of the fall. By the time we got up, the rain completely stopped and we headed back down. It was such an experience. After we headed to the neighboring waterfalls, which looked mediocre after seeing Multnomah.
Definitely, put this place as your number one spot in Portland. I promise, you won’t be disappointed. As for parking, we did not have trouble at all since we came on a Monday or Tuesday? Pretty sure its a pain during the weekend, but so worth.

I have never seen a real natural waterfall in my entire life and I think I popped at LEAST 5 heart veins during my trip here from amazement because I probably saw 4 – 5 waterfalls before actually arriving to Multnomah.
We parked near Wahkeena Falls thinking that it was Multnomah at first, but then realized another hiking trail that actually leads you to Multnomah from this location. I would actually recommend trying to find a parking spot around here and then hiking because the parking lot near Multnomah was very packed in comparison to this area. Wahkeena Falls was beautiful too, but we couldn’t just stop there. The little hike to Multnomah was beautiful still. You’re surrounded by trees and although the trail is kinda small and you often have to wait for people to pass as they’re coming from the opposite direction, it’s still a nice path. There’s even a smaller waterfall on the way that you can be more up close and personal with, which was really cool. After about 0.5 miles of this hike, you finally get to the main destination, Multnomah Falls!
Multnomah Falls is BEAUTIFUL and breathtaking. It’s pretty crowded and there’s people everywhere, but regardless of the crowds, there’s a lot of space to gaze at its beauty and really enjoy it. We climbed up a little bit to stand on the bridge and it’s amazing even closer. I know that there’s an option to climb up all the way and see it more from a bird’s eye view, but we ended up stopping at the bridge, which was still breathtaking. You can even feel the mist from the waterfall from it! It was refreshing and nice. There’s a big gift store and a big restroom stop location around this area too for your tourist needs.
This spot definitely screams «TOURIST» and you’ll definitely see it as one of the top google searches for «WHAT YOU MUST SEE/​DO IN PORTLAND», but I promise you it’s well worth it. The 30 – 40 minute drive all the way east to this destination is not bad at all, as you’ll still be able to gander at the pretty greenness of Oregon along the way.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve seen!
I’ve always wanted to go here and I’m so glad that I was able to finally cross this off of my bucket list.
Parking may be hard to find.
I also suggest wearing something warm and waterproof.
People here are friendly and will be willing to take pics for if you do the same.
If you go to your right, you can climb up (¼ mile) up to the bridge and take more pics there.

You can really visit Multnomah Falls at any hiking level. Probably because you can view the falls from the parking lot.
We didn’t know this going in. The boyfriend and I equipped ourselves with hiking poles, boots and a Camelbak. On our way to the falls, we walked underneath the tunnel and saw people walking with canes. We felt like that overdressed person at a party.
Luckily, there is an actual hiking trail that leads to the top of the falls. It had 9 switch backs and wow, was it steep. I have chronic low back pain and I was really feeling it halfway through. Luckily, there are so many breathtaking views, that we ended up breaking quite a bit for a quick snapshot. The view from the top wasn’t as stunning as the one from the bottom, but it was a lot less congested on top.
We stopped by the gift shop for our contribution. There’s no admission fee to see the Falls. Free parking to the left of the freeway. I grabbed a coffee from the little kiosk. They carry sugar free torani syrups. Steer clear of the fudge, I saw several bees landing on them. Probably don’t get anything from the pastry case, either.

Danny’s Unilocal 2016.
Take a selfie infront of Multnomah Falls? Check! I’ve been super excited about visiting Multnomah Falls and I’m glad I can finally cross this out of my list. My friend told me about this spot earlier last year when we were still dating and I had to make sure I come here to experience what she had experienced when she went with her family.
Moltnomah Falls is absolutely beautiful and it’s super easy to get here. This place is super touristy! I’m glad my friends and I went early around 9am on a friday and there wasn’t much people there. I’ll be honest, the view looks so much better during winter because you can feel the breeze and there’s snow in the waterfall which makes it even better!
Why am I giving this place a 5? Well, it’s because it’s close to other trails/​waterfalls if you plan on being more adventurous. My friends and I did the Wahclella which is about a 1 mile hike but it felt like it took forever because of the snow and ice but definitely worth it and I’m sure there’s many more trails but I didn’t pay attention.
Tips:
— If you don’t mind a constant incline, you can hike a mile up to the top of the falls. My friend told me the view is okay from the top, just a option though.
— Go early!
Conclusion: I’ll make sure I’ll stop by again the next time I’m in Portland. hopefully this summer for a few days! :D