Multnomah Falls is one of the United States’ highest waterfalls, cascading 620 feet over Oregon’s southern cliff edge of the Columbia River Gorge in two major drops. It is also one of the easiest waterfalls to access, being located right by I-84 and the Historic Columbia River Highway east of Portland, past the small town of Troutdale. Most of the falls can even be seen when speeding by at 60 mph, though it is of course far better to get up close and feel its rumble.
The land around Multnomah Falls was donated to the city of Portland by timber businessman and philanthropist Simon Benson in the early 1900s, and adjacent land was also donated by the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company in return for a guarantee that a lodge would be built onsite. That lodge is still there, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
After parking in the main parking lot off of I-84, a short pedestrian tunnel directs you over to the main grounds. From there, one can start walking up the mostly paved trails. A famous viewpoint near the lodge first appears, taking in both drops of the falls plus the Benson Footbridge in the foreground. The walking path switchbacks up to cross the footbridge for a closer view of the pool at the bottom of the main 542 foot section of falls.
Most people turn around there, but I recommend continuing on up a steep trail that traverses the side of the gorge and branches off to an overlook platform perched right at Mulnomah Falls’ top edge. The views are impressive out over the expansive Columbia River and down to the specks of people far below.
Multnomah Falls main upper cascade
Middle pool and boulder at base of main waterfall
Beginning of hiking path past Benson Footbridge
From overlook view platform at top edge of Multnomah Falls
Little Multnomah Falls located right behind top edge of main falls