Multnomah Falls Hiking Guide
Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural attraction in Oregon and it earns the traffic: 620 feet of water in two tiers, with Benson Bridge spanning the gap between them, visible from the car park. What most visitors miss is the trail — a paved mile of switchbacks climbing 800 feet to a viewing platform at the lip of the upper falls, where the whole Columbia River corridor opens up beneath you.
Permit: Timed-use permit required for the I-84 Exit 31 parking lot, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., late May through early September, via Recreation.gov
The Permit Nobody Expects
From late May into early September a timed-use permit is required to park at the I-84 Exit 31 lot between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., booked through Recreation.gov. It is separate from any pass you already hold. Outside those hours and outside that season no permit is needed, and the Historic Columbia River Highway lot operates differently. Check the current arrangement before you drive — the rules here have changed repeatedly since they were introduced.
Beyond the Bridge
Almost everyone walks the short paved path to Benson Bridge and stops. Continuing means eleven switchbacks and 800 feet of steady climbing on pavement, which is unglamorous but takes you somewhere genuinely different. The platform at the top looks straight down the upper falls and out across the Columbia. The crowds thin dramatically past the bridge, and thin again past the top.
Linking to Wahkeena
From the top of the falls the trail network continues to Wahkeena Falls, making a well-known loop of roughly five miles that takes in several more waterfalls and a good deal more forest. It is the standard way to turn a tourist stop into a real hike. Sections of the Gorge trail network have been affected by the Eagle Creek Fire and subsequent maintenance, so confirm the loop is fully open before committing to it.
Winter and Ice
The falls run year-round and winter is spectacular, with ice forming on the cliff faces and far fewer people about. The paved switchbacks also ice over, and the Gorge produces vicious east winds in cold snaps that make the exposed sections genuinely unpleasant. Traction devices are worth carrying from December through February. Rockfall has occurred here historically, which is why the bridge and paths are periodically closed for assessment.
Practicalities
There is a lodge with food and toilets at the base. Leashed dogs are permitted on the trail. The Historic Columbia River Highway approach is more pleasant than the freeway lot and gives access to Wahkeena and Latourell as well, which makes a multi-waterfall day easy to arrange. Arrive early or late in summer; midday is a scrum regardless of permits.
Hiking tips for Multnomah Falls
- Book the timed-use permit for the I-84 lot if you are arriving between 9 and 6 in summer — it is separate from any pass you hold.
- Climb past Benson Bridge; the crowds thin dramatically and the top-of-falls platform is a completely different experience.
- Use the Historic Columbia River Highway approach to combine this with Wahkeena and Latourell in one day.
- Carry traction from December through February, when the paved switchbacks ice and the Gorge wind bites.
- Confirm the Wahkeena loop is fully open before planning it; Gorge trails still carry post-fire maintenance closures.
Nearby trails to explore
- Latourell Falls Loop
- Wahclella Falls
- Angels Rest
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Multnomah is the Gorge introduction everyone gets, and the trail above it is the part worth sharing. Use TrailMates to find Portland hikers linking the waterfall loops. Download the TrailMates app to connect.