Multnomah Falls, Oregon
In the Columbia River Gorge at 620 feet, it is one of the tallest waterfalls in the state of Oregon and is only a 30 to 45 drive from Portland.
It is a two tiered falls with a pond 542 feet from the top. The pond slopes 9 feet from the back to the front, then the water falls another 69 feet to the creek below. That is a total of 620 feet. The average width is only 10 feet.
As well as highway access, the Union Pacific Railroad goes by the front door.
Benson Bridge
Benson Bridge is a footbridge 105 feet above the lower falls and offers a good view of the pond on one side and the Colorado Gorge on the other side. The bridge is 45 feet long and leads to a trail which takes hikers up to the top of the falls where they can see the Little Multnomah Cascade farther upstream. You can see a group in the top left of the picture below.
People need a continual reminder that the environment is vulnerable to our careless actions. The life in the creek can be harmed by the junk left on the land when it is washed into the water.
The creek is home and a source of food and water for all kinds of life, like the heron below.
Speaking of food, at the base of the falls, the restaurant in the Multnomah Falls Lodge serves delicious meals and I recommend the following from the desert menu:
– Maple-Bourbon Creme Brûlée –
– Delicately flavored with Eastside Distilling Burnside bourbon and pure maple. – (GF) gluten free
(Sorry I have no picture, it was gone before my hands were free to take a picture.)
Beware of falling boulders. The water erodes the rock and sometimes large pieces fall loose. In 1995 a 400 ton piece splashed into the pool and the wave of water and gravel injured more than a dozen people who were having wedding pictures taken on the footbridge. More recently, in 2014, a large boulder fell onto the footbridge and the bridge had to be closed until the repairs were completed.
– Where do you want to go today? –
Links to more info.
Hi, Doug.
Wow, this is a stunning waterfall.
I was in Oregon way back in college. Only drove through on my way to Washington. Did stay a bit in Eugene.
I’d actually like to visit Victoria Falls in Africa or even Niagra Falls.
Hi Sara,
I live a couple of hours drive from Niagara Falls. It is much bigger but very commercialized.
Still worth a trip to say you have see it. You have to feel the thunder and mist of the falls.
There are several beautiful communities near the Falls maybe a half hour away that are more relaxing places to stay.
Do you travel much now?