Last Updated: 2/3/24 – Multnomah Falls Guide

If you are a big fan of waterfalls, then you are in for a real treat. One of the prettiest waterfalls in North America is located just outside of Portland, Oregon. Don’t get me wrong, there are some gorgeous waterfalls on the continent. Niagara Falls in New York State is probably the most famous of those. However, even though Multnomah Falls in Oregon doesn’t get the notoriety, it is every bit as beautiful.

The falls are located just outside of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge. Believe me, the backdrop for this waterfall could not be more beautiful. The large, cascading waterfalls seem to come out of nowhere as they cascade into the river gorge. With an observation bridge at the halfway point of the cascade, the views you can get of the waterfall are breathtaking.

In this Multnomah Falls guide, I am going to give you all of the information you need to visit Multnomah Falls.  I am going to outline how to get to the Multnomah Falls when the best times are to make your visit, where to stay while you are in the Portland area, and what else you can see while you are on your trip.

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How to Get to Multnomah Falls

As I mentioned before, the Multnomah Falls are located in the Columbia River Gorge, which sits just outside of Portland in the state of Oregon.  If you are staying in Portland, the falls are only about 30 miles East of the city, which is a quick 40-45 minute drive.  They are also in relatively close proximity to several other great attractions in the area that I listed in the table below and will highlight in this Multnomah Falls guide.

Be Prepared by Obtaining a Timed Entry Pass Ahead of Time

The Multnomah Falls are located right off Highway 84 and there is a designated parking area where you can park while you visit the falls.  There used to be no cost to visiting the falls, but because of its popularity, you now have to pay a small admission fee to visit. The best way to reserve your entry into see Multnomah Falls is to book a timed entry reservation through the Recreation.gov website.  Once you arrive at the falls, the visitor center is a great place to stop for more information. The visitor center is open from 9am-5pm daily and is located on the ground floor of the Multnomah Falls Lodge. In addition to an information desk, it also includes a gift shop, a snack bar, a restaurant, and restrooms.

One of the best ways to see the falls and save yourself from having to make the long hike up to the top is to rent an electric bike from EBik Multnomah Falls. In addition to renting out these incredible bikes for visitors to use to tour the Multnomah Falls, the friendly staff at EBik also offer incredible tours of the falls that you can take through them. I cannot recommend an electric bike rental from EBik strongly enough!

As you can see in the site map in my Multnomah Falls guide below, there are plenty of hiking trails that you can explore within the site.  The most popular hike is up to the top of the 542-foot-tall cascading waterfall.  The 2.2-mile hike to the Multnomah Falls viewpoint has an elevation climb of roughly 700 feet and is considered a moderately difficult hike.

Best Time to Visit Multnomah Falls

To assist you in determining the best time for you to plan your trip, I have included some information on average temperature, average precipitation levels, and the average number of visitors for you to review in my Multnomah Falls guide below.

Temperature (°F)

During the winter months of December through February, it does get cold in the Portland area, but you typically don’t see the brutally cold temperatures where it falls well below zero degrees Fahrenheit that often.  With average highs in the low-to-mid ’40s, the winters are rather mild.  Likewise, during the summer months, the high temperatures typically don’t get unbearably hot.  With the average highs in the upper 70s and low 80s during the summer months of June through August, the summers are rather mild as well.

Precipitation (Inches)

Because Portland is located near the Pacific coast, the amount of rainfall the area sees is typically higher than you would see in the American Midwest or Southwest.  The rainiest months of the year are the late fall and winter months of November through January.  If you visit during this time, be prepared to see a fair amount of rain or snow.  During the summer months of July and August, the precipitation levels are the lowest, so you have the best chance of seeing good weather.

Average Visitors

It should come as no surprise, but the majority of tourism interest is in the Multnomah Falls.  This is when the temperatures are the warmest and the weather is the driest.  If you are visiting during June through August, you should be prepared to deal with more crowds than you would see during other times of the year.

NOTE:  The chart in my Multnomah Falls guide below is from Google Trends and shows the relative amount of Google searches for Multnomah Falls by tourists throughout the year. The numbers are calculated relative to the peak month, which is early July. For instance, August 8th saw roughly 82% of the searches for “Multnomah Falls” as July 1st, which was the peak day.

Where to Stay Near Multnomah Falls

If you are going to visit the Portland area to see the Multnomah Falls, I would suggest that you look at lodging in the Portland area.  To assist you in finding a good hostel or hotel, I have included a list and a map with some recommendations at different price points for you to consider.  If you are looking to camp out in the area, I have also listed several popular campgrounds in my Multnomah Falls guide below for you to review.

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Campgrounds Nearby

Below is a list of some of the more popular campgrounds in the Columbia River Gorge area.  If you are looking to book a campsite during the summer months, I would suggest you make your reservation well in advance.

• Marine Park Campground
• Wyeth Campground
• Cascade Locks / Portland East KOA Holiday
• Moss Creek Campground
• Panther Creek Campground
• Beaver Campground
• Sunset Falls Campground
• Rock Creek Campground

Hiking Near Multnomah Falls

While you can get some great views of the falls at the bottom, several great hiking trails in the Multnomah Falls area will allow you to get some much closer views of this beautiful waterfall.  I have included a map from the US Forest Service that outlines all of the hiking trails in the area in my Multnomah Falls guide below for you to review.

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Other Things to See Near Multnomah Falls

In addition to the Multnomah Falls, the Portland area has several other amazing things for you to see and do.  To assist you in planning your trip, I have included a list of some of the other great things to see and do in the area below for you to review.

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Multnomah Falls Photo Gallery

The Multnomah Falls are stunningly beautiful.  It’s one of those places where you don’t really have to try to get amazing pictures, they sort of just take themselves.  Below is a gallery of just some of the pictures I was able to get during my visit.

If you would like to see more of my travel photography, I would also encourage you to give me a follow on Instagram. Putting this blog together to pass on my free guides, itineraries, and travel photography tips is a lot of work and your support in the form of a follow-on Instagram would be so very much appreciated!

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