PNWSights
Multnomah Falls drops in two tiers over dark basalt cliffs, with a thin upper ribbon of water falling to the historic stone footbridge and a broader lower cascade plunging into a small pool below. Lush green trees frame the misty scene, and the long-exposure blur gives the water a silky, soft look.

Multnomah Falls

Troutdale, OR

Multnomah Falls is a 620-foot two-tiered waterfall, the tallest in Oregon. A historic stone footbridge built in 1914 spans the falls between the upper and lower tiers. The falls flow year-round, with peak volume during spring snowmelt.

Photography Guide

Best Time
morning
Crowds
Busy
Shot Types
widelandscapelong-exposureportrait
Best Seasons
springsummerfallwinter
Practical Tips
A timed-use permit is required from late May through early September. Arrive early in the morning for fewer crowds and soft, even light on the falls.

Is it a good day to go?

7-day outlook

Mild, dry days with light winds are the most comfortable for a visit.

Forecast by Open-Meteo. Verdicts weigh the forecast against the conditions that suit this spot.

Author's Comments

Six hundred and twenty feet is a number that does not mean much until you are standing at the base looking up, the spray on your face, the basalt rising into a kind of vertical forest that catches mist all the way down. Multnomah is the most photographed waterfall in Oregon and probably one of the most photographed in the country, and I understand the resistance some photographers feel toward places like this. I felt it too, for a while. Then I started arriving at six in the morning. The trick with Multnomah is volume - both of water and of people - and the two move in opposite directions through the day. Spring is when the falls run hardest, fed by snowmelt off the Cascades, and the lower basin fills with a fine drifting mist that turns the air silver in early light. The Benson Bridge sits between the two tiers like something out of a fairytale, and it is the obvious composition. Take it. Then keep working. The bridge is more interesting in long exposure when the water above and below it goes soft and the stone holds its edge against all that movement. In winter the falls sometimes freeze in sections and the cliffs go white and blue and strange. In autumn the bigleaf maples in the lower basin turn gold and the whole scene warms by several degrees of color temperature. There is no bad season here. There is only a bad hour, and that hour is mid-afternoon in July when the timed-use permits funnel everyone into the same small viewpoint at once. Come early. Let the falls be the falls. The photograph will find you.

Gallery

Multnomah Falls drops in two tiers over dark basalt cliffs, with a thin upper ribbon of water falling to the historic stone footbridge and a broader lower cascade plunging into a small pool below. Lush green trees frame the misty scene, and the long-exposure blur gives the water a silky, soft look. Photo: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Multnomah Falls Lodge fills the foreground with its stone walls, steep tan roof, and lit windows, while a narrow white ribbon of Upper Multnomah Falls drops through misty basalt cliffs behind it. Tall evergreens and wet morning haze soften the scene, giving the landmark a quiet, atmospheric look. Photo: Mattsjc / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
Multnomah Falls drops in two long white tiers over mossy basalt cliffs, with the historic stone bridge spanning the upper and lower falls. Autumn foliage in gold, orange, and green frames the misty cascade, and the long exposure softens the water into silky ribbons above the dark pool below. Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
An indoor natural history exhibit with a large “Natural Wonders” sign features waterfall and forest displays, fish mounted against a blue waterfall backdrop, and small plant and rock specimens under glass domes. Warm gallery lighting highlights the curated panels, while framed nature photos and taxidermy birds flank the display. Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Inside the Multnomah Falls Lodge information area, a wooden reception counter sits beneath a large “Information” sign and Forest Service shield, with framed photos and brochures displayed on the walls. A “Welcome” exhibit board and stone floor add to the rustic visitor-center feel. Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Multnomah Falls pours down a narrow basalt gorge in winter, with thick ice and snow clinging to the cliffs and framing the main cascade. The historic stone bridge spans the upper and lower falls, with a few bundled visitors standing along the railing above the frozen water. Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Inside the Multnomah Falls visitor desk, a smiling staff member stands behind a cluttered counter with maps, brochures, and small souvenirs. Framed waterfall photos line the beige wall, and warm indoor light gives the lodge office a cozy, working feel. Photo: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Multnomah Falls drops in a tall white ribbon down a steep basalt cliff, framed by dense green trees on both sides. A historic stone bridge spans the lower tier, with visitors lined along the railing above the misty cascade. Photo: Rizka / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Multnomah Falls drops in two narrow tiers over mossy basalt cliffs, with the historic stone bridge spanning the upper and lower falls. Evergreen trees and bare branches frame the misty scene, with the pool and viewing railing visible at the bottom. Photo: Slinkyo / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
A tall, narrow waterfall drops through dark basalt cliffs and passes behind a stone footbridge, surrounded by autumn trees with orange-gold leaves. The scene is moody and misty, with the white water standing out against the deep green and charcoal canyon walls. Photo: Tim Mossholder / Pexels

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