TL;DR Travels

A Photo Diary of a Day Wandering Through the Pacific Northwest

After cruising along Oregon’s oldest highway, I found myself at Multnomah Falls, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular stops. In fact, according to U.S. Forest Service, over 2 million people visit every year.

It was a rainy and gloomy day along the Columbia River, but the views were still pristine. During my visit, I was able to go without a permit or reservation. However, beginning May 24, 2024 through September 2, 2024, a timed ticket and $2 reservation fee will be required.

After parking (in a very small lot), we were greeted with a bustling visitor center, complete with a coffee stand, a restaurant, bathrooms, and a gift shop. After taking a few photos and admiring the view, we then set off for our adventure. It’s easy to capture fantastic shots of the waterfall and get in a few travel photos from here, so you don’t have to actually hike if you don’t want to. Or, if someone in your party isn’t comfortable with the full trek, they really only need to make the journey from the parking lot and then can relax with a cup of hot cocoa while everyone else does the more intense wandering. You can also get a great view of the historic Multnomah Creek Bridge, which was built in 1914.

Covered in layers, I made the lovely trek though the mist to catch the top of the fall. If you decide to stop here on your next trip to Oregon, I recommend some good hiking boots and weatherproofing your camera. There were a few switchbacks and the weather had eaten away at some of the trail, raising the difficulty level slightly. However, many of the locals were wearing their usual sneakers and strolling with coffee in hand, so it’s not necessarily too high in intensity. With the slick ground and narrow trail on the incline, this could also be a good place to use a hiking stick if you like to utilize those.

While walking up, there were amazing viewpoints of the Columbia River, with Washington State just across the way. And our final destination, the top of the waterfall, was truly magical. The biting wind and (at times) torrential spray from the waterfall made it difficult to capture the experience on camera, but it was certainly worth it. Check out a few clips from my journey below!

Planning your own visit to Multnomah Falls? Check-out here for more information on what to expect, including accessibility features at the falls. Oregon (and all of the PNW) are gorgeous. What are your favorite spots to visit in the Pacific Northwest?