Multnomah Falls: How to plan your visit

Multnomah Falls, standing at 620ft tall is arguably Oregon's most visited landmarks. Locals and visitors flock to it's towering beauty year round to admire the cascading water, enjoy lunch at Multnomah Falls Lodge, or they use it as a starting point for a hike in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

However, because of the popularity of Multnomah Falls, access to the site requires some planning to make for a stress free experience. Below are your options for planning your next visit to Multnomah Falls during the high summer season:

Option 1: Make an advance reservation

Due to the limited parking capacity at Multnomah Falls, timed entry permits are required during the high summer season if you arrive in your own vehicle. Permits are available up to 14 days in advance. Reservations cost $2 per ticket. Visitors should access Multnomah Falls and the Historic Lodge from the Interstate 84 parking lot at Exit 31. Stopping in front of the Lodge on the Historic Columbia River Highway is not permitted. NOTE: A limited number of same day permits are available each day at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitors Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum in Cascade Locks.

Reserve a Permit

Option 2: Take a shuttle

Are permit reservations already full? Don't want to deal with trying to find parking? Another way to access Multnomah Falls is via one of the many shuttle systems in the Gorge. There are multiple direct and hop-on, hop-off shuttles to choose from, with parking pick ups in Troutdale, Corbett, Bridal Veil, and Dodson. Or, you can take the Columbia Gorge Express which stops in Portland, at Multnomah Falls, in Cascade Locks, and in Hood River. Advanced reservations to Multnomah Falls are not required if you arrive via one of the shuttles.

Check out the map of the shuttle options

To learn about optional recreation activities offered throughout the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, go to: ReadySetGOrge.com