Staring up at the crest of Multnomah Falls, I somehow feel deceived. I had previously seen pictures of the falls, read the historical background, I knew what to expect. This was supposed to be a quick stop, a picturesque waterfall, but by no means the highlight of the day. But as I raced around the final curve in the Historic Columbia River Highway, Multnomah Falls finally coming into view, all my preconceived notions of the falls were shattered. Standing at the base of the falls, immersed in mist from the cascading water, I struggle to find the proper adjective to describe the scenery. When first encountering the waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge in 1805, Lewis and Clark used words such as majestic, beautiful, and spectacular in their journals. In the subsequent two centuries, these adjectives have lost their potency, possibly diluted by inclusion in the sports vernacular. Now, home runs are majestic, fly balls are towering, touchdown passes are beautiful, and diving catches are spectacular. Handicapped by the watered down adjectives at my disposal, I’m forced to settle for captivating.
Captivating may not do justice to the true beauty of Multnomah Falls, but it certainly describes my initial reaction. Getting out of my car and walking towards the falls, I can’t believe how wrong my expectations were. How can reality be so much better than the pictures I had seen? Usually this dynamic is reversed. Danny Devito shows up for your supposed Tinder date with Ryan Gosling, but never the other way around. Towering 620 feet above the Columbia River in Northwest Oregon, Multnomah Falls surpasses all expectations, and is truly a sight to see.
In addition to not showcasing well in internet photos, the falls have suffered from a criminal lack of publicity. Multnomah Falls typically shows up in articles of top things to do in Oregon, but from what I can tell they aren’t well known nationally. A popular attraction in the Pacific Northwest but not much more. This shouldn’t be the case. The falls are as picturesque as anything I’ve seen in a National Park or anywhere else, and they’re easy to get to. Only half an hour from Portland and 3 hours from Seattle. I have to think there are people, who would absolutely visit, but just don’t know the falls are there. That was the reaction from several friends after I sent them video of the falls. A common sentiment of, “How did I not know about this place?”. Now that you’re in the know, hopefully a few of you will get the chance to visit, as it’s definitely a trip worth making.
You’re right, Zach, Multnomah Falls doesn’t get its due. I’ve been there four or five times. We used to do some CDF meetings at the Skamania Lodge, which is about 20 miles up the road and across the river from the falls. There was always somebody new so we’d make the trip to see the falls. One time I hiked with some other guys to the top. You think looking up at it is magnificent, try looking down! There is a wooden overhang that you can walk out on to see the top of the falls up close. The hike is fairly rigorous and the view is not intended for anyone with a fear of heights!
For those who might be reading this… jump off Interstate 84 and take the Historic Columbia River Highway. It’s a slower crawl, no doubt, but there are plenty of other waterfalls to explore and the views can be spectacular – especially at the Vista House, abou 15 miles to the west. There are lots of quaint restaurants in Hood River, down the road to the east of Multnomah Falls about 30 miles.