Your Guide to Visiting Multnomah Falls

The most popular natural attraction in the entire state of Oregon is Multnomah Falls, one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the United States at 620 feet. More than 2 million visitors take in the views each year. Due to the popularity and remote nature of Multnomah Falls and The Gorge, visitors should plan their trip carefully, to maximize their time while reducing the impact on the environment.

In addition to being the last place for services, from gassing up the car to finalizing trip plans, Troutdale offers individuals, families and groups the chance to make the most of their excursion. Heavy traffic and congestion during the summer months mean the most reliable way to see Multnomah Falls is to take one of several shuttle services, use to public transit, or go by bike. There are options to drive your personal vehicle and park near the falls, but bear in mind that timed-use parking permits are required during peak hours in the summer months. 

Regardless of how you choose to go, Troutdale is the perfect place to start your journey. If you are traveling from the Portland area, take Exit 17 off I-84 to fill your gas tank, then head up the hill to our historic downtown to grab a bite to eat or a get a coffee to go. Be sure to check out the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center, where you will find knowledgeable experts and reliable resources to help make a trip to The Gorge enjoyable and relaxing!

Go By Shuttle

Sasquatch Shuttle

Sasquatch Shuttle offers shuttle service options from their parking lot just off I-84 at exit 28 to Multnomah Falls and to all the major attractions of the Gorge. Kids 3 and under ride free and dogs are allowed on the buses! The $5 parking fee at their Bridal Veil lot includes a FREE shuttle to Multnomah Falls. Their narrated Waterfall Loop Tour is a 2-1/2 hour journey that takes visitors to all the major attractions in the waterfall corridor.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Sasquatch will also offer weekend pickup locations at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in downtown Troutdale to Bridal Veil. You must schedule Troutdale rides at least 48 hours ahead of pickup.

Visit sasquatchshuttle.com for full details including pickup times, route maps, and to purchase tickets.  

 

Gray Line Waterfall Trolley

The Waterfall Trolley allows you to hop on or off at one of the ten stops within the Waterfall Corridor: Corbett, Crown Point, Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Angels Rest, Wahkeena Falls, Multnomah Falls, Triple Falls, Horsetail Falls and Ainsworth. They do not stop at non-designated sites.

Pricing is $33 for riders ages 13+ and $17 for kids ages 6-12. Kids 5 and under ride for free. The price includes parking at their lot in Corbett. If you don’t start your tour in Corbett , trolley drivers can sell tickets on a space-available basis at one of the designated stops (cash only).

Service runs daily from May 25 - September 2. Full details are available at waterfalltrolley.com.

Go  By Transit

Columbia Gorge Express

The Columbia Gorge Express, operated by Columbia Area Transit, offers an easy way to ride between Portland's Gateway Transit Center, Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks and Hood River. The service operates seven days a week. The service operates seven days a week and has three pick up times in Troutdale.  The pick-up location is on Frontage Road at the at the Trimet bus stop in front of Boot Barn.

A one-way fare to ride Columbia Gorge Express between Portland, Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks, and Hood River is $10 per person. Please keep in mind that the return trip is not included in that fare, meaning round trips are $20 per person.

Find full details at ridecatbus.org.

GOrge Pass

For locals or visitors planning to spend more than one day exploring everything The Columbia River Gorge has to offer, the GOrge Pass might be the way to go! The annual pass is just $40 for adults and $20 for kids under 17 and is good for for unlimited rides for one year from the time of purchase and is valid on all CAT, Mt. Adams Transportation Service, Skamania County Transit and The Link Public Transit fixed routes. This means from Portland or Troutdale, you can visit not only Multnomah Falls, but also Cascade Locks, Hood River, and The Dalles. During the winter months you can also get a ride to Government Camp and Mt. Hood Meadows.  The service also includes the Washington side of The Gorge. Learn more at gorgepass.com.  

Go By Car

There are two main routes you can take to visit Multnomah Falls. The scenic route takes you along the Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30), America's first scenic byway. From Troutdale it leads you past country farms, by breathtaking viewpoints such as the Women's Forum and Vista House, and through the stunning waterfall corridor. You can extend your visit by continuing on and enjoying a drive along the Infinity Loop, which combines the Historic Columbia River Highway and Mt. Hood Scenic Byways. The second option is to take Interstate 84 which provides expansive views of The Gorge and a convenient exit right near the base of Multnomah Falls.

The I-84 route is considerably faster at just under 20 minutes from the Visitor Center. Driving directly to Multnomah Falls along the Historic Columbia River Highway would take just under 40 minutes, but you should definitely plan for at least 90 minutes  or more to allow for stops at all of the spectacular sites and vistas along the way.  

Multnomah Falls Timed Use Parking Permits

Timed use parking permits are not currently required to visit Multnomah Falls. Permits will be required between May 24 and September 2, 2024.

Between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend, timed use permitting goes into effect for those arriving by personal vehicle at the Multnomah Falls I-84 Exit 31 parking lot. Permits will be available on a per-vehicle basis  two weeks prior to the date you wish to visit at Recreation.gov. There is a $2 reservation fee to secure each permit. 

Please note that this permit does not guarantee you a parking space, but you can see a live webcam view of the Exit 31 Multnomah Falls parking area on the Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck page. Approximately 100 permits are available during each window and you can reserve permits up to two weeks in advance. Permitting runs daily from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. through Labor Day. The Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum each have 25 free in-person permits available daily on a first come, first served basis.

Visit WaterfallCorridorPermits.org for full details.

Multnomah Falls Historic Columbia River Highway Parking Lot

There is a small paid lot with extremely limited parking along Historic Columbia River Highway/U.S. 30 at Multnomah Falls. A concessionaire operates this lot on a first come, first served basis. There are six ADA parking spots at this lot for those with valid ADA placards. When the parking lot is full, vehicles are not allowed to stop or wait for an open space.  The parking fee varies by season and hours. Visit the Sasquatch Shuttle website for full details.

Go by bike

While there are limited places outside of and within the Waterfall Corridor to park and begin your ride, you can start your ride in Troutdale by parking at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center. Another option is to take Columbia Area Transit. Their buses are equipped with three bike racks. Once bike racks are full, no more bicycles can be accommodated.  

In addition, the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail is free of motorized vehicles (e-bikes are allowed) and can be accessed from three trailheads that have parking: Toothrock Trailhead, Eagle Creek Day-use Area (requires a USFS Northwest Forest Pass), and the Bridge of the Gods Trailhead in Cascade Locks. Note: Dogs are allowed on the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, but must be leashed at all times.

You can also rent an e-bike or take a tour starting from Bike the Gorge. Their most popular guided tour is a half-day e-bike adventure through the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area that includes stops at Multnomah Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Ponytail Falls. Learn more about their guided and self-guided options at bikethegorge.org.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has a great biking map to help you plan your route.