Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls Loop Hike
One of my most favorite hikes close to Portland is the Multnomah-Wahkeena Falls Loop hike. When traffic is good, I can be there in about 40 minutes. Multnomah Falls is an extremely popular waterfall stop in the Columbia Gorge, it’s easily accessible from Portland, and convenient from both I-84 and the Columbia Gorge Highway (when it’s open), but most visitors rarely go beyond the bridge. Because of its popularity, parking can be an major issue and recently there has been a ticketed system during the summer.
On two recent hikes, I arrived at 9:30am MLK day in January to a nearly empty parking lot and on a day in April 2021, I arrived at approx. 8:45am and the parking lot was about 3/4 full. Overall I would recommend going early and avoiding summer altogether.
From the parking lot, the trail immediately starts going up with approximately 11 switchbacks. There are a few nice views over the gorge and beacon rock before the trail goes into the forest.
For the people who hike all the way to the top, but are not planning to hiking the entire loop, the side trail to top of the falls is a popular turn around.
After the top of the falls, the trail continues up, but not as steeply and passes by a couple more waterfalls following Multnomah Creek until the junction where the Larch Mountain Trail continues up. Damage from the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire is more visible in this area.
Evidence of fire damage continues as the trail crosses through the forest to Wahkeena Creek.
For anyone looking for more steep uphill hiking, there’s an option to hike to Devil’s Rest. The unfortunate thing is that there is not a great view at Devil’s Rest. However there are a few views before that along with some very nice trillium flowers in the spring.
From Devil’s Rest it’s pretty much down all the way to the bottom, passing a few more waterfalls along the way including Fairy Falls which I passed just as the sun was peeking over the top.
The last waterfall before the bottom is Wahkeena.
To finish the loop, there’s a trail that follows the road back to the base of Multnomah Falls.
