Trip details · Multnomah Falls: Trail to the Top

Multnomah Falls: Trail to the Top packing checklist

ActivityDay hike
ParkColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, OR
NearestSkyline Trail, 86 mi

Oregon's best-known waterfall, with a paved but steep trail that climbs past Benson Bridge to a small viewing area at the very top of the 620-foot falls. Crowded parking, rain and wet pavement, short fall days and nearby fire-area closures are the main things to plan for.

Trip details

Distance: 2.4 mi round trip to the viewing area at the top of the falls
Elevation gain: About 600 ft, which the Forest Service compares to 60 flights of stairs on uneven, steep terrain
Route: Larch Mountain Trail #441 from the lower viewing platform, across Benson Bridge, then paved switchbacks up to a short spur to the top of the falls
Difficulty: Easy to Benson Bridge, then a steep, sustained climb
Trailhead: Multnomah Falls Lodge. Park in the free lot at I-84 Exit 31 (a left-hand exit from either direction) and walk under the freeway and railroad to the lodge, or use the fee lot in front of the lodge on the Historic Columbia River Highway
Fees and permits: No fee at the I-84 lot. A timed-use permit was only needed May 22 to Sept 7, 2026
Hours: Day use only. Visitor center open daily 10 am to 2 pm
Pets: On a leash and under control at all times
Best season: Year-round. The falls run highest in winter and spring; go on a weekday morning to beat the crowds (our pick)

Source

"Our pick" seasons are our own call.

Packing list

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Before you go

Check conditions and closures. Look at USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls and USFS Columbia River Gorge: alerts and closures the day before. As of Oct 22, 2026, no timed-use permit is needed (that season ran May 22 to Sept 7, 2026), the restrooms inside the lodge are closed for renovation through November 2026 with limited portable toilets on site, and Oneonta Gorge, a few miles east, is still closed after the Eagle Creek Fire.
Check the drive. Look at ODOT TripCheck before you leave. As of Oct 22, 2026, ODOT lists periodic single-lane and shoulder closures on I-84 near McCord Creek (around Exit 37) through fall 2026, and the eastbound on-ramp from NE Frontage Road at the Elowah Falls Trailhead is closed, with an estimated finish of Nov 4, 2026. Use the Ainsworth State Park on-ramps at Exit 35 instead. ODOT: Columbia Gorge projects
Go early or take the bus. The Forest Service says parking fills early and stays full. When the I-84 lot is full its entrance closes automatically, so do not enter if the barriers are down, and do not stop on the Historic Highway to park. The Columbia Gorge Express bus runs daily from Portland's Gateway Transit Center and Troutdale. USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls
Tell someone your plan. The Forest Service asks you to leave your plan with a trusted contact who will check on you at your return time, and to hike with at least one other person. In an emergency, call 911. The Multnomah Falls Visitor Center is at (503) 695-2376. USFS: safety and outdoor ethics
Know when to turn back. Turn back if the pavement is icy, if a section is signed closed, if a storm is coming in, or if the light is fading.

This list is a starting point, not a guarantee. Conditions change, so adjust it for your trip and your group.

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Trip-specific: permits and hazards

Steep climb above Benson BridgePast the bridge, the trail is paved but climbs steeply up switchbacks, about 600 feet in all. The Forest Service asks you to make sure you have sturdy footwear and the Ten Essentials before going on past the bridge.
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles (set of 2)
$64.99 on Amazon
Extra footing on the steep switchbacks above Benson Bridge, and easier on the knees coming back down wet pavement.
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Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls
Stay on the trail and away from edgesThe Forest Service says most people hurt in the Gorge either go off-trail and get lost or fall from the steep edges and cliffs found all over the area. Stay on the trail, respect closures and keep children close at the viewpoints.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: safety and outdoor ethics
Parking and crowdsMore than two million people visit each year, and the Forest Service says to expect heavy crowds for the first mile or so. The free I-84 Exit 31 lot closes automatically when full. The lot in front of the lodge is privately run and charges a fee. No timed-use permit is needed again until late May.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls
Restrooms closed for renovationThe public restrooms in the lodge are closed through November 2026, with only limited portable toilets on site. The visitor center, snack bar, gift shop and restaurant are open, and drinking water is available year-round, with a bottle filler near the elevator door.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls Lodge
Nearby fire-area closuresIf you plan to stop at other waterfalls, note that Eagle Creek Fire closures still cover Oneonta Gorge (inside the gorge walls between the Historic Highway and the Horsetail Falls Trail bridge), Ruckel Creek Trail #405 and Tanner Butte Trail #401 north of Tanner Cutoff Trail #448. Do not enter closed areas.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: alerts and closures
Site rulesKeep pets on a leash and pick up after them. Drones are not allowed to take off or land here. No bikes, e-bikes, scooters or skateboards. Do not disturb spawning fish in Multnomah Creek or throw coins into the creek.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls

The Ten Essentials (NPS)

WaterAbout 1 liter per person for the 2.4-mile round trip, and more if you keep going up the Larch Mountain Trail (our suggestion). The Forest Service lists extra water among the essentials. You can fill up at the lodge, which has drinking water and a bottle filler. Do not drink from the creek untreated.
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth 32 oz
$17.99 on Amazon
One full bottle covers the 2.4-mile round trip. Top it up at the lodge bottle filler.
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Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls
Food and extra foodBring a snack and a little extra. The lodge has a snack bar and a restaurant if you want a meal after the hike.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Multnomah Falls Lodge
Navigation: map and offline mapThe trail to the top is busy and easy to follow, but the Forest Service warns not to rely on your phone in the Gorge's deep canyons, where reception can drop a few hundred yards up the trail. The visitor center has a simple trail map. If you go past the top on the Larch Mountain Trail (6.8 mi one way to Larch Mountain), carry a real map.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: safety and outdoor ethics
HeadlampThe Forest Service lists a flashlight among the emergency items to carry and asks you to leave plenty of daylight. Late-October days are short, and it gets dark early under the forest canopy. Your phone isn’t a headlamp.
Petzl Tikka Headlamp
$34.95 on Amazon
The Forest Service lists a flashlight among the emergency items to carry, and late-October daylight goes fast under the trees.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: safety and outdoor ethics
Sun protectionMost of the climb is under forest canopy, so sun is a small risk here in fall. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen anyway for clear days at the viewpoints.
No product pick yet. Bring your own or check with the park.
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Larch Mountain Trail #441
Insulation and rain layerThe Forest Service says to be ready for rain, snow and extreme temperatures, and calls hypothermia the number one killer of people outdoors. Fall here is often wet, and the falls throw spray near the bridge. Bring a warm layer and a rain jacket.
FROGG TOGGS Ultra-lite2 Rain Jacket (men’s)
$23.47 on Amazon
A light rain shell for Gorge showers and the spray near the falls.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: safety and outdoor ethics
First aid kitThe Forest Service lists a first aid kit among the essentials. It covers blisters, scrapes and sprains, the most common trail problems.
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5
$31.95 on Amazon
For blisters, scrapes and a turned ankle on slick switchbacks.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: safety and outdoor ethics
Fire starter and emergency shelterIf someone is hurt, an emergency bivvy keeps them warm while you wait. Carry a lighter for emergencies only: fires are not allowed within 200 feet of the Larch Mountain Trail.
SOL 90% Emergency Bivvy
$25.49 on Amazon
If someone is hurt and you have to wait for help, it holds in body heat on a cold, wet fall evening. It has a whistle too.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)
Source: USFS Columbia River Gorge: Larch Mountain Trail #441
Knife or repair kitFor quick gear fixes, cutting tape or trimming a blister pad.
Opinel No. 08 Stainless Folding Knife
$16.78 on Amazon
For quick gear fixes, cutting tape or trimming a blister pad.
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Prices and stock checked on Amazon on Oct 22, 2026, and may have changed.

Photos

The white arched Benson Bridge crossing in front of Multnomah Falls, with mossy cliffs on both sides — Photo: Ross kramerov (cropped) · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The lower tier of Multnomah Falls pouring into a dark pool between fern-covered rock walls — Photo: Srikar Devaguptapu · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons