Multnomah Falls with Kids

KID RATINGS

Fun: ⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5)
Difficulty:     Very Easy    Easy    MODERATE    Hard    Very Hard 

KEY FEATURES

Distance: 0.1 to 2 miles, depending on how far you go
Elevation Gain: Flat to 800 ft, depending on how far you walk
Terrain: Paved trail and bridges
Time Needed: 30 to 90 minutes
When to Go: Spring, Summer, Fall. Early morning or late evening if you want to avoid crowds.

COST

Free

AMENITIES

• Bathrooms

• Restaurant

• Gift Shop

• Water fountain

• Snack bar

THINGS TO BRING

• Water container

• Good walking shoes

• Stroller if needed

DETAILS

Multnomah Falls with kids can be a quick stop or a longer adventure depending on where you want to view the falls. It can be easily tailored to your family’s needs. 

Multnomah Falls with our kids was our first stop coming into the Portland Oregon after a full day of driving. We drove by at sunset and there were only a few other cars parked in the lot. You can see the waterfall from the interstate and parking lot but there are better views along the trail. We viewed the falls from the parking lot as we were all exhausted and wanted to get the hotel. We visited Multnomah Falls with our kids again a couple days later with a little more energy and sunlight. 

Parking

We arrived around 4 pm near the end of the July and the parking lot was about 75% full. The main parking lot is in between the East and Westbound Interstate 84. You access the lot by the left sided exit 31 going either direction. We almost missed this exit so be aware as you get close. Once you park you will need to walk through a tunnel under east bound I-84 to get to the trailhead.

If you visit at a time where the parking lot is full you can drive to exit 25 to Rooster Rock State Park and take a free shuttle to Multnomah Falls. Rooster Rock does charge a $5 day use fee upon entrance into the park.

Trailhead

You can see Multnomah Falls from the trailhead or you can get closer by following the paved trail. This trail is steep and can get crowded. I recommend visiting in the morning before 10am or in the late evening if you want to visit at a time with less people.

There is a small visitor’s center, bathrooms, restaurant and snack bar located at the trailhead.

The Hike

Just a short walk upward on the paved trail from the trailhead, you will come to the famous views of the falls and the Multnomah Falls Bridge (Benson Bridge). Wait your turn to get an awesome picture in front of the falls. 

Continue upward following a few switchbacks to get to the Benson Bridge. On the bridge you can get a closer view of the upper and lower falls.

This is where we turned around making our hike 0.4 miles round trip. You can continue to the top of the falls for a total of 2 miles of hiking or make an even longer hike by connecting to the Wahkeena trail.

This is a super touristy location but we were glad we took the time to see this beautiful waterfall with our kids. The crowds diminish as you hike further up. I wish we could of hiked further up, but we did not have the time that day. 

PROS & CONS

PROS

• Beautiful scenery and waterfall

• Easily accessible

• Good for all skill levels and ages

• Free

CONS

• Can be crowded and touristy

• Steep 1 mile to get to the top of the falls

DIRECTIONS

Multnomah Falls is located along the Columbia River Gorge 30 minutes east of Portland. It is directly off of Interstate 84. Simply put “Multnomah Falls Parking” into your GPS device or phone to get you to the right location. You can also follow my map below.

MAPS 

MORE INFO

All Trails: Multnomah Falls Trail

Multnomah Falls Lodge

OTHER NEARBY ADVENTURES

Portland (30 minutes)

Other hikes in the Columbia River Gorge