Lower Multnomah Falls
Multnomah County, Oregon
Your visit at a glance
- Waterfall height
- 69 ft (21 m)
- Location
- Multnomah County, Oregon
- Access status
- Paved viewpoint walk and seasonal permits documented
- The walk
- About 0.2 mile from the lodge to the Benson Bridge
- Ground & access
- Paved path with one switchback and a short flight of stairs beyond the lower falls viewpoint. Very crowded in summer.

Lower Multnomah Falls is the 69-foot lower tier of Multnomah Falls. From the plaza by Multnomah Falls Lodge, the main viewpoint shows the lower and main tiers with the Benson Bridge between them. The paved path climbs gently past a lower falls viewpoint to the Benson Bridge, directly above the lower tier.
Plan your visit
Multnomah Falls Lodge viewpoint and paved trail toward the Benson Bridge
Oregon Hikers gives a gently sloped 0.2 mile paved path from the lodge to the Benson Bridge, which spans the stream just above the lower tier. The lower tier is also seen from the viewpoint by the lodge.
Paved path with one switchback and a short flight of stairs beyond the lower falls viewpoint. Very crowded in summer.
Where to start
I-84 Exit 31 parking area (walk under the highway to the lodge), or the lodge parking area on the Historic Columbia River Highway.
Timing & water
Open all year. Expect crowds on summer weekends.
Before you go
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, the I-84 lot needs a reserved ticket from Recreation.gov, and the lodge lot on the old highway needs a $2 timed use permit from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., plus a concessionaire parking fee.
Visitor informationVisit sources
More waterfalls nearby
Within 40 straight-line miles. Road and trail distances will differ.
Multnomah FallsResearched visit notes620 ft total · Multnomah County, OR0.1 miSE- Shady Creek FallsRoadside view from the Multnomah Falls I-84 parking lot177 ft (54 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.1 miSW
- Dutchman FallsPaved and dirt trail above Multnomah Falls; summer parking permits33 ft (10 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.3 miE
Wiesendanger FallsResearched walking route49 ft (15 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.4 miE- Ecola FallsBusy trail from Multnomah Falls Lodge past the top of the falls55 ft (16.7 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.5 miSE
Wahkeena FallsResearched visit notes242 ft (73.7 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.6 miW
Fairy FallsResearched visit notes20 ft (6.1 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.6 miSW- Mist FallsFull view from Benson State Recreation Area; rough optional scramble to base518 ft (158 m) · Multnomah County, OR0.8 miW
- Dalton FallsPartial guide: distant pond-shore view; identity as the historic Dalton Falls is uncertainMultnomah County, OR1.0 miW