I have a major fear of three things in this life. Cougars (also known as mountain lions), college-level algebra, and tourist traps. There’s nothing worse than being hooked by a money-hungry organization looking to take advantage of your curiosity in exchange for your hard-earned cash. Tourist traps are a dime a dozen. Take the mighty Alamo, now sandwiched between modern retail buildings, or the Hollywood Walk of Fame where trash drifts across the gilded sidewalk stars like urban tumbleweeds.

But let me assure you that Multnomah Falls is NOT a tourist trap! On the contrary, this 620-foot waterfall located in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is breathtaking and worth a stop if you’re traveling on I-84 east of Portland. Our little family hit it on the way from North Idaho to Seaside, Oregon.

Fun Side Note: Many years ago, I was pulled over by an Oregon State Trooper while speeding and jamming out to “Barbie Girl” with my future wife and friend on this highway on our way to Smith Rock. I wish I was kidding. It was a hefty fine and my pocket book – and dignity – took a major hit. I suggest going the speed limit however slow it may seem in the great state of Oregon.

Below are three quick tips on ways to make your trip to the falls smooth and memorable. But before we get down to the details, allow me to provide some surprising stats on this stunning spot.

Multnomah Falls Fun Facts

• Multnomah Falls, which boasts a 620-foot waterfall, is the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States.
• This spot is the most popular natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. According to a credible-sounding .gov website, more than two million people visit Multnomah Falls each year!
• The falls, which are fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, are typically at their highest flows during the winter and spring, but the waterfall flows year-round.

Quick Tip #1 – Plan for Parking

Super important tip incoming! If you plan to visit the Falls between May to early September, you’ll need a time-specific permit. They’re $2 per space and can be purchased here. Keep in mind that these peak-season permits can be purchased up to 14 days in advance, so be sure to snag one beforehand. It sounds like these are a hot commodity during the summer months and sell faster than a Furby in 1998. Our little family visited this spot in October, so a permit wasn’t required and we found a spot in their larger lot which is located at Juction 31, just off I-84. Click here to see its exact location.

Also keep these suggestions in mind when it comes to actually reaching Multnomah Falls:

• Come early to beat the crowd especially during summer (unless you enjoy feeling like you’re being funneled into “It’s a Small World” at Disneyland). It’s typically open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but that varies outside peak season months. Remember, the early worm gets the parking spot!
• If you’d rather not hassle with parking yourself, check out the Multnomah Falls Shuttle! This shuttle service stops at five other waterfalls in the area and the Crown Point Vista House. During this half-day journey, you’ll be unloaded near the entrance of the Falls like a VIP without having to hassle with parking! Can I get a whoot-whoot?!

Quick Tip #2 – Dress for the Occasion

There’s no surprise that this place is wet, so be sure that your footwear and outerwear can hold up to wet conditions. My three-year-old rocked his rain boots (mainly because that’s what he wears virtually all the time), but it proved to be a good choice. Many of the bridges and viewing decks along the way are wet and have puddling in some areas this time of year, so pick something that’ll keep your toezies dry and toasty. Also consider wearing a light rain jacket over some layers – worst case, you can shed the jacket and stuff it in a small day pack.

Quick Tip #3 – Choose Your Hiking Adventure

Multnomah Falls is chock-full of hiking trail options with varying distances and difficulties. If you’d just like a quick glimpse at the falls, you can simply walk up to the lower viewing deck that’s just beyond the Multnomah Falls Lodge. It’s a large platform at the base of falls that provides a clear view of the two waterfall theirs and the iconic bridge.

Fun Fact: Multnomah Falls Lodge was built in 1925 to serve automobile travelers.

If you’re able to hoof it a little farther, I’d highly recommend walking 0.2 miles up from this main viewing deck to reach the Benson Bridge between the fall’s tiers to get a seriously good view of both. This trail is completely paved and easy on the legs. Just be sure to keep the little ones close because the path does have steep edges in some spots and poison ivy is abundant.

For those looking for calf burnin’ good time with a well-deserved reward, you also have the opportunity to go all the way to the top of the falls on a 2.4 mile out-and-back dirt trail. It’s a moderate difficulty with 874-foot elevation gain. We didn’t hit this trail during our visit, but the photos look stunning from this viewpoint and this trail is on my ever-growing bucket list!

Have you visited Multnomah Falls? Let us know what you thought of it and share any other tips you have in the comments below! And be sure to subscribe to MTN Talk for the latest content! As always, thanks for reading!