Northwest Waterfall Survey: Multnomah Falls

Height: 635 feet

Tallest Drop: 542 feet

Num. Drops: 3

Primary Form: Tiered Plunges

Stream: Multnomah Creek

The falls are usually cited as dropping 611 feet, 542 feet in the upper and 69 feet in the lower tier. This is close enough, but to argue semantics, there is a small cascade between the two and a 10 foot fall immediately above the main drop which is sometimes called Little Multnomah Falls (it really shouldn't be considered a separate fall), which would bring the total height of the series to about 630 feet.

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

MULTNOMAH FALLS, 159 m [West of Hwy. 730 Junction], inspired Samuel Lancaster, builder of the Columbia River Highway, to write: "There are higher waterfalls and falls of greater volume, but there are none more beautiful than Multnomah," a sentiment approved by many observers. The source is near the summit of Larch Mountain 4,000 feet above the highway. After a series of cascades the waters drop 680 feet into a tree fringed basin.

Left from Multnomah Falls on a foot trail, across a bridge above the short stretch of creek between the upper and lower falls, to LARCH MOUNTAIN, 6.5 m., (4,095 alt.).

"Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural site in Oregon. The historic district includes the Falls, the Lodge, Benson Footbridge, and the HCRH bridge over Multnomah Creek; Multnomah Falls Lodge is also separately listed in the National Register of Historic Places."

"It isn't known exactly who named the falls, but the name has been in use since at least 1860, and according to "Oregon Geographic Names" its theorized that one S.G. Reed may have named the falls to popularize it as an attraction on Steamboat tours of the Columbia Gorge."

"As far as the claim that Multnomah Falls is the 4th tallest in the US, this is flat out wrong. Its also often said to be the second tallest perennial waterfall in the nation, also a false statement (see the Articles link above for more information). This is more than likely due to poor research having been done in the past in regard to the tallest waterfalls in the nation and perhaps a little of an attempt to secure a 'claim to fame' for Oregon."

Videos (By Others...)

Multnomah Falls is the centerpiece of the video below, which also includes Crown Point, Horsetail Falls, and Latourell Falls. Shot back in the days before drone usage was banned in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Links

Gathering the Stories: legend about the creation of the falls

http://www.gatheringthestories.org/2013/10/21/a-legend-of-multnomah-falls-a-wasco-legend/

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway