Adventures in Portland: Falling for Portland

This last weekend was warm and beautiful - who could stay indoors. Mr M and I decided to take a drive in the convertible down the scenic hwy thru the gorge to a bunch of waterfalls only 30-45 minutes from our apartment.

Soon after we past the airport we started to see the Columbia river on our right, we drove farther and to a turn off from the hwy. There was a parking lot to the right and tons of cars parked and hikers starting up a trail - apparently more waterfalls to see that way, but today Mr M. is wanting to see a specific waterfall ... with a bridge - of course.

We drove a little further east on the side road and had to stop - a beautiful waterfall could be seen from the road; this was Wahkeena Falls. We parked and walked up the embankment to a trail. No need to hike here waterfall viewing right from the road! But you could climb the path to the right for 5min and cross a bridge at the top to get a closer view. This photo was take of me on the bridge at the top. you can't tell but water was flying everywhere.

But this was not the bridge Mr M. wanted to go to, so we walked back down the trail ready to get back in our car and drive onward down the road. Back down at the bottom of the trail we saw a sign pointing to Multnoma Falls - THIS is the attraction we came to see! 


We walked along the trail for 10min and came to a bigger parking lot, Chateau with a restaurant inside and a big plaza, which all leads you to a humongous waterfall! Mr M. (as he is a bridge engineer; passionate about bridges; stops, or sometimes drives out of our way on our vacations to see them) was so excited to see a beautiful bridge and an amazing waterfall together. When I saw it I was excited too (which is usually not the case)

The bridge is from the turn of the last century - about 1910 and perfectly frames the waterfall - it was like a fairy tail. The coolest view is from the bottom, but we had to cross the bridge anyway and take a look from there.


We also hiked up another 30 min on a busy trail. There is usually a viewing platform where you can see the falls from the very top, but part of the trail leading to it had been washed out, so it was closed. We did see some smaller pretty falls at the top and it was a nice hike anyway.

I will definitely come back here to see some of the other falls and hike further into the Gorge; so pretty, so close.

-L