Visiting Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls dropping in two tiers past a stone footbridge

Multnomah Falls drops 620 feet in the Columbia River Gorge, and the USFS calls it the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. The trail to the top is 2.4 miles with about 600 feet of gain (USFS). From late May to early September, 9 am to 6 pm, the I-84 Exit 31 lot needs a timed-use permit (in 2026, May 22 to September 7); visitors arriving on the Historic Columbia River Highway, by transit or by bike are exempt. Four day trips list a timed stop there, and two include the permit and parking fees, per their listings.

Height620 ft (USFS)

Trail to the top2.4 mi, about 600 ft

Permit window 2026May 22 to Sept 7

Permit hours9 am to 6 pm daily

Permit applies toI-84 Exit 31 lot

ExemptHCRH, transit, bikes

The falls

The USFS Multnomah Falls page gives the height as 620 feet and describes Multnomah Falls as the “most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest”. The wording is Pacific Northwest, not Oregon, although it is sometimes misquoted that way. The falls are managed by the USFS as part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. They lie in the Gorge along I-84, on the way to Hood River, rather than on Mount Hood itself; the things to do page places them among the other sights of the area.

A domed stone observatory on a cliff above the Columbia River Gorge — Vista House at Crown Point, a stop on two of the tours, per their listings.

The trail to the top

A trail climbs from the base to the top of the falls: 2.4 miles with around 600 feet of elevation, according to the USFS. The tour listings give 30 minutes to 1 hour at the falls and do not list the climb to the top. A visitor driving independently can fit the trail into a Gorge morning before continuing to the mountain.

The timed-use permit

The permit covers one parking lot, not the whole Gorge. Details for 2026, from recreation.gov, the USFS and ODOT:

Dates: May 22, 2026 through September 7, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
Who needs it: private vehicles and motorcycles using Exit 31 off I-84.
Exempt: transit riders, bicyclists and people arriving on the Historic Columbia River Highway (US-30).
Booking: 14 days ahead at 7 a.m. Pacific time, with a second release 2 days ahead; a small fee applies online.
No-fee permits: a limited number at the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center in Troutdale and the Cascade Locks Historical Museum.
Parking: “A Timed Use Permit reservation does not guarantee parking.”

The ODOT permit page states that the 2026 system for Exit 31 has ended for the season and that information about permits for 2027 will be posted. The broader “Waterfall Corridor” permit on the Historic Columbia River Highway ran only in 2022 and was then discontinued, so older articles that describe it are out of date. The passes and permits page covers the permits on Mount Hood itself.

Which tours stop, and for how long

Each listing gives its own time at the falls:

Portland: Mt. Hood Day Tour: a photo stop and a 30-minute walk; the description mentions time on Benson Bridge.
From Portland: Columbia Gorge Waterfalls and Mt. Hood Tour: 30 minutes, self-guided.
From Portland: Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Day Tour: 30 minutes.
Mt Hood & Columbia River Private tour from Portland: 1 hour.
From Portland: Full Day Gorge Waterfalls & Mt. Hood Tour: the listing names the Historic Columbia River Highway among its highlights; its stop times were not captured.
Portland: Flightseeing Tour Mount Hood: passes over Multnomah Falls in the air, per its route.

Mary, from the United States, wrote that the guide on the wine tour knew every waterfall. The waterfalls and Mt. Hood page sets the Gorge tours side by side.

Permit and parking fees in the listings

Two listings state that the Multnomah Falls permit and parking fees are included during the permit season: the Portland: Mt. Hood Day Tour and the From Portland: Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Day Tour. The other listings do not mention the permit. Tour guests do not park at Exit 31 themselves, but the inclusion lists are the reference for what each product covers. The wine tour’s listing also states that wine tasting fees are not included.

Local tip

Arriving on the Historic Columbia River Highway instead of I-84 Exit 31 avoids the timed-use permit during its season, per the USFS exemption.

Check availability & book

Mount Hood Hike is an independent guide. It is not the US Forest Service, not Timberline Lodge and not a guide service or tour operator, and it is not affiliated with any of the companies whose tours it describes. Trails, passes and permits are described from official sources; tour details come from each GetYourGuide listing. Booking links go to GetYourGuide and are affiliate links: a booking made through them may earn this site a small commission at no extra cost to the traveller. See the affiliate disclosure.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit for Multnomah Falls?

Only for the I-84 Exit 31 lot, late May to early September, 9 am to 6 pm (in 2026, May 22 to September 7). Visitors on the Historic Columbia River Highway, by transit or bike are exempt.

How tall is Multnomah Falls?

620 feet, according to the USFS.

How long is the hike to the top of Multnomah Falls?

2.4 miles with around 600 feet of elevation (USFS). See the best hikes page for trails on Mount Hood itself.

Which tours include the Multnomah Falls permit?

The Mt. Hood Day Tour and the Waterfalls, Mt Hood, and Wine Day Tour list the permit and parking fees as included in season. See day tours from Portland.