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If you’ve seen photos of Multnomah Falls tumbling down a moss-covered basalt cliff in the Columbia River Gorge, your first question is probably the same one millions of visitors ask each year: how tall is Multnomah Falls, really? The short answer is 620 feet — but the full story is far more interesting than a single number, and understanding the geography behind the falls makes your visit so much more rewarding.

How Tall Is Multnomah Falls?

Multnomah Falls stands 620 feet (189 meters) tall, making it the tallest waterfall in Oregon and one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the United States. The falls drop in two distinct tiers: an upper tier of 542 feet and a lower tier of 69 feet, with a small 9-foot cascade between them where the two tiers meet at the famous Benson Bridge.

That two-tier structure is part of what makes Multnomah so photogenic. Many tall waterfalls in the world are single straight drops or wide curtains, but Multnomah has a tall, ribbon-like upper plunge that pauses at a stone bridge before fanning into a wider lower cascade. It’s a postcard-perfect composition that nature simply got right.

Where Does Multnomah Falls Rank Among U.S. Waterfalls?

Depending on how you measure, Multnomah Falls is typically ranked as one of the top 10 tallest year-round waterfalls in the United States. Some seasonal waterfalls in places like Yosemite are taller during peak snowmelt but dry up by late summer. Multnomah Falls, by contrast, flows reliably 365 days a year — fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, not just by rain or snow.

That year-round flow is one of the most important things to understand about Multnomah Falls. Other Columbia Gorge waterfalls can slow to a trickle in late summer, but Multnomah keeps roaring. It’s why the falls remain a worthwhile destination in August just as much as in April.

Why Is Multnomah Falls So Tall?

The answer is a combination of ancient lava flows, ice age floods, and a perfectly placed mountain. Roughly 15 million years ago, massive basalt lava flows blanketed what is now eastern Oregon and Washington, eventually reaching the Pacific. These flows stacked layer upon layer of hard basalt, creating thick cliff-forming rock.

Then, between about 15,000 and 18,000 years ago, the Missoula Floods — catastrophic ice age flooding events — scoured the Columbia River Gorge into the steep-walled canyon we see today. Streams that once flowed gently to the Columbia River suddenly found themselves cut off at towering cliffs, forcing them to plunge hundreds of feet in dramatic waterfalls. Multnomah Creek is one of those streams, and Multnomah Falls is the spectacular result.

The Benson Bridge: A Closer Look at the Falls’ Famous Feature

The stone footbridge crossing between the upper and lower tiers is called Benson Bridge, named after Simon Benson, the Oregon lumberman and philanthropist who donated the land surrounding Multnomah Falls to the city of Portland in 1915. Benson commissioned the bridge in 1914, and it remains one of the most photographed spots in the entire Pacific Northwest.

From the bridge, you stand 105 feet above the lower pool with the entire 542-foot upper plunge crashing down beside you. It’s loud, it’s misty, and it’s one of those rare places where a photo doesn’t quite do justice to being there in person.

How Much Water Flows Over Multnomah Falls?

Water flow at Multnomah Falls varies dramatically by season. In the wet winter and spring months, the falls can roar with thousands of gallons of water per minute, sending up a thick cloud of mist that drifts across the entire viewing area. In late summer, flow drops significantly, but unlike many other Gorge waterfalls, Multnomah never goes dry thanks to those underground springs on Larch Mountain.

This is why visiting Multnomah Falls in spring is so dramatic — peak snowmelt combined with seasonal rain creates the most powerful flow of the year, and the cliffs are draped in bright green moss and wildflowers. But every season offers something different: winter brings the chance of ice formations, summer offers crowds and sunshine, and fall delivers vivid maple and bigleaf foliage framing the falls.

Can You Hike to the Top of Multnomah Falls?

Yes — and it’s well worth it if you’re up for it. The paved Larch Mountain Trail (Trail #441) climbs 1.2 miles from the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge to the top of the upper tier, gaining about 700 feet of elevation through a series of 11 switchbacks. At the top, an observation deck juts out over the canyon, letting you peer down the full 542-foot upper drop as the water races past your feet.

The hike is moderately strenuous because of the elevation gain, but it’s paved the entire way and accessible to most reasonably fit visitors. Allow about two hours round-trip with photo stops.

The Best Way to Experience Multnomah Falls

Knowing that Multnomah Falls is 620 feet tall is one thing. Standing in the spray, feeling that height drop down on you, and watching mist swirl through ancient Douglas fir is something else entirely. The hardest part for most visitors isn’t the falls itself — it’s parking, the timed-entry permit system in peak season, and squeezing it into a tight Oregon itinerary.

That’s where we come in. Waterfall Shuttle tours handle the permits, the parking, and the driving so you can focus on the waterfall, not the logistics. Our guides share the geology and history above, plus dozens more stories you won’t find on a sign or a brochure — like why the Multnomah Falls Lodge is shaped the way it is, and how this entire corridor was almost lost to fire in 2017.

Book a Waterfall Shuttle tour and let us turn a quick photo stop into a memorable Oregon adventure — Multnomah Falls plus the best of the Columbia River Gorge, all in one easy day.