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By Matt Hansen Last Updated On March 30, 2024

The Multnomah – Wahkeena Falls Loop covers five miles of peak Columbia River Gorge beauty, with babbling creeks, dense ferny forest, and FIVE waterfallsalong the way. If you hike this trail, you’ll get a crash course in what makes the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area special. 

As we were hiking this trail recently, we realized that we had done this hike before (though we had completely forgotten about two of the waterfalls), and that it was actually our first ever hike in Oregon nearly a decade ago. What a great introduction to the natural beauty that Oregon – specifically the areas around Portland – has to offer! No wonder we decided to move here. 

In this guide, we’re going to cover all the information you need to know before you hit the trail. We’ll go through what route to take, what direction to hike in, where to park, and then we’ll give you a trail report based on our experience hiking this trail multiple times. 

A quick note here at the top – there are a few ways to tackle this hike. You can do it as an out-and-back just up to Wahkeena Falls, which is significantly shorter (but still involves a lot of climbing!), or you can do a hike up to the top of Multnomah Falls, which is also a big climb. 

The version we’re talking about here includes both in one big loop. 

• Length: 5.1 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,600 ft.
• Season: Year round
• Trail Type: Loop
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Trailhead Location
• Dog Friendly: Yes, on a leash
• Pass Required: Multnomah Falls timed use permit from Recreation.gov in the summer (more information here)