I’m a sucker for waterfalls. Perhaps, it’s because I grew up in Hawaii and lived within walking distance of some of the most popular falls in the world. Or, maybe it’s because a sense of calm rushes over me when I hear the sound of cascading water. Whatever the reason, regardless of where our family travels, if there is a waterfall within a 50-mile radius of where we are staying I make sure we make a stop.
There’s no question Hawaii has some spectacular falls, as does California. In fact, the West Coast of the United States is home to dozens of spectacular waterfalls. Take for example, the Columbia River Gorge, which begins just east of Portland, Oregon. It runs 80 miles along the Columbia River and spans both Oregon and Washington. It is the only sea level passage through the Cascade Mountain range. While millions visit the area to take advantage of the outdoor recreational activities, including, hiking, mountain biking, windsurfing, camping, fishing, boating, bird watching, photography, picnicking, and rock climbing, in my opinion a trip to the Columbia River Gorge is not complete without a visit to one of its 77 waterfalls.
Multnomah Falls is the most-visited site in the Columbia River Gorge. Once you see it you’ll know why. It’s the second-tallest year-round waterfall in the United States and plunges about 620 feet. The water comes down in a single line, falls into an upper-plunge pool and finally into a lower-plunge pool. Visually it’s not one of those waterfalls where you would expect to see a swimsuit model posing under. Rather, it is a powerful natural centerpiece to a rocky canyon area, which is best photographed from the bridge that stretches directly in front of the upper falls and over the upper-plunge pool.
Lucky visitors who time their trips just right are treated to more incredible sights at the falls–mainly because the volume of the waterfalls changes depending on the season. At times the water flow is so intense that it creates new waterfalls that are only visible for a few months.
Regardless of when you go, you will not be disappointed by Multnomah’s incredible sound. When you close your eyes and listen to its intensity you could swear a freight train was directly in front of you. The sound imparts an incredible feeling. For me, it transports me back to the days of my childhood when my friends and I used to race through Hawaii’s rainforests to see who could get to the waterfall first. But, you don’t have to be a child of Hawaii to have Multnomah Falls make an impression on you.
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