![]() Wiesendanger Falls has also been known as Upper Multnomah Falls and Twanlaskie Falls. Just beyond the tunnel, you'll come to Wiesendanger Falls (A plaque honoring Albert Wiesendanger, a Forest Service ranger, can be found in Dutchman Tunnel). The trail passes Lower, Middle and Upper Dutchman Falls, each 10 to 15 feet in height, followed by a unique trip through a creek-washed overhang called Dutchman Tunnel. The next three miles of the Larch Mountain Trail parallel Multnomah Creek offering numerous scenic views. Pass the old junction with the Perdition Trail, a lower link to the Wahkeena Trail across the face of the Gorge that was severely damaged by the 1991 Multnomah Falls Fire and has been permanently closed. On returning to the main trail, turn upcreek and cross a rock-faced culvert over Multnomah Creek. The ten-foot uppermost tier of Multnomah Falls splashes down into a shady pool encased by columnar basalt here. The asphalt follows a new side path that switchbacks down twice to the Multnomah Falls Upper Viewpoint, a balcony of sorts at the lip of the falls looking down on the Multnomah Falls Lodge and the crowds of visitors below. From the top, the trail drops slightly to a signed junction where you'll go right for the Multnomah Falls Viewpoint. ![]() At the crest, you'll see a few trees that were killed by the 2017 fire. Post fire, the trail seems more precipitous and the drop-offs more lethal as much of the buffering understory was incinerated during the blaze. As you ascend higher on the slope, look for Columbia River views. At the third switchback, a once shaded viewpoint with a bench offers a view to Multnomah Falls. After the Eagle Creek Fire, logging crews cut many of the trees on this slope and the views are more open although some of the logged trees seem to point dangerously down the steep slope. At the first switchback, you'll come to the Larch Mountain-Gorge Trail Junction. You'll pass below a rock net and can look up to see the seasonal Shady Creek Falls, which splash down a cliff just west of Multnomah Falls.īeyond the bridge, the asphalt trail switches up steeply for another mile to a ridgecrest (there are 11 switchbacks to be exact). This part of the trail has one switchback. From here, the route is a gently sloped 2/10 mile paved path to the Benson Bridge, put in place in 1914 by Simon Benson, one of the builders of the old highway. From a photographer's viewpoint, get a head on vista of both the lower and main tiers of Multnomah Falls and the picturesque span of the Benson Bridge. The trail begins at Multnomah Falls Lodge, a historic building constructed to serve early automobile travelers in 1925. Much of the understory was burned away, and there are areas of crown fire along the Wahkeena Trail. Almost the entire area of the loop was impacted by the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire. There are short diversions to the Multnomah Falls Upper Viewpoint, Wahkeena Spring, The Necktie (not for kids, dogs, and the fainthearted), and Lemmons Viewpoint. The description below begins at Multnomah Falls and goes clockwise: up the Larch Mountain Trail along Multnomah Creek, and then west along the Wahkeena Trail and down to Wahkeena Falls, then back east on the Return Trail #442 above the Historic Columbia River Highway back to Multnomah Falls Lodge. ![]() The loop can be hiked either direction, and it can be started from either trailhead. There are six officially named waterfalls on this trip as well as countless cascades and intermittent falls. This popular loop is a waterfall lover's paradise.
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