Multnomah Falls and Horsetail Falls

Back out this morning to visit the 2 falls we never got a chance to see yesterday due to the cad-zillion people also trying to see them.  Our timing was good - was able to get parking spots in both places not far from the falls.

To refresh where we were - Multnomah and Horsetail Falls

The first falls we went to, Multnomah, is the most popular of all the falls in the area.  Multnomah is a Chinook Indian name meaning  - those down the river.  Two million folks clamber just like us to get a good view and hopefully, a photo.  Really turned off by the number of people, have to say yesterday was just disgusting - today, by the time we left was getting just as crowded.  But, we gritted our teeth and pushed in to see.  First viewed the falls from the lower level, where most people see it and do not venture closer.  Wheel chair accessible, makes it friendly to those who can’t get any higher or closer to see it.  Then took the trail up to the bridge area, again, had to wait our turn to get on the bridge to get photos.

In 1995, a wedding was being conducted near the base of the falls.  A huge rock broke off the side of the falls and crashed down into the water below, sending up a 70 foot tall gusher.  The rock measured to be a size of a school bus.  Wow.  Totally soaked everyone.  And - changed how close people are now allowed to get (or not allowed).

View of falls from parking lot, notice bridge below with people?

It is pretty, gotta say that much! From the ADA area.

The walk up to the bridge

Notice big round stone at bottom of falls?  It's the
size of a  school bus.  Deceiving...

Standing on bridge looking down to second pool of water 

ADA viewing area

Up a little higher, looking down on bridge

Stopped back down at the bottom to the exhibit area, packed with people, buses unloading and loading, cars stopped in the middle of the road to force their way into the parking.  Terrible.  Did learn via one of the exhibits, that Lewis and Clark remarked in their journal that they viewed the Multnomah Falls.  Pretty cool.

Map of the area we are in

From Lewis' journal of April 9, 1806

Drove eastward on the Historic Route 30, the Columbia River Parkway, to Horsetail Falls.  Again, lucky we got a spot.  Took some photos, I think Horsetail was the prettiest of the 4 we saw between the 2 days. Both Multnomah and Horsetail Falls are spring fed, bubbling up from somewhere up in Larch Mountain overhead of us and where we visited the day before.

Route 30 - very scenic

My favorite falls - Horsetail

Sunlight just coming over crest of falls (downed tree across)

Dave met a photographer while at Horsetail Falls and he said there were over 3900 waterfalls in Oregon, he had been to over 2000.  Wow.  He told Dave about another area not far from where we are camping, that has a nice scenic walk and has more waterfalls.  If time permits….