How Tall Is Multnomah Falls?

If you've seen photos of Multnomah Falls tumbling down a moss-covered cliff, your first question is probably the same one millions ask: how tall is it, really? The short answer is 620 feet — but the full story is far more interesting.

How Tall Is It?

Multnomah Falls stands 620 feet (189 meters) tall, the tallest waterfall in Oregon and one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the U.S. It drops in two tiers: an upper tier of 542 feet and a lower tier of 69 feet, with a small 9-foot cascade between them at Benson Bridge.

That two-tier structure is part of what makes it so photogenic — a tall, ribbon-like upper plunge that pauses at a stone bridge before fanning into a wider lower cascade.

Where Does It Rank?

Depending on how you measure, Multnomah is typically among the top 10 tallest year-round waterfalls in the U.S. Some seasonal falls are taller during snowmelt but dry up by late summer. Multnomah flows reliably 365 days a year, fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain.

Why Is It So Tall?

Roughly 15 million years ago, massive basalt lava flows stacked thick, cliff-forming rock across the region. Then, between 15,000 and 18,000 years ago, the catastrophic Missoula Floods scoured the Gorge into a steep-walled canyon — leaving streams like Multnomah Creek to plunge hundreds of feet.

The Benson Bridge

The stone footbridge between the tiers is named for Simon Benson, the lumberman who donated the surrounding land to Portland in 1915 and commissioned the bridge in 1914. From it, you stand 105 feet above the lower pool with the 542-foot upper plunge crashing beside you.

How Much Water Flows Over It?

Flow varies dramatically by season — thousands of gallons per minute in winter and spring, much less in late summer, but never dry thanks to those springs. Spring is the most dramatic time to visit, with peak snowmelt and bright green moss on the cliffs.

The Best Way to Experience It

Knowing the falls is 620 feet tall is one thing; standing in the spray is another. The hardest part for most visitors is parking, the summer permit, and squeezing it into a tight itinerary. Waterfall Shuttle tours handle the permits, parking, and driving so you can focus on the waterfall — plus dozens of stories you won't find on a sign.