Multnomah Falls

The third stop of our autumn trip around Portland was the main reason for this whole journey — Multnomah Falls. I had seen photos of its stunning fall colors online, and that was what inspired me to plan this trip in the first place. We set out early in the morning and arrived by public transport a little after 9 am, hoping to spend as much time as possible around the falls. Full of excitement, I planned to challenge myself with a roughly five-mile loop hike from Multnomah Falls to Wahkeena Falls. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. A light rain started shortly after we arrived, and the stone trail became wet and slippery. At the time, I was completely absorbed by the grandeur of the waterfalls and didn’t really think about the risks of hiking in the rain. In late autumn, Multnomah Falls was decorated with sparse yellow leaves. Surrounded by mist and clouds, it felt like something out of a fairy tale. The falls are divided into upper and lower sections by the iconic stone bridge. Standing on the bridge, you can feel the thunderous roar of the water up close. Nearby, we also noticed another waterfall of similar height, but much more delicate and thin, resembling Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite. One waterfall felt bold and powerful, while the other was quiet and graceful, creating a beautiful contrast. As I continued hiking upward, I admired the falls from different angles. Sometimes I could see the entire waterfall, sometimes I could only hear its roar without seeing it, and sometimes the waterfall blended perfectly into the surrounding trees and rocks like a painting. Along the trail, there were beautiful views of the Columbia River and the mountains on the opposite side, layered one after another and partially hidden in the mist. After turning one corner, the first rays of morning light gently lifted the veil covering the mountains across the river, as if another world was slowly waking up before my eyes. Route: Seattle → Multnomah Falls → Portland → Seattle Since the main purpose of this trip was shopping, we didn’t visit that many places. The spots we missed can wait for next time. Multnomah Falls Parking lots P1–P4 are not very large. Parking costs $20. We heard reservations were required, but because we arrived early, there were plenty of spaces available and we didn’t make a reservation. It was incredibly beautiful and definitely worth visiting. After that, we headed to Woodburn Premium Outlets. Tax-free shopping is amazing. Some items were unbelievably cheap, with discounts stacked on top of discounts. After shopping, we drove back to downtown Portland.