Columbia River Gorge Waterfall Loop: Two Nights, Four Photo Slots, Zero Backtracking
A complete sample plan for a two night Columbia River Gorge waterfall loop from Portland: one direction through Latourell, Wahkeena and Multnomah Falls with two photo slots a day, a Hood River base, and no Multnomah Falls timed permit needed on these September dates.
As of June 2026
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Describe your trip →0) Your details
| Item | Your spec |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, 2026 (2 nights; Fri/Sat/Sun) |
| Group | 2 adults, own car from Portland, OR |
| Budget | Up to $700 total |
| Must-haves | Multnomah, Latourell, Wahkeena and the big viewpoints bundled as ONE logical loop with drive minutes, current timed-permit rules for the waterfall corridor in September, parking reality per stop |
| Special requests | Base in Hood River or Cascade Locks, two photo slots per day, short hikes between, casual food, one brewery dinner in Hood River |
| Pace | Relaxed, light-driven, no 6-hour "one photo" nonsense |
1) At a glance
| Topic | The short answer |
|---|---|
| Timed permit for Multnomah Falls | Not needed on your dates. The 2026 Multnomah Falls (I-84 Exit 31) Timed Use Permit runs daily 9 AM to 6 PM from May 22 through September 7, 2026 only. You arrive September 18, so the window has closed. |
| Where the permit lives (for reference) | recreation.gov timed-entry page 10089144, small per-vehicle fee (about $2 in the 2026 season, confirm on recreation.gov). Not required for you. |
| "Waterfall Corridor" corridor-wide permit | Retired. Only the Multnomah Falls I-84 lot has a seasonal timed permit. |
| New in 2026: state park parking fee | Since March 30, 2026 a day-use parking permit is required at Latourell Falls Trailhead (Guy Talbot State Park), Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint and Angel's Rest Trailhead. $12 per day for out-of-state visitors, $10 in-state, valid all day at any Oregon state park. |
| Loop shape | Portland, west end viewpoints, Latourell, Shepperd's Dell, Bridal Veil, Wahkeena, Multnomah, Cascade Locks, Hood River, Rowena Crest, home. One direction, no doubling back except one deliberate sunrise run. |
| Total driving | Roughly 175 to 195 miles over three days, about 4 hours 30 minutes of wheel time in total |
| Base | Hood River (best food, best Day 3 exit) |
| Lodging pick | Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, 1108 E Marina Way, on the river, guide value approx. $185 to $265 per night as of June 2026 |
| Brewery dinner | pFriem Family Brewers, 707 Portway Ave #101, Hood River |
| Restrooms at Multnomah Falls | Closed for renovation through November 2026. Plan your pit stops. |
| Cheap alternative to driving | Columbia Gorge Express (Columbia Area Transit) from Gateway Transit Center, about $10 per ride, 7 trips per day from September 14 onward, and no Multnomah permit ever needed if you arrive by bus |
| Realistic total | Approx. $630 to $780 for two people, so the $700 cap is reachable but only with an early lodging booking |
1b) Our recommendation, and why
Base in Hood River, at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn (1108 E Marina Way, Hood River, OR 97031). It sits directly on the Columbia with river-view rooms and balconies, an outdoor pool plus indoor hot tub and sauna, an on-site restaurant, free cooked-to-order breakfast on qualifying rates, and, per the hotel's own booking page, no resort fee. Check-in 4:00 PM, check-out 11:00 AM. Guest scores on the big portals and on Google sit in the "solid, well-liked, not boutique-chic" band (low-to-mid 4s out of 5 on Google, 8s out of 10 on the booking portals as of June 2026; the live score is on the link in 1c). Guide value for two adults on a September weekend: approx. $185 to $265 per night, as of June 2026, plus Oregon transient lodging tax. Oregon has no state sales tax, so that lodging tax is the only add-on. Why here: it is 10 minutes from the brewery block, it is the natural pivot between the waterfall corridor to the west and Rowena Crest to the east, and the riverfront gives you a free "spare" photo slot from the parking lot if the weather ruins a hike.
Best alternative, and the budget saver: Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn, 735 WaNaPa St, Cascade Locks. It is right by the Bridge of the Gods, which puts you about 17 minutes closer to Multnomah Falls for the sunrise run, and Cascade Locks room rates typically run below Hood River on a September weekend. Guide value approx. $150 to $215 per night, as of June 2026. Trade-off, stated honestly: dinner options in Cascade Locks are thin, so your brewery night becomes a 22-minute drive each way to Hood River (or a swap to Thunder Island Brewing in town, check hours before you go).
Second alternative in Hood River: Hood River Hotel, 102 Oak Ave, a 1913 landmark right downtown, so you can walk to the brewery and leave the car parked for the night. Guide value approx. $170 to $240 per night, as of June 2026. Smaller, older rooms, thinner walls, big charm.
All three are private rooms, no dorms, no party chains.
1c) Book now
| What | By when | Where / link |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging, Best Western Plus Hood River Inn (main pick) | As early as possible. Mid-September is still peak season in the Gorge and river-view rooms go first | https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hood-river/hotel-rooms/best-western-plus-hood-river-inn/propertyCode.38121.html . You will see the binding price for your exact dates and occupancy at the provider’s booking step, it changes daily. |
| Lodging alternative, Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn, Cascade Locks | Same, 4 to 8 weeks out | https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/hotels/cascade-locks-hotels . You will see the binding price for your exact dates and occupancy at the provider’s booking step, it changes daily. |
| Lodging alternative, Hood River Hotel | Same | https://hoodriverhotel.com . You will see the binding price for your exact dates and occupancy at the provider’s booking step, it changes daily. |
| Multnomah Falls timed permit | Nothing to do. The 2026 window ended September 7 | https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10089144 (check once, a week out, in case ODOT extends the season) |
| Oregon State Parks day-use parking | On the spot each day, or buy the annual in advance if you like tidiness | Daily $12 out-of-state at the fee machine or the posted QR code at Latourell and Bridal Veil. 12-month permit $75 out-of-state: https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/posProducts.do?contractCode=OR&posFilterCat=598053577 |
| Brewery dinner, pFriem Hood River | Walk-in on Friday. Per pFriem's own contact page, the Hood River taproom takes reservations from May through October only Monday through Thursday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM | https://www.pfriembeer.com/contact/general |
| Optional guided add-on, Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Morning Tour | 2 to 3 weeks out, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead | https://www.getyourguide.com/portland-oregon-l1024/columbia-river-gorge-waterfalls-multnomah-falls-t29793/ |
| Road-conditions check | The night before you leave, and again at breakfast | https://tripcheck.com and https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/columbiarivergorge/alerts |
2) The loop, day by day
Times below are built around approximate mid-September light in the Gorge: sunrise around 6:50 AM, sunset around 7:10 PM. Drive minutes are door-to-door, normal traffic.
Day 1, Friday, September 18: the west-end bundle, golden hour first
The logic: you do not drive the corridor twice. You enter at the west end, walk three waterfalls in the order they appear, and end the day eastbound with dinner in Hood River.
| Time | Stop | Drive from previous | Parking reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:45 PM | Leave Portland via I-84 East to Exit 22 (Corbett), then Historic Columbia River Highway | 27 miles, about 40 minutes | N/A |
| 2:30 PM | Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint (the postcard shot OF Vista House, not from it) | included above | Free gravel lot, roughly 30 cars, usually fine on a Friday afternoon |
| 3:00 PM | Vista House at Crown Point, 40700 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett | 2 miles, about 6 minutes | Free lot, open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, small and circular so it clogs. Entry to the building is free; interior hours are weather-dependent and posted at vistahouse.com or by phone at 503-344-1368. Wind over 50 mph closes the rotunda, the view stays |
| 3:50 PM | Latourell Falls, Guy W. Talbot State Park. 249-foot single plunge with the best columnar basalt in the corridor. Short hike: paved 150-yard path to the base, or the 2.4-mile upper-falls loop | 3 miles, about 8 minutes | Two small lots either side of the highway. Day-use permit required since March 30, 2026: $12 out-of-state per day, pay at the fee machine or QR code. Keep the receipt, it is valid all day at every Oregon state park, including Bridal Veil below |
| 5:00 PM | Shepperd's Dell Falls, roadside bridge shot, 5-minute walk | 2 miles, about 5 minutes | Tiny pull-out, about 8 cars, no fee. If full, continue and catch it tomorrow morning when nobody is awake |
| 5:25 PM | Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint. 0.6-mile round trip down a stepped trail to a two-tier falls, plus the flat Overlook Loop for the river vista | 1.5 miles, about 4 minutes | Paved lot. Same state park fee applies, and your Latourell receipt covers it |
| 6:35 PM | Drive to Hood River via I-84 | 33 miles, about 45 minutes | N/A |
| 7:30 PM | Dinner: pFriem Family Brewers, 707 Portway Ave #101, Hood River, (Belgian-inspired ales, wood-fired plates, pretzels the size of a hubcap). Typically open daily from around 11:30 AM until about 9:00 PM; confirm on pfriembeer.com before you drive over. Two beers and two mains land around $65 to $80 before tip | 1.5 miles from the hotel, about 5 minutes | Free lot on Portway Ave, shared with the waterfront businesses, busy at 7 PM |
Photo slot 1: Vista House and the Women's Forum overlook at 2:30 to 3:30 PM (east light on the river, the S-curve of the old highway). Photo slot 2: Latourell and Shepperd's Dell from about 4:30 PM, when the canyon is fully shaded and you can shoot long exposures without blown highlights.
💡 Tip: Buy the $12 day-use permit at Latourell, not at Bridal Veil. Latourell's machine is right at the trailhead and Bridal Veil's lot is the one that jams. One receipt, two parks, same day.
Plan B (rain or 40 mph gorge wind): Wet basalt actually photographs better, so keep Latourell and Bridal Veil and skip the Vista House rotunda, which closes in high wind. Substitute the covered Multnomah Falls Lodge viewing deck and warm up in the lodge restaurant (53000 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Bridal Veil, open roughly 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM; confirm hours by phone before relying on a late lunch there).
Day 2, Saturday, September 19: sunrise at Multnomah, the Wahkeena bundle, sunset at Rowena Crest
The logic: Multnomah at 8:00 AM on a Saturday is a different planet from Multnomah at noon. You drive 40 minutes west while everyone else sleeps, do Wahkeena and Multnomah as a single connected walk, and are eastbound again before the crowds arrive.
| Time | Stop | Drive from previous | Parking reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:05 AM | Leave Hood River, I-84 West to Exit 31 | 35 miles, about 40 minutes | N/A |
| 7:50 AM | Multnomah Falls, I-84 Exit 31 lot. No timed permit needed on your date, the 2026 requirement ended September 7. Walk the plaza, then the 0.2-mile paved switchback to Benson Bridge | included above | The Exit 31 lot is free and the sane choice. ODOT itself says that if you come by car, Exit 31 is the best way in. At 7:50 AM you will park in the first row; by 10:30 AM the lot is a queue. Restrooms here are closed for renovation through November 2026. The little lot up on the Historic Highway is run by Sasquatch Shuttle, paid, first-come, two ADA spaces, and there is zero legal shoulder parking on the old highway, tow trucks included |
| 9:00 AM | Wahkeena Falls, 0.6 miles west of Multnomah on the Historic Highway. Short hike: the paved 0.2-mile climb to the Lemmon's Viewpoint bridge, or continue to Fairy Falls for a 2-mile round trip. No timed permit, no state park fee | 1 mile, about 3 minutes, or walk the Return Trail from Multnomah in about 20 minutes | Small free lot with a picnic area, maybe 25 cars, full by 10 AM on a Saturday. Arrive by 9 AM and it is yours |
| 10:45 AM | Coffee and second breakfast at Multnomah Falls Lodge, 53000 Historic Columbia River Hwy (espresso and snack bar plus a full Northwest-cuisine dining room, roughly 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends, confirm on the day) | 1 mile, about 3 minutes | Same Exit 31 lot |
| 12:00 PM | Cascade Locks and the Bridge of the Gods, 5 minutes off I-84 at Exit 44. Flat riverside stroll at Marine Park, sternwheeler-and-locks history, the PCT crossing | 14 miles, about 18 minutes | Free town lots. Note: the Historic Highway State Trail is impassable between Eagle Creek and Cascade Locks, so do not plan a walk on that segment |
| 1:30 PM | Casual lunch in Cascade Locks or back in Hood River, then a genuine break at the hotel (pool, hot tub, sauna, nap, your call) | 20 miles, about 25 minutes | Hotel lot, free |
| 5:15 PM | Rowena Crest Viewpoint, Historic Columbia River Highway near Mosier. The hairpin-loop-road shot plus the Tom McCall Point trail for a short leg-stretch. Free, no permit | 17 miles, about 25 minutes | Free gravel lot at the crest, about 20 cars, plus the trailhead lot across the road. Photographers cluster here at sunset; there is room |
| 7:10 PM | Sunset, then back to Hood River for a low-key dinner | 17 miles, about 25 minutes | N/A |
Photo slot 1: Multnomah plus Wahkeena, 7:50 to 10:30 AM (soft, even light in the canyon, spray-free frames, and no strangers in your foreground). Photo slot 2: Rowena Crest 5:15 to 7:15 PM. The eastern Gorge is dry, golden and completely unlike the mossy west end, which is exactly the "more than one photo" payoff you asked for.
💡 Tip: The Return Trail linking Wahkeena and Multnomah means you can park once, walk the 1.2 miles between them, and shoot both without repositioning the car. On a Saturday that is worth more than any shortcut.
Plan B (heavy rain or smoke haze): Rowena Crest goes flat and grey in haze. Swap the evening slot for the Mosier Twin Tunnels section of the Historic Highway State Trail (paved, sheltered, dramatic tunnel windows) or the Hood River waterfront for reflections and kiteboarders. Both are free.
Day 3, Sunday, September 20: east-Gorge morning, then home
| Time | Stop | Drive from previous | Parking reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast at the hotel (free cooked-to-order on qualifying rates) | N/A | N/A |
| 9:15 AM | Hood River Waterfront Park and the Event Site. Free, flat, and the Sunday-morning kiteboarding show starts early | 1.5 miles, about 5 minutes | Free lots, plus paid spaces at the Event Site in high season |
| 10:30 AM | Mosier Twin Tunnels trailhead (Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, Mosier end), a 1.5-mile out-and-back through the restored 1921 tunnels with river windows | 8 miles, about 13 minutes | Trailhead lot. This segment sits under Oregon State Parks; if a fee machine is posted, your $12 daily permit covers it, and a new permit is needed since yesterday's has expired |
| 12:15 PM | Optional last stop, Shepperd's Dell or a second pass at Multnomah if Saturday's frames disappointed | 30 to 45 miles, 40 to 55 minutes | As Day 1 |
| 1:30 PM | Home to Portland, I-84 West | 63 miles from Hood River, about 1 hour 5 minutes | N/A |
Photo slot 1: Hood River waterfront, 9:15 to 10:15 AM, Mount Adams over the river with sails in the frame. Photo slot 2: The tunnel windows around 11:00 AM, when the light beams cut across the arch.
💡 Tip: Leave Hood River by 1:30 PM. Sunday afternoon westbound I-84 gets thick from about 3 PM as the whole Gorge drives back to Portland at once.
Plan B (rain): The tunnels are the rain-proof winner, and the Hood River waterfront works from the car. If it truly buckets, spend the morning at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum on the south side of town instead (check the current admission and hours before you drive over).
2b) Experiences and free offers
Free and donation-based first, then paid. Everything paid here clears our quality bar of at least 4.6 out of 5 with at least 50 ratings.
| Offer | Where / start | Price | Rating | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vista House at Crown Point, historic rotunda and 360-degree overlook | 40700 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett. Parking area open 6 AM to 9 PM | Free (interior hours weather-dependent, 503-344-1368) | N/A, no product rating | Open in maps ↗ |
| Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint, the classic Gorge frame | E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett | Free | N/A, no product rating | Open in maps ↗ |
| Wahkeena to Multnomah Return Trail, the two-falls-one-parking-spot walk (also in Day 2, no need to book anything) | Wahkeena Falls picnic area, Historic Columbia River Hwy | Free | N/A, no product rating | Open in maps ↗ |
| Waterfall Corridor Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley, all-day corridor hopping without your own car | Corbett / waterfall corridor, full-day ticket | From $39 per person (as of June 2026) | 4.8/5 from 88 ratings | https://www.getyourguide.com/portland-oregon-l1024/multnomah-falls-waterfall-corridor-hop-on-hop-off-trolley-t396396/ |
| Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Morning Tour, 3.5 hours, Sprinter van, Women's Forum plus Vista House plus Latourell plus Multnomah, hotel pickup in downtown Portland, permit and parking fees included in permit season | 61 downtown Portland hotel pickup points, operated by America's Hub World Tours | From $77 per person (list $85) as of June 2026, free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, gratuity not included | 4.9/5 from 153 ratings | https://www.getyourguide.com/portland-oregon-l1024/columbia-river-gorge-waterfalls-multnomah-falls-t29793/ |
| Half-Day Tour of All 5 Major Waterfalls, 3.5 hours, pickup available | Portland | From $99 per person (as of June 2026) | 4.8/5 from 106 ratings | https://www.getyourguide.com/oregon-l951/multnomah-falls-half-day-tour-of-all-5-major-waterfalls-t661835/ |
Honest framing: you have your own car, so the two van tours are strictly optional. They earn their keep in exactly one scenario, a bad-weather day when you would rather have a driver on wet hairpins and a guide who knows where the light lands. The trolley is the interesting one, because it doubles as transport and sightseeing if you want to leave the car in Hood River. Links above are plain public product URLs, we take no commission on any of them. Booking direct with an operator is sometimes a few dollars cheaper because there is no platform fee, but for these three the platform page is the operator's live product page.
3) Practical notes, checklist and the money
Parking reality, condensed
| Stop | Fee | Honest note |
|---|---|---|
| Multnomah Falls, I-84 Exit 31 | Free | No timed permit on your dates. Free lot, fills from about 9:30 AM. Restrooms closed through November 2026 |
| Multnomah Falls, Historic Highway lot | Paid, first-come, operated by Sasquatch Shuttle | Small, two ADA spaces, price is posted on site (confirm at sasquatchshuttle.com). No shoulder parking anywhere on the old highway, improperly parked cars are ticketed or towed |
| Latourell Falls Trailhead, Guy Talbot State Park | $12 per day out-of-state, $10 in-state | New since March 30, 2026. Fee machine or posted QR code. Valid all day at every Oregon state park |
| Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint | Same $12 daily permit | Covered by your Latourell receipt the same day |
| Wahkeena Falls | Free | About 25 spaces, arrive before 9:30 AM on a weekend |
| Shepperd's Dell | Free | About 8 spaces in a roadside pull-out |
| Vista House and Portland Women's Forum | Free | Vista House lot is open 6 AM to 9 PM and is tight |
| Rowena Crest | Free | Gravel lot, photographers at sunset, still room |
Transport, including the cheap way
You are driving your own car, which for two adults over three days is the cheapest and most flexible option. For completeness and for the record:
- Recommended: own car. Portland to Hood River is about 63 miles, roughly 1 hour 5 minutes on I-84. Full loop driving over three days is roughly 175 to 195 miles, so about $30 to $40 in gas for a typical mid-size car.
- Budget alternative: Columbia Gorge Express, operated by Columbia Area Transit. It departs Gateway Transit Center in northeast Portland (NE 99th Ave and NE Pacific St, Open in maps ↗ ) and serves Troutdale, Multnomah Falls, Cascade Locks and Hood River, with 7 trips per day from September 14 onward. Fares are around $10 per ride, bought on board or via the GOrge Pass; confirm the current fare and the exact timetable at ridecatbus.org before you rely on it. One real bonus: no Multnomah Falls permit is ever required if you arrive by CAT, just ask the driver for the sticker when you step off.
- One-line comparison for the Portland to Multnomah leg: driving costs you about $8 in gas each way, the Columbia Gorge Express about $10 per person, a guided van tour from $77 per person. For two people with a car, driving wins by a mile.
- The Historic Highway east of Multnomah Falls was under construction with a closure listed from October 2025 into spring 2026, so check tripcheck.com the night before you leave. The Historic Highway State Trail is currently impassable between Eagle Creek and Cascade Locks.
Food, named and concrete
| Venue | Cuisine | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| pFriem Family Brewers, 707 Portway Ave #101, Hood River. Open in maps ↗ | Belgian-inspired brewery, wood-fired mains, pretzels, salads | Typically daily from about 11:30 AM to about 9:00 PM. Confirm on pfriembeer.com before you head over | Your brewery dinner. May through October the Hood River taproom takes reservations Monday to Thursday only, so Friday is walk-in. Go at 5:30 PM or after 8 PM to dodge the wait |
| Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom, 8 4th St, Hood River, (541) 387-0042. Open in maps ↗ | Unfiltered ales, cider, New Haven-style pizza | Opens daily at 11:30 AM; confirm the closing time on doublemountainbrewery.com | Brewery backup, downtown so you can walk from the Hood River Hotel. Two pizzas and four beers land around $60 to $75 |
| Multnomah Falls Lodge Restaurant, 53000 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Bridal Veil | Northwest / New American, plus a snack and espresso bar | Roughly 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekends, slightly later opening on weekdays; confirm on the day | Day 2 second breakfast, and your rain shelter with a view. Note the restrooms nearby are closed for renovation, the lodge is your facility stop |
Tipping: 15 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants and on guided tours is standard here. Oregon has no state sales tax, so posted menu prices are what you pay; lodging is the exception, where a local transient lodging tax is added at checkout.
Cost overview against your $700
| Item | Estimate for 2 people | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging, 2 nights, Best Western Plus Hood River Inn | $370 to $530 | Guide value, check the exact date price with the provider. Plus local lodging tax. No resort fee per the hotel's own booking page |
| Gas, roughly 175 to 195 miles | $30 to $40 | Own car from Portland |
| Oregon State Parks day-use parking, 2 days at $12 out-of-state | $24 | One permit per day covers Latourell, Bridal Veil and any other state park that day |
| Multnomah Falls timed permit | $0 | Not required September 18 to 20, 2026 |
| Brewery dinner at pFriem | $75 to $95 | Including 18 percent tip |
| Other meals, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks and coffee | $95 to $130 | Casual, as requested |
| Total | approx. $595 to $820 |
Straight talk: the plan lands inside $700 if you book lodging in the lower half of the range or take the Cascade Locks option, which typically shaves $35 to $50 per night. Book a river-view room in Hood River at the top of the range and you will land around $780 to $820. The single biggest saving lever is the room, not the activities, because almost every photo stop on this loop is free or $12. Choosing the Cascade Locks base instead of Hood River saves roughly $70 to $100 over two nights; substituting the Columbia Gorge Express for one day of driving saves almost nothing for a couple, so keep the car.
Checklist
- Reserve the room early, mid-September is still peak in the Gorge
- Screenshot the ODOT permit page and the recreation.gov timed-entry page so you can prove the season has ended if anyone asks
- Card or phone ready for the state parks QR code at Latourell, and keep the paper receipt on the dash
- Check tripcheck.com and the Forest Service alerts page the night before
- Rain shell and grippy shoes. Latourell's base path and Wahkeena's switchbacks are permanently damp
- Microfiber cloths, several. Waterfall spray is the enemy of front elements
- Tripod plus a circular polarizer or ND filter for the long-exposure shots in the shaded canyon
- Water and snacks in the car. The Multnomah restrooms are closed through November 2026 and the corridor has no convenience stores
- Small bills for tips
- Fire danger in the Gorge was rated High as of early June 2026, so no open flames and check for closures before any longer hike
4) Sources
Permits and rules (checked June 2026)
- Oregon Department of Transportation, Multnomah Falls (I-84) Timed Use Permit: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/waterfall-corridor-permits/pages/default.aspx
- Recreation.gov, Multnomah Falls timed entry: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10089144
- U.S. Forest Service, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Permits (page last updated June 9, 2026): https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/columbiarivergorge/permits
- U.S. Forest Service, Gorge alerts: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/columbiarivergorge/alerts
- Oregon State Parks, parking permit added at 22 parks from March 30, 2026: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-article&articleId=380
- Oregon State Parks, annual parking permit shop: https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/posProducts.do?contractCode=OR&posFilterCat=598053577
- Oregon State Parks, Vista House (Crown Point) park profile: https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=108
Lodging (checked June 2026)
- Best Western Plus Hood River Inn, rooms and rates: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hood-river/hotel-rooms/best-western-plus-hood-river-inn/propertyCode.38121.html
- Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn, Cascade Locks: https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/hotels/cascade-locks-hotels
- Hood River Hotel: https://hoodriverhotel.com
Food (checked June 2026)
- pFriem Family Brewers, contact and reservations: https://www.pfriembeer.com/contact/general
- Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom: https://doublemountainbrewery.com
- Multnomah Falls Lodge: https://multnomahfallslodge.com
Transport and conditions (checked June 2026)
- Columbia Area Transit, Columbia Gorge Express: https://www.ridecatbus.org/columbia-gorge-express/
- Sasquatch Shuttle parking lots: https://sasquatchshuttle.com/sasquatch-parking-lots
- ODOT TripCheck: https://tripcheck.com
- Ready, Set, GOrge trip planning: https://readysetgorge.com
Experiences (checked June 2026)
- Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Morning Tour: https://www.getyourguide.com/portland-oregon-l1024/columbia-river-gorge-waterfalls-multnomah-falls-t29793/
- Half-Day Tour of All 5 Major Waterfalls: https://www.getyourguide.com/oregon-l951/multnomah-falls-half-day-tour-of-all-5-major-waterfalls-t661835/
- Waterfall Corridor Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley: https://www.getyourguide.com/portland-oregon-l1024/multnomah-falls-waterfall-corridor-hop-on-hop-off-trolley-t396396/
Useful phone numbers
- Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Supervisor's Office, 902 Wasco St, Suite 315, Hood River: (541) 308-1700
- ODOT Columbia River Gorge coordinator: 503-731-8232
- Vista House hours and weather closures: 503-344-1368
- Double Mountain Brewery, Hood River: (541) 387-0042
As-of date for all prices, hours and permit rules above: June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a permit for Multnomah Falls in September?
No. The 2026 Multnomah Falls timed use permit only runs daily 9 AM to 6 PM from May 22 through September 7, so a mid to late September visit needs no permit at all.
Is there a parking fee at Columbia Gorge waterfalls?
Yes, since March 30, 2026 a day use parking permit is required at Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Angel's Rest, costing $12 per day for out of state visitors and $10 in state, valid all day at any Oregon state park.
How much does a Columbia Gorge waterfall weekend cost?
This sample two night plan for 2 people totals about $595 to $820, against a $700 budget, with lodging at the Best Western Plus Hood River Inn running $185 to $265 per night.
Curated example. Prices, opening hours and availability as of June 2026, please check for yourself before booking.