9/13 Multnomah Falls, Columbia Gorge, OR

I had driven past here twice before in August, but I decided at the time that it was too hot and there were too many people traveling then to bother stopping.  So, here in cooler and less busy September, I am back and this time, I stopped.

There is a large parking lot in the median of I-84, which is the major freeway that follows the south shore of the Columbia River in Oregon.  You go underneath the eastbound side of the freeway and then underneath a railroad bridge.
 

This is an old bridge.  Check out the closer view of the sign below.

I was pleasantly surprised to see this visitor center and restaurant.  Way back when, before the freeway was built, the road ran directly in front of this building.  The old road is now closed and the parking lot used only by employees. 

 There are actually two falls here.  The taller upper falls dumps into a large pool, which then overflows and produces the lower falls.  I did not hike up to the bridge, but a sign said that a bridal party was once standing on the bridge having their pictures taken when a chunk of rock the size of a large bus fell off the cliff into the pool, creating an enormous splash that soaked everyone.

A closer view of the lower falls.

 This whole area is part of the national scenic area. There have been a lot of fires in this area in the last few years.

In fact, the big fire from last year came up very close to the falls, as you can see from this photo.