Multnomah Falls stands tall

Multnomah Falls is an Oregon icon.

The waterfall often graces calendars of the state, and of the Pacific Northwest for that matter.

The two levels plunge a combined 620 feet into the Columbia River Gorge, with plenty of maple trees in front to add greenery in the spring and summer and color in the fall.

An arched foot bridge crosses above the second drop to also contribute to the scene.

The upper falls account for 542 feet of height and the lower for 69.  There is nine feet of elevation drop between the two.

Peak flow over the falls, mostly out of underground springs from Larch Mountain, is in the winter and spring.  Ice and snow can add a dash of white at times.

Moss covers most of the rock walls, where layers of ancient Yakima basalt flows can be found. 

Multnomah Falls is as popular as it is pretty, however.

Over 2,000,000 visitors make the stop per year and the parking lot is often full and closed.  It is sandwiched between the two sides of Interstate 84 about 30 miles and 30 minutes east of Portland.

A tunnel under the eastbound lanes and railroad tracks leads to the lodge and lower observation deck.

A trail goes on up to the foot bridge built in 1914 and gives visitors a closer look at the upper falls.

It is called the Benson Bridge after Simon Benson, who owned the falls in the early 1900s and gave the site to the city of Portland, which later passed it on to the USDA Forest Service.

The Multnomah Falls Lodge built in 1925 features a restaurant, the Forest Service Visitors Center, a gift shop, restrooms and a snack bar all open to the public.

The area is open all year for day use only.

Timed reservation tickets are required to visit from late May to mid September for the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except for bicycles.  You choose a time and have the entire hour after it to enter and can stay as long as you wish.

Tickets are expected to go on sale in May of this year for $1 per person per visit.  The cost is non-refundable, but does not guarantee a place to park.

How to get there:

Take Exit 31 off Interstate 84 heading east or west 30 miles to the east of Portland.  The exit is out of the left lane into the middle parking area.

Multnomah Falls is also accessible off the Historic Columbia River Highway (30), but do not block or impede traffic while trying to park.

You can also leave your vehicle at Rooster Rock State Park and ride a free shuttle to the falls from May through September.  The state park has a $5 per vehicle day use fee.

Daily bus service is offered by the Columbia River Express all year, including out of Portland.

For more information on the falls and lodge, call the Visitors Center at (503) 695-2372 or the Columbia River Gorge Natural Scenic Area headquarters at (541) 308-1700.

The address is 53000 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy., Bridal Veil, OR 97010.

Text and top photo by Tim Clinton.  Bottom photo by Jeff Clinton.

Saltwater State Park packs surprises

 

You never know what you're going to find at Saltwater State Park.

Yes, there's plenty of salt water.

You can find it crashing against the rocks, or lapping peacefully on the sand below the wall.

There's lots of seagulls and a few crows, but if you're lucky you can also find a blue heron sneaking up on one of the tiny fish that swim just off shore.

Or what's flying overhead might not be a bird at all, but a drone looking down from just above the tree tops on the crest of the bluff.

Or it could be one of the many jets that parade by just up the hill from the Des Moines, Wash. park on their way to Sea-Tac International Airport.

Among the things you know you are going to find are a freshwater creek, a restroom, a fire pit encircled by rocks, a covered picnic area, open picnic tables and benches to sit on and look out over the waters of Puget Sound toward Maury Island and the Olympic Mountains beyond -- or at the sunset if you are there at the right time of day.

A paved walking trail takes you to all of these and works its way through a grassy area, with a rock wall trying to protect it all from the onslaught of high tides and waves but obviously having failed in spots.

A couple of washed out areas creating holes in the concrete are marked off by yellow tape and off limits for walkers' safety.

The bluff above is cut into by a canyon at McSorley Creek, where the parking lot and a concession stand and another restroom are.  More picnic sites are also located here. 

A trail goes on up the creek where a 30-site campground is located.  The campground is open from May 15 to Sept. 15 with reservations.  Campers without a reservation may stay only one night at a time.

Saltwater State Park is on a 137-acre site with 1,445 feet of shoreline.

Hiking trails are on top of the bluff -- where another picnic shelter is located -- and on the north and south rims of the canyon.

Call (253) 661-4956 for more information on the park that is open at 8 a.m. daily all year long and closes at dusk.

Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

The general Washington state parks number is (360) 902-8844.

How to get there:

Take the Kent-Des Moines Road exit from Interstate 5 and go west (left northbound and right southbound) through the light on Pacific Highway and on down the hill toward Des Moines.

Keep going until you come to Marine View Drive (Highway 509) at the bottom of the hill as you enter the downtown waterfront area of Des Moines.

Turn left at the light and watch for the Saltwater State Park signs to your right.  Turn at 8th Place So.

A booth offers day use tickets for $10 per vehicle or a $30 Discover Pass that gets you into any Washington state park for a year.

Saltwater State Park is located at 25205 8th Place So. in Des Moines with a zip code of 98198.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.

 

Dash Point delivers a great getaway

When someone says the tide is out at Dash Point State Park, they mean the tide is out.  Way out.

The beach has such a slight incline that any tide that is low at all really makes the exposed sand go off into the distance.

It also provides so much shallow water that sometimes it seems like you can venture halfway to Maury Island across Puget Sound.

As long as it isn't high tide, there is plenty of room to sun bathe, walk, beach comb, swim or wade.

Even when the tide is in there is 3,301 feet of shoreline, plus a fishing pier.

On the water you can go boating, kayaking or skim boarding.

The latter is a Dash Point phenomenon, with the park nestled next to the heart of the city of Federal Way between Seattle and Tacoma hosting competitions at times.

You throw a small thin board into the shallow water, hop aboard and ride.

Dash Point boasts plenty of picnic area as well with two shelters that can be reserved and 20 uncovered tables available to whoever gets there first.

There is a short trail including a tunnel under the road from the parking area to the beach.

If that isn't enough of a walk for you, there are eight miles of wooded biking trails and 11 miles of hiking trails to navigate in the opposite direction.

Above it all in a wood so thick you can get the feeling you are way off in the mountains is the camping area.

A total of 114 standard campsites, 27 utility sites, one dump site, four restrooms and six showers are available.

Even though the beach looks like a good spot to chase clams with a shovel, it is not recommended.

Automated pay stations on the way into the overall 461-acre park offer $10 per car state day use passes and Discover passes for $30 that will get you into any state park in Washington for an entire year.

Camping and using the boat launch are extra.  Fishing and any harvesting of shellfish require a state license. 

 

How to get there:

Dash Point State Park is located at 5700 Southwest Dash Point Road in Federal Way.

Take the South 320th Street exit off Interstate 5 and keep on going west (left northbound, right southbound) until the street ends at Hoyt Road.

Take a right at the light until that road ends at Dash Point Road and go left where a roundabout is under construction.

A short distance down is the park to your right.

Call (253) 661-4955 for more information on the park or check the Dash Point State Park website. Call 888-226-7688 if you want to camp.

Text and photos by Tim Clinton.