Is Oregon's most famous waterfall truly the second tallest in the United States?

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Multnomah Falls draws over two million visitors annually, making it the Pacific Northwest's most popular natural site. While local lore and federal agencies often label it the nation's second-tallest year-round waterfall, global databases suggest a far more modest ranking, sparking a long-standing debate over how we measure nature's giants.

Standing at a total height of 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is undeniably Oregon's tallest waterfall. Formed approximately 15,000 years ago by the cataclysmic Missoula floods, the falls drop in two distinct stages: a 542-foot upper tier and a 69-foot lower tier, separated by a brief nine-foot transition. This unique structure is the result of a basalt layer at the base of the upper falls that is particularly susceptible to erosion.

The waterfall's status as a national record-holder is heavily contested. While the United States Forest Service and onsite signage frequently cite it as the country's second-tallest year-round waterfall, the World Waterfall Database places it at 156th. This discrepancy arises because many organizations struggle to define consistent criteria for what constitutes a permanent versus seasonal flow. Some older texts, such as the 2013 Encyclopedia of World Geography, have even erroneously claimed it as the fourth-tallest in the nation, a figure the World Waterfall Database explicitly rejects.

Beyond the numbers, the site is a monument to early 20th-century preservation. Financed by Portland financier Simon Benson and designed by architect A. E. Doyle, the Cascadian-style lodge was completed in 1925. The area also features the Benson Footbridge, which spans the lower falls at 105 feet. Despite its popularity, the site remains dynamic and occasionally dangerous; in 1995, a 400-ton boulder fell from the cliff face, injuring visitors on the bridge. Today, the falls are fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, ensuring a constant flow that has captivated explorers since Lewis and Clark first noted the cascades in 1805.

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