Multnomah Falls permits start May 26

Oregon Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 05/17/2023 09:00 AM PDT

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Permits for Multnomah Falls (I-84 Exit 31) start Memorial Day weekend

A car and tour bus circle through the parking lot. Pedestrians in the crosswalk and in the grassy area in the middle of the parking lot.

To address congestion, Timed Use Permits will be needed starting May 26 for the I-84 parking lot at Multnomah Falls

May 17, 2023

Contacts:

Karen Davis, 503-522, 8377, U.S. Forest Service

Don Hamilton, 503-704-7452, Oregon Department of Transportation

Sarah Hurwitz, 971-500-3311, Multnomah County

Stefanie Knowlton, 971-803-0154, Clay Courtright, 503-969-8260, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Plan ahead for your visit to Multnomah Falls this summer

From Friday, May 26 through Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., a timed use permit will be required for each personal vehicle accessing Multnomah Falls from Interstate 84 Exit 31. 

The most reliable way to see Multnomah Falls continues to be transit, by bicycle or by tour/shuttle. View Travel Oregon's Car-Free trip guide to learn more. 

Permits are only needed if you arrive by personal vehicle at I-84 Exit 31 for Multnomah Falls. 

If you want to visit Multnomah Falls by personal vehicle, the best way is to get a permit and take I-84 to Exit 31. 

Reserving a permit

Using your permit

  • Permits are only valid at the Multnomah Falls parking lot at I-84 Exit 31.
  • A Timed Use permit reservation does not guarantee parking. 
  • One permit needed per vehicle or motorcycle.
  • Keep your permit with you after you park. Print your permit or show the digital copy.
  • Please arrive as close to your one-hour time slot as possible, starting at the time indicated on the permit. Permits are only required from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • You may stay longer than an hour, however if you leave after your time slot you will not be allowed to enter the site without a valid Multnomah Falls Timed Use Permit for a subsequent time slot.
A line of cars waiting to turn left into a small parking lot. A car turns right in front of pedestrians in a marked crosswalk.

More about the permit system

Timed use permits will not be required on the Historic Columbia River Highway/U.S. 30 in 2023. However, parking is extremely limited at the small lot along the Historic Highway/U.S. 30 at Multnomah Falls (shown at right).

Last year’s 2022 Waterfall Corridor timed use permit pilot was successful in providing a safer, more reliable, enjoyable experience for visitors within the corridor. However, without a dedicated funding source, partners cannot staff and operate the full system and will instead focus our limited resources on the main sources of congestion and safety concerns at the most visited site in the corridor: Multnomah Falls.

Project partners will target congestion at Multnomah Falls in 2023. The effort will help reduce congestion by:

  • Reducing safety concerns and backups on I-84 with required timed use permits at Exit 31, the Multnomah Falls parking lot on Interstate 84. 
  • Using a flagger to direct traffic at the Historic Columbia River Highway/U.S. 30 crosswalk at Multnomah Falls.
  • Using a private concessionaire to manage the small parking lot along the Historic Highway/U.S. 30 at Multnomah Falls. The concessionaire will operate this lot on a first come, first-served basis. There are six ADA parking spots at this lot for those with valid ADA placards. When the parking lot is full, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or wait for an open space.