|
| Home | Currently | Tadpoles | Pictures | Stuff |
| Page Path: Home / Currently / 2005 / 2005.05.21_Falls / default.aspx |
| This Page is a PRE Phase 9 Page, so the formatting might not be on par with the newer pages in the site. |
| 2005.05.21 - Multnomah Falls | ||
|
< Back to Currently |
||
|
Since we were down in that area anyway, we decided to check out the
Columbia River Gorge, and specifically, Multnomah Falls. Its been raining quite a bit lately - the reservoirs are nearly as full as they normally are - and the river that feeds the falls, the Multnomah River, was running fairly heavy... and, the little stream off on the right side of the falls was flowing as well... The Gorge was socked in with low clouds, making for a nice picture of the "Gateway to the Gorge", Crown Point's Vista House, which is undergoing remodeling, and is simply the most incredible roadside bathroom I've ever had the pleasure of visiting! |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
The falls are quite amazing! The view from the parking lot lets you know that what's coming is only going to get better... its quite spectacular! Combined, the upper and lower falls are higher than the Niagara Falls... of course, there's a LOT less water! |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
|
We walked to the bridge to see the falls from there... and managed to find some
pretty interesting views. The path to the bridge is a fun walk through trees lush with underbrush - a sea of green! There are several places where you can look down from where you started... very impressive views! |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
In 1914, the property surrounding the falls was purchased by a
prominent businessman, Simon Benson. He replaced the
existing log bridge with the one we see here, crafted by
Italian stone masons. It is now known as The Benson Bridge, and is one of the most photographed bridges in Oregon. |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
 |
|
| The view from the bridge is pretty impressive... you really get a feel for the forces involved, and feeling the spray of the water is always quite nice... |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
Not far from the falls, on the way back to the highway, is a
gorge that has been designated a "Botanical Area", primarily
because it houses 6 species of plant that grows nowhere else
on Earth. There is a trail that takes you from the roadway bridge, constructed in the 1930's as part of the Columbia River Highway Project, down to the creek running in the Oneonta Gorge... we only went as far as the water, because we didn't have the proper gear to continue... we will next time, though! |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
||
|
||