Hiked the Wahkeena-Multnomah Falls Loop last Saturday. Started at about noon.
A few things to note: 1) As stated in the previous report, it seems that the switchbacks on the Wahkeena Trail have been fully repaired. 2) Hwy 30 is currently closed between the Wahkeena trailhead and Multnomah Falls trailhead. However, the trail that parallels the road (the "Return" Trail) is open. The trailhead for the Return Trail on the Multnomah side takes off right where the road closure starts. 3) My watch said this route was closer to 6.5 - 7 miles. Sometimes my watch does funny things, so it may be incorrect, but just a warning that this route might be longer than 5 miles. 4) Restrooms at Wahkeena Trailhead were closed for the season.
Started at the Wahkeena Trailhead. I had to park up the road to the west a bit as the parking area at the trailhead itself was full. Trail is mostly paved up to the Lemmons Viewpoint and consists of a few switchbacks, a bridge over Wahkeena Creek (with a very nice, up close view of the falls), and then more switchbacks. Trail follows Wahkeena Creek after Lemmons Viewpoint and continues to climb with a few more switchbacks. Turned onto the Vista Point Trail at Fairy Falls. Trail levels out at this point and has intermittent views out over the river. Vista Point Trail re-intersects Wahkeena Trail at a lovely saddle. Took Wahkeena Trail continuing east. It contours around the mountainside before dropping down a bit to intersect the Larch Mountain Trail, which parallels Multnomah Creek. Took Larch Mountain Trail downhill towards the top of Multnomah Falls. Along the way to the top of the falls, there are several smaller but very pretty waterfalls in Multnomah Creek. The top of Multnomah Falls is off on a spur trail on the left (west of the Larch Mountain Trail). I tend to be scared off by crowds, but it was worth taking a look from the top of the falls despite the large number of folks around. Below the spur trail down to the Multnomah Trailhead, the trail is once again paved. And once again, the views of the falls that you can get from this part of the hike were worth seeing at least once, despite the large number of people around. The end of the hike goes past Multnomah Lodge (and coffee cart). For a short while (maybe 0.1 to 0.2 miles), you walk west along Hwy 30 right to where it is currently closed and the Return Trail here takes off to the left. Reached Wahkeena again after about a half mile.
Overall, this is a nice hike if you like waterfalls and perhaps as an introduction hike to the Gorge as you get to see Multnomah Falls plus some other less visited falls and views out over the river. Definitely not the best hike if you like solitude. Even in January and even on the parts of the loop that were not right by Multnomah Falls, there were more people on the trail than I expected. The quietest part of the hike was the Vista Point Trail and upper Wahkeena Trail.
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