Question 1

True or false: Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon, dropping over 600 feet.

Accepted Answer

True. It's the tallest in Oregon at 620 feet, but not in the entire US. The two-tiered plunge is a classic Columbia River Gorge sight.

Question 2

True or false: Multnomah Falls is actually a single, unbroken drop of 542 feet from top to bottom.

Accepted Answer

False. It has two distinct tiers: an upper 542-foot drop and a lower 69-foot drop, separated by a visible ledge.

Question 3

True or false: Multnomah Falls is the most-visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest, with over 2 million visitors yearly.

Accepted Answer

True. Its easy access off I-84 makes it incredibly popular, drawing more than 2 million annually, often topping regional tourism lists.

Question 4

True or false: The Benson Bridge, spanning the falls' lower plunge, was built in 1914 by Italian stonemasons.

Accepted Answer

True. Simon Benson funded the bridge in 1914, and Italian craftsmen built it from local stone. It offers a perfect photo spot.

Question 5

True or false: The falls are fed entirely by rainwater and seasonal runoff, not a permanent spring.

Accepted Answer

False. Multnomah Creek is fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, providing a steady year-round flow, not just rain.

Question 6

True or false: Multnomah Falls once completely dried up during a severe drought in the 1930s.

Accepted Answer

False. While flow can diminish in dry summers, the springs keep water flowing year-round. It has never completely dried up in recorded history.

Question 7

True or false: The falls were named after a Native American princess who leaped from the top to avoid an arranged marriage.

Accepted Answer

False. This romantic legend is a myth. The name likely comes from the Multnomah people, but no princess story is historically verified.

Question 8

True or false: The falls' mist creates a microclimate that supports rare ferns and mosses found only in that gorge.

Accepted Answer

True. Constant mist from the 620-foot cascade sustains a unique ecosystem, including several rare moss and fern species endemic to the gorge.

Multnomah Falls Trivia Questions