During a Driving Cycle on Oct. 3rd, I stopped at Multnomah Falls just to get a little hiking done up to the second pool. This allowed my engine to cool down so I could do another driving cycle on the way home. Here’s a shot of the weather on the drive into the gorge. If you don’t know what a Driving Cycle is, you didn’t read my last post…here: Drive around…
Multnomah Falls.
That’s the RR bridge. There are migrating salmon that spawn in the creek again. It was polluted out years ago. The environmental experts have brought it back.
This is the lodge. Really a nice place. I’ve been coming here just to hang out for 45 odd years. It’s looking very nice now, but 40 years ago it was in serious need for remodeling and refurbishing. I’ll show some pics of how they did on the inside later. That roof was once all slimy and moldy back in the day, with tons of moss on it. Looking good now. I remember one winter it leaked like crazy and was in danger of collapsing due to snow load.
I popped inside to take a pic or two. Be back later for a snack. This is a view out to the old highway and parking lot. Looking out from that overhang space shown in the above picture. That’s all part of the original buildings design, 1925 was when the building was first completed. It’s interesting to know that my dad drove past here many times during and after WWII. Maybe even stopped here at the lodge. 
Lower falls.
Years ago, there was a wedding party up there on that bridge taking wedding pics when a giant boulder let loose and plummeted into the upper pool. Dousing the bride and groom and all their guests. Breaking some bones, and injuring some. Quite hilarious and a bit frightening. But something they’ll talk about their whole lives.
That’s the boulder there. Maybe? Or part of it? Water level is down a little this time of year. Usually that boulder is almost covered with water. Maybe they removed the original as it was so big. Can’t remember.
Way over there through the trees, left of center, is the parking lot where my car is parked.
See the rotting logs in the creek down there? Those were not all blown down by nature…the environmental scientists trucked in several and dumped them there to improve the habitat of the creek for spawning salmon. Clever those people. The rotting stumps attract insects, their life cycles include creek time and log time which makes them food for the fishes! Yea! Which means that fish want to live there. The creek had been all cleaned up for the tourists for decades, and polluted, so that’s why the fish runs stopped. Happy to say they are back, and it’s really interesting watching them frolic in the creek during mating season. This is a great place to watch the whole thing unbothered by humans. You’re so close to the action and the stream is only a foot deep most places. 
To the left up there on top of the cliff in the next pic is a view point. I think it’s closed for refurbishing right now. There’s no one up there like in the past when I’ve visited the falls and I seem to remember reading it was closed for repairs. Made out of wood, was probably getting wobbly.
This is the trail up to the upper viewpoint at the brink of the upper falls. It’s an easy hike, but I didn’t bother today. I believe the upper viewpoint is closed anyway. 
Not certain what is going on here. They put up a wire fence in the last few years. Dunno why. Maybe too many rocks were tumbling off the cliff? Onto the pathway? Most likely.
And back at the lodge. Had myself a bowl of fruit and some coffee.
This is a modern addition to the old lodge. The old section is on the left behind a glass wall.
Behind that rock wall there, I should say. Guess it’s not all glass after all.
And later, back down on the path going under the train tracks alongside the creek, heading towards the parking lot.
Here’s where many of the fish choose to spaw. Just under the bridge because of the shade. 
That was my visit to the Falls this trip. I’m getting too lazy, as usually I would have hiked up to the top of the falls.
And after that visit, did another Driving Cycle on the way home.