Multnomah Falls Lower Viewing Platform Reopens After Eagle Creek Fire Contacts: Rachel Pawlitz, USFS, 503-758-2624

Don Hamilton, ODOT, 503-704-7452

Chris Havel, OPRD, 503-931-2590 Multnomah Falls, Ore. –Visitors can once again view Multnomah Falls with no fence in the foreground, as the lower viewing platform re-opened today. The lower viewing platform, located at the base of the falls, has been closed to the public since September 4, two days after the start of the Eagle Creek Fire. The lodge, restaurant, gift shop, and snack bar reopened on November 29, 2017, but the platform remained closed due to the need to rebuild a rock catchment fence which was damaged during the fire by falling debris and trees. The reconstruction of the fence was completed late last week, and the new fence will protect visitors on the platform from trees or rocks that may fall from the hillside. The U.S. Forest Service also hired contractors to fell hazard trees and conduct rock scaling, measures which will limit the amount of dangerous debris that can fall unexpectedly. The trail to the famed Benson Bridge, which spans the upper and lower falls, will remain closed until the next round of repairs is completed. Work will include the replacement of Shady Creek Bridge, a wooden footbridge that burned during Eagle Creek Fire, and clearing and repair work on the lower portion of Larch Mountain Trail. An initial trail assessment found up to 90% of the trail covered by rocks. Crews have begun work to clear, repair, and stabilize the trail. The projected timeline for reopening the trail up to Benson Bridge is summer 2018. A timeline for the trail to the Upper Viewing platform remains undetermined. The recreation site, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, is one of the most popular natural attractions in Oregon, receiving millions of visitors each year. Visitors still need to access the lodge through the I-84 parking lot, operated by Oregon Department of Transportation. When parking is full, the gate to the I-84 parking lot will close. Travelers are asked to respect gate closures and use caution on the Interstate. A six-mile section of the Historic Columbia River Highway from Bridal Veil to Ainsworth State Park remains closed with no timeline for re-opening. Rocks and trees continue to fall on the road and ODOT will keep the road closed until it can safely re-open. Nearby Benson State Recreation Area will also remain closed to protect public safety. The U.S. Forest Service continues to work in close collaboration with ODOT and Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation to mitigate hazards in the vicinity of the Eagle Creek Fire burned area in order to reopen roadways and recreation sites affected by the Eagle Creek Fire as soon as it is safe to do so. The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area encompasses 292,500 acres of Washington and Oregon, where the Columbia River cuts a spectacular river canyon through the Cascade Mountains. The USDA Forest Service manages National Forest lands in the National Scenic Area and works with the Gorge Commission, states, counties, treaty tribes, and partners to protect and enhance scenic, natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Columbia River Gorge while encouraging local economic development consistent with that protection. Learn more about Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area at www.fs.usda.gov/crgnsa or follow us on social media at facebook.com/crgnsa or www.twitter.com/crgnsa.



