By JIM RYAN

The Oregonian | OregonLive

The historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, closed for months by the Eagle Creek fire, is ready to open sometime this week, the U.S. Forest Service said Tuesday.

The reopening signals a significant milestone for officials working to get the public back into parts of the Columbia River Gorge affected by the 48,831-acre blaze, which ripped through the area in September. Firefighters protected the lodge from the flames, but it suffered smoke damage.

Much of the Multnomah Falls area will remain closed. The public won’t be able to venture beyond the area adjacent to the 1925 lodge, as a lower viewing area is cordoned off by a fence. Also off limits beyond the fence is the trail that leads to the famed Benson Bridge.

Here’s what the public can expect when it’s able to return to Multnomah Falls.

Don't Edit

Sean Meagher/File

Kent Kalsch of the Oregon Department of Transportation said the public will be able to visit the lodge by parking in the lot in the middle of Interstate 84. The parking lot will be open around the clock unless it's full, he said. The lodge will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Don't Edit

U.S. Forest Service

The public won't be able to access the lodge from the Historic Columbia River Highway, which is still closed from Bridal Veil to Ainsworth State Park.

A 6-mile stretch of the highway reopened Wednesday from Larch Mountain Road to Bridal Veil.

Don't Edit

Mark Graves/File

The exterior of the lodge will look the same. There’s no visible damage inside the lodge.

Don't Edit

Jim Ryan/Staff

Patrons will be able to peruse the gift shop and grab breakfast or lunch or get a snack and espresso, said Jill Buck, vice president of lodge concessionaire Multnomah Falls Co. Inc. She said the lodge won’t be open for dinner over the winter.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jim Ryan/Staff

The gift shop, pictured during a media tour Tuesday, will be stocked with Multnomah Falls souvenirs.

Don't Edit

Jim Ryan/Staff

The restaurant will be picturesque as ever.

Don't Edit

Jim Ryan/Staff

The falls — two steps of 542 feet and 69 feet with a 9-foot decline in between — will be beautiful as always.

Don't Edit

Jim Ryan/Staff

Still, there is some damage.

Don't Edit

Jim Ryan/Staff

The wooden pedestrian bridge that leads up to the famed Benson Bridge burned, for instance.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Here's some more information from @CRGNSA spokeswoman Rachel Pawlitz. pic.twitter.com/VU06Bsmf4P — Jim Ryan (@Jimryan015) November 29, 2017

Hear more about the reopening from a Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area spokeswoman.

— Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015