Shady Creek Falls

Shady Creek Falls is located adjacent to Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Travelers on I-84 will see the falls as they exit the freeway into the Multnomah Falls rest area. Those driving on the Historic Highway will have to follow the path under the railroad tracks and the highway into the rest area in order to see the falls clearly.On a global scale, I can think of several rather noteworthy waterfalls which are overshadowed by neighboring waterfalls of much more significant stature. Lehamite Falls being overshadowed Yosemite Falls in California, for example. Lehamite stands well over 1000 feet tall, any were it anywhere but in Yosemite National Park, it would be a tourist magnet. While Shady Creek Falls isn't quite on the same level as that, the simple fact that it's located right next to Multnomah Falls makes it possibly the most ignored waterfall in the entire Columbia River Gorge. Shady Creek is the small stream which is crossed as one walks to the Benson Bridge, which straddles the two tiers of Multnomah Falls. Shady Creek Falls can't be seen from any of the trails immediately adjacent to Multnomah Falls and is severely obscured by trees from anywhere south of the railroad tracks, which likely lends more to the attention deficit. The only real way to see the falls is from within the parking lot in the rest area between the lanes of Interstate 84. Up close, it would probably be rather scenic, but since it appears Shady Creek is the water source for the Multnomah Falls lodge, its not recommended (probably downright frowned upon) to climb up to the falls.