Wender·Vista
Multnomah Falls
shown on ceramic, 12-inch tileUnited States
in the Columbia River Gorge, east of Portland

Multnomah Falls

— — the water the basalt keeps falling for.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.
— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand
— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines
— Beside the kettle, a 12-inch propped
— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall
— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround
— a note from the studio

“The tallest waterfall in Oregon, dropping in two tiers from a cliff of columnar basalt fed by underground springs on Larch Mountain. The Benson Bridge crosses between the upper and lower falls, low enough that mist reaches the rail. The Historic Columbia River Highway brings most of the visitors. Quietest in the hour before the gift shop opens.

from the studio
Multnomah Falls
— bring it home

Multnomah Falls, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?
One tile — square or rectangle.
How big?
the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand
6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb
Surface finish
A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.
How it sits
A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.
$58
Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.
— size
6 × 6 in
15 cm
— weighs
1.6 lb
solid in the hand
— surface
ceramic, hand-finished
art rests beneath a thin glossy finish
— from
Knoxville, TN
our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies
— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Multnomah Falls

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.
— the place

Multnomah Falls sits on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, about thirty miles east of Portland on the Historic Columbia River Highway. The water drops 620 feet in two tiers from a wall of columnar basalt laid down by the Grande Ronde flood basalts roughly 15 million years ago. Larch Mountain feeds the springs above. The site is managed by the U.S. Forest Service inside the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and timed-entry permits are required at peak season.

— the water

The flow is steadiest in spring, when snowmelt and rain combine, and slimmest in late summer when the springs alone carry it. The upper falls measure 542 feet; the lower, 69 feet. Between them, the Benson Bridge crosses a narrow plunge pool, finished in 1914 by Italian stonemasons. Mist reaches the bridge rail most days. In winter the spray glazes the rock and a partial ice column sometimes forms along the upper drop, holding for a week or two before it falls.

— informed by Wikipedia
— the visit

The lodge at the base was built in 1925 and still houses the visitor desk and a small restaurant. The paved walk to the Benson Bridge is a quarter mile; the switchback trail to the top adds another mile and gains about 700 feet. Timed-entry permits run from late May through early September and are issued through Recreation.gov. The Eagle Creek Fire of 2017 closed several adjacent trails for years; some side routes east of the falls are still recovering.

— where
United States · Multnomah County, Oregon
— within
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
— position
45.5762° N · 122.1158° W
— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.
12 km W
Crown Point
gorge overlook
1 km W
Wahkeena Falls
waterfall
4 km E
Horsetail Falls
waterfall
40 km E
Hood River
river town
N
Multnomah Falls
Crown Point
Wahkeena Falls
Horsetail Falls
Hood River
— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Multnomah Falls — and about bringing the piece home.
— about the place

The total drop is 620 feet across two tiers. The upper fall is 542 feet, the lower fall 69 feet, with a short cascade between them under the Benson Bridge.

Underground springs on Larch Mountain feed the falls year-round. Spring snowmelt adds the heaviest flow, while late summer relies almost entirely on the steady spring water.

From late May through early September, timed-entry permits are required for the parking area and main viewpoint. The permits are issued through Recreation.gov in advance.

Summer weekends bring the heaviest crowds, especially between ten in the morning and three in the afternoon. Early mornings and weekday visits in shoulder season stay calm.

Yes. A switchback trail climbs about one mile from the lodge to the upper overlook, gaining roughly 700 feet. The path is paved most of the way and rejoins the Larch Mountain Trail above.

Partial ice columns form along the upper drop in cold winters, sometimes spanning much of the cliff. A full freeze is rare, and any ice column usually breaks within a week or two.

— about the piece in your home

Yes. Multnomah Falls is the most recognised landmark in the Columbia River Gorge, and people who grew up nearby tend to have a memory tied to the Benson Bridge. A Small or Medium with a handwritten note from the studio carries well.

The mossy greens and basalt blues sit well in mountain-modern interiors, Pacific Northwest cabins, and biophilic rooms with linen and warm wood. It also holds against a deep slate wall.

It fits the biophilic direction cleanly. Waterfall scenes with real plant texture are a long-running anchor for that style, and the stained-glass treatment keeps the green from going flat.

Above a standard sofa, a single Large reads well from across the room. For more presence, a 4-tile Mural fills the wall; a 9-tile Mural becomes the focal point of a larger living room.

Yes. Choose the Dura Satin or Matte finish for splash zones and showers. Both are scratch-resistant and handle steam well. The Glossy finish stays in dry display areas.

A microfibre cloth with water is enough for routine care. For a kitchen splash zone, a mild dish soap and a soft cloth work. Avoid abrasive pads and bleach-based sprays.

Yes. Every WenderVista piece is made in our Knoxville studio, designed by Reid Wender, and produced only by us. We don't license the artwork to other shops.

— if this one stayed with you

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