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Officials are hoping a pilot program requiring timed-use vehicle permits will help reduce traffic and improve safety in the popular “waterfall corridor” on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. From May 24 through Sept. 5, the new program will require a timed-use permit for personal vehicles to access federal lands in the waterfall corridor — a 7-mile corridor located between Bridal Veil Falls and Ainsworth State Park — between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., seven days a week.
Multnomah County, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the United States Forest Service (USFS) launched the joint project to create a more reliable, safe, predictable and enjoyable experience for all users visiting trailheads, waterfalls and viewpoints.
“Our community raised concerns about congestion in the Gorge,” Multnomah County Commissioner Lori Stegmann stated in a news release. “The strain on our ecosystem and infrastructure requires an approach that balances sustainability with recreation and tourism. This pilot represents how multiple governmental agencies can come together to develop a solution for our residents and visitors.”
The permits are intended to spread visits to the popular waterfall corridor throughout the day and the week, with fewer vehicles allowing more space for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Officials say summer days in the Gorge lead to long vehicle backups, which delay emergency response times, decrease safety and cause frustration for visitors. Between 2011 and 2016, visits to National Forest System lands in the Gorge’s waterfall corridor increased 35 percent, with a corresponding increase in traffic.
