Sasquatch Shuttle wants to fix ‘that’ traffic jam at Multnomah Falls

Published 2:00 am Friday, July 28, 2023

A shuttle driver who cruises along the famed “Waterfall Corridor” in the Columbia River Gorge was blessed — or cursed, if you catch his wife on a bad day — with the gift of gab.

Kelly Ross, a Vancouver resident, works for Sasquatch Shuttle, serving as a bright personality for a company dedicated to improving a stretch of roadway that has long been a headache for locals and tourists alike.

“I’m a student of human nature, so working here has allowed me to meet people from all over the world,” Ross said. “I can joke around, share information, and make this trip special.”

For the last two months Ross, whose friends call him “Hot Rod,” has been operating the route between Multnomah Falls and Sasquatch Shuttle’s main parking lot, 47100 W. Mill Road in Bridal Veil. He became enamored by the company after hitching a ride to Oregon’s most popular tourist destination, so much so that he stepped out of retirement to work for the company.

“My wife drives a school bus in Vancouver, and a few of her friends have driven for Sasquatch,” Ross said. “That first trip sparked that passion for me.”

On paper a shuttle doesn’t seem worthwhile. From the Bridal Veil lot to Multnomah Falls is less than four miles, or 12 minutes. It’s so close the truly adventurous could even manage to walk it with a sturdy pair of shoes. But as locals know and tourists soon find out, trying to navigate Multnomah Falls in the summer is a nightmare.

For decades the more than 2 million annual visitors would swarm the waterfall, spilling out of the Interstate 84 lot and making the Historic Highway unusable. Visitors dead set on experiencing the falls would idle on the highway, waiting for someone to exit the cramped 50 spot parking lot on the historic roadway.

“It would get bad,” said Kent Krumpschmidt.

He would know better than most, having served with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years, much of which was spent patrolling the Gorge. His duties led to the headaches of parking violations, vehicle break-ins and wrecks.

That is why he wanted to start a business to change that reality. Sasquatch Shuttle was officially opened by Krumpschmidt and his partner Alan Dayley in 2020 — making for a bumpy start to its existence. But in the three years since, Sasquatch Shuttle has done more than just safely get people to Multnomah Falls. The business has been tasked with bettering the “Waterfall Corridor” as a whole, and this summer has seen several significant steps.

“Our ultimate goal is to eliminate that traffic,” he said. “I’ve seen lines of cars backed up 2 hours all the way to Wahkeena Falls.”

For decades the partner organizations who oversee and operate Multnomah Falls have been left scratching their heads over what to do about the highway traffic. It even prompted a much-maligned ticket system last summer that was quietly done away with for 2023.

But now in an unprecedented step, things are getting better, thanks to investments from Sasquatch Shuttle.

“I learned that the Historic Highway parking lot was privately owned by the railroad company,” Krumpschmidt said. “So because of our existing relationship, they agreed to let us take it over.”

Changes were quickly made. First the spots in the lot were changed to angled, which kept people from trying to get in and out at a 90-degree angle, which sometimes led to difficult 10-point turns. The entrance to the lot was also moved to the far end, away from where the crosswalk between the I-84 lot and Multnomah Falls plaza.

“That was a huge difference in safety,” Krumpschmidt said. “Before you had all these drivers trying to get into the parking lot, or passing by people waiting, as these pedestrians were crossing.”

The traffic wasn’t just annoying for drivers, but also posed significant safety issues. Many would illegally leave their cars along the sides of the highway and walk to destinations like Multnomah Falls, making very narrow roadways even more harrowing. And the traffic jams made it difficult for emergency vehicles like police, fire and ambulances to get past.

“When I was a deputy I once had to carry a kid with a broken leg one mile because the ambulance couldn’t get to the trailhead,” Krumpschmidt said.

Sasquatch Shuttle employs two dedicated flaggers. One is stationed at that crosswalk, keeping an eye out for the safety of pedestrians. The other is at the entrance to the parking lot, helping direct drivers. If the lot is full, they drag a sign out to block it and keep folks moving.

“Those kids have been great, and they have to have thick skin to keep folks moving like that,” Ross said.

Those extra set of eyes have been a boon. Last year the MCSO said there were about 100 reported break-ins at the Multnomah Falls Historic Highway lot. So far this summer there have been none.

“Knock on wood,” Krumpschmidt said with a grin.

Relaxing ride

Sasquatch Shuttle offers a bevy of services to make the Multnomah Falls experience enjoyable.

The main lot, in Bridal Veil, was bought from the railroad company. It had been an overgrown, wild gravel space, that was the perfect location for what Krumpschmidt wanted to accomplish. The lot only has one entrance, and is watched over throughout the day. That means peace of mind for riders.

“People have been really positive about the shuttle,” Krumpschmidt said. “They can ride and watch through the huge windows, spend as much time as they wish at the falls, and all the while know their car won’t be broken into.”

The shuttles arrive at Multnomah Falls about every 30 minutes. It runs from May through September, seven days a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Well-behaved pets are allowed onboard — one time, Krumpschmidt said, that had a rider bring along a colorful parrot; and the shuttles are Americans with Disabilities Accessible, if those riders give at least 48 hours’ notice so properly trained drivers can be brought in. There is also spots for RVs at the Sasquatch lot.

“This is the easiest, safest way to explore the Gorge,” Krumpschmidt said. “We would love to see even more people ride with us.”

Reservations are not required to ride, but are recommended if you are visiting during a busy day. That can be done online at sasquatchshuttle.com.

In addition to the Multnomah Falls express route, there is a longer trip, about 2 hours, which takes riders to Latourell Falls, the Vista House, Horsetail Falls — which is Ross’ favorite, and Multnomah Falls. At each spot people can get out and spend about 15 minutes taking photos and enjoying the views.

Sasquatch is always looking to add and improve its services. There is talk of expanding the how long the season runs, as well as new routes like a fall tour through the Gorge that highlights and explains all the paranormal and spooky anecdotes, like Sasquatch sightings. The team is also keeping an eye on the Historic Highway lot.

“As we continue to manage the lot we want to improve,” Krumpschmidt said. “That is the great thing about being a private business, we don’t have to wait and jump through all these hoops to fix things.”

That proved beneficial early on. The initial angle of the parking spaces was too narrow, making it difficult for people to get in and out of their cars. The volunteers at the Multnomah Falls Lodge gave a heads up to Sasquatch Shuttle, who was then able to change it overnight.

“We are going to do what needs to be done,” Krumpschmidt said. “Our goal is to improve the ‘Waterfall Corridor.’”