Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland, OR
Description
Species seen nowhere else in the world, dramatic basalt lava flows nearly a mile deep, and some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls are a few of the sights that await you on this tour. Come experience the grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge, one of the United States’ most photographed Natural Scenic Areas. We will drive along the oldest scenic highway in the US, stopping at sweeping viewpoints, flowing falls, and a historic lodge.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Our central meeting location and pick up point! A beautiful, urban park in the middle of Downtown Portland.
We will depart downtown Portland and drive east alongside the Columbia River to Troutdale, known as the Gateway to the Gorge! We will join the beautiful Historic Columbia River Highway, the first planned scenic roadway in the United States.
Typically, our first stop for the day is the Crown Point Vista House. This famous overlook sits 733 feet above the Columbia River, atop the remains of a lava flow that swept through the Gorge around 14 to 17 million years ago! Here, we will find amazing 180-degree views of the Columbia River Gorge and explore the Vista House. An intricately designed observatory and museum, the Vista House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the Vista House, we will drive deeper into the Columbia River National Scenic Area. Our first waterfall for the day will be the dramatic Latourell Falls which plunges 249 feet over a massive wall of columnar basalt. Depending on the season, a short ¼-mile trail hike will be led to get a closer view of the falls.
The next waterfall we will visit will be the famed Multnomah Falls. Plummeting 620 feet in two major steps, Multnomah Falls is the highest waterfall in Oregon and second highest in the nation! Here, we can explore the Multnomah Falls Historic Lodge (a Cascadian style stone and timber lodge built in 1925) as well as the beautiful Multnomah Falls itself. The easily accessible viewing platform offers a full view of the Benson Bridge and cascading falls beyond it.
We will spend about 10 minutes enjoying this overlooked gem right off of the historic highway!
We end our tour back at Director Park, our central drop off location in the heart of Downtown Portland.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
Reviews(1,387)
Knowledgeable energetic guide with experience in science education. See multiple falls in quick succession. Wear good shoes for slopes and wet areas
I felt like every stop was meaningful and informative!
Great way to see the beauty of Portland. Our driver was knowledgeable and friendly . The amount of time at each stop was enough to enjoy the falls and walk a little.
Tour was a great way to experience the majestic nature that’s only a short ride outside of Portland. Daniel, our guide, was absolutely fantastic. So knowledgeable about the history of Portland, the surrounding area and local plant species. Truly a great experience. Don’t miss this if you are visiting Portland and don’t have a car. Easy pickup and drop off from downtown!!
Incredible tourguide and sights! Mark was so knowledgeable and fun. Easy pickup and dropoff area near our hotel. Would definitely rebook for our next visit to Portland!
It was wonderful to hear the history of Portland. Our guide was so knowledgeable and extremely helpful. Loved the explanation of each waterfalls and the bridges. He even helped taking our pictures! Loved the whole experience!❤️
Daniel was our guide and he fid a great job! He was well versed and knowledgeable about Portland, the falls and their history. Daniel was very accommodating to everyone and made it a fun experience for all of us on the tour.
Very convenient pick up and drop off downtown. Our tour guide was fantastic. Super knowledgeable and engaging. I’d highly recommend this tour!
We saw 5 waterfalls and got a lot of great pictures. It was a fun time. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable.
We had a great time on the waterfall 4 hr tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and history making the drive between stops interesting. It was the perfect length during our short visit in Portland.
