Columbia River Gorge Tour: Unique Species, Stunning Waterfalls
4.9
750 Ratings
Portland
Discover the Columbia River Gorge on a breathtaking tour featuring unique species, stunning waterfalls, and dramatic lava flows. Experience the grandeur of this iconic Natural Scenic Area!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Director Park - Our central meeting location and pick up point! A beautiful, urban park in the middle of Downtown Portland.
- Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - 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.
- Vista House - 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.
- Latourell Falls - 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 “/4-mile trail hike will be led to get a closer view of the falls.
- Multnomah 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.
- Horsetail Falls- Columbia River Gorge - We will spend about 10 minutes enjoying this overlooked gem right off of the historic highway!
- Director Park - We end our tour back at Director Park, our central drop off location in the heart of Downtown Portland.
What's Included
- Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
- Complimentary bottled water
- Luxury passenger van transportation
- Friendly and local guides with expert knowledge
- Engaging live commentary during the tour
What's Not Included
- Gratuities- If you enjoy the tour and would like to tip your guide, a 20% gratuity is suggested
Additional Information
Encounter unique wildlife, explore deep lava flows of basalt, and marvel at some of the globe’s most captivating waterfalls on this journey. Discover the Columbia River Gorge’s majestic beauty, a highly-photographed region in America noted for its natural scenery. Enjoy a drive on America’s oldest picturesque highway, making stops at panoramic vistas, cascading waterfalls, and a heritage lodge.
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
Location
900 SW Taylor St
Southwest Taylor Street
We pick up at one of the corners of Director Park, located at the cross-streets of SW 9th Ave and SW Taylor St. The guide will aim to pull up in front of a restaurant called Pastini.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(750 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Annemarie_o
Apr 22, 2024
Amazing! - We had the pleasure of having Dave as our guide. He was knowledgeable, pleasant, friendly, friendly, and accommodating. Dave made great use of the time we had taking us to very scenic and historical places and waterfalls. Highly recommend! The van was comfortable and easy to enter and exit.
Review provided by Viator
Nikitama9190pr
Apr 22, 2024
Great experience - Dominique was a fantastic guide! She was knowledgeable and fun. The pace was great - not too rushed. The tour was well worth the money overall!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chandra_j
Apr 21, 2024
Simply amazing! - Seeing the Latourell Falls, Shepherds Dell Falls, and Multunomah Falls. These were absolutely beautiful and breath taking! Also, our tour guide, Chuck, was knowledgeable, fun, and kind!
Review provided by Viator
771akhils
Apr 21, 2024
Great tour - Eric our tour guide was great. The tour was well coordinated and comfortably paced. We were not rushed anywhere. Eric gave us insights into the history of the places we visited that brought the tour alive. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniel
Apr 21, 2024
Wonderful experience, fantastic scenery and well worth the time. - This tour was awesome!
Chuck was our guide and he was very informative, enthusiastic and fun.
This was a great way to spend 4 hours in nature and see some very cool waterfalls.
You will not be disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cbtq4zrxz6
Apr 21, 2024
Enjoyable tour - Eric was a very informative and friendly tour guide that made the trip enjoyable. Plus, the tour description on the website matched the tour perfectly and the weather was perfect. Expectations for the trip were definitely met.
Review provided by Viator
Janine_w
Apr 19, 2024
Absolutely Awesome - Waterfalls were absolutely amazing!!! So gorgeous!!! The guide was funny and the ride was long but smooth!!
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_l
Apr 19, 2024
What a wonder - The waterfalls were absolutely breathtaking!! It was a most rewarding and relaxing tour of the state park.
Review provided by Viator
Jeff_d
Apr 19, 2024
Wonderful experience - The 5 different falls were excellent. Our tour guide, Aaron, was exceptional. He was knowledgeable, informative, and provided and all around great experience. I highly recommend the tour and Aaron as the tour guide.
Review provided by Viator
Sheresa
Apr 18, 2024
Here for a day. Wouldn’t change a thing. - All of it. Eric was a great guide. Really enjoyed the tour. We only had today. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Review provided by Viator
