Explore Columbia River Gorge Half Day Small Group Tour
- 3–4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Mobile ticket
Highlights
The 85-mile (137-km) long Columbia Gorge NSA would be a national park if it weren't a critical transportation corridor. It features waterfalls, mountains, monoliths, terraces, resort towns, vineyards, orchards, and The River, harboring a plethora of fish and birds, and unique plants and invertebrates. In the early 1900s, Portlanders would drive their Model T cars along the Columbia River Highway to gaze at waterfalls. It was the first scenic highway built in America. There is said to be over 4000 waterfalls; many are hidden away, but many are just a short hike off the Historic Highway. On this tour you'll explore the western, rainforested, southern side of the Gorge, dubbed "waterfall alley" where we'll have you getting wet under a waterfall, peering over cliffs, and learning stories of the area only the locals know.
Inclusions
What's included
- PA system so people in back can hear their guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Snacks
What's not
- Gratuity (always appreciated)
Itinerary
On the eastern edge of the Portland Metro Area is the western edge of the beautiful 85-mile long Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
Your guide will drive you along segments of this stunning 74-mile (119 -km) highway that was inspired by the Axenstrasse in the Swiss Alps.
We'll parallel the Sandy River while driving the western segment of the Columbia River Highway. The Sandy's headwaters is a glacier on Mt. Hood, and the river is known for its Steelhead and Chinook runs. As a result, the Sandy is one of three tributaries of the Columbia who's dams have been removed since 2007.
Here's your chance to capture the quintessential Gorge shot.
This 100-year-old 'fanciest rest stop in the world' sits atop a basalt point above the Columbia River, with a 360-degree balcony. The sandstone, limestone, and marble building includes historical interpretation and fancy restrooms.
A short walk from the vehicle reveals a 249-foot hanging waterfall adorned with fluorescent lichen and columnar basalt.
This delightful little cove provides for a hidden surprise and some remarkable pictures.
An old logging ghost town dating to the 1880s, harboring a waterfall, an operating post office, and a circa-1920s B & B.
A short switch-back trail through Hemlock and Doug-fir leads to a bridge at the base of the falls.
The tallest waterfall in the state, with a combined height of 620 feet.
A slot canyon created by a fault, with plants growing on the walls found nowhere else.
Get some quirky photos at this quirky waterfall!
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 538
- 42
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 40 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Director Park (1 city block, 200 ft/61 m per side). The guide will stop where space allows on either side. Look for a black or white van. Driving? Contact us for a free parking location to meet us 15 minutes earlier.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 14 travellers
- Operated by
- Terran Travels
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Portland
- Its from-price is 10% below the median of the 285 experiences we list in Portland.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 77 of 285.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Portland
Portland is Oregon's largest city, a green Pacific Northwest city of bridges, rose gardens, food carts, craft beer and views of Mount Hood.
Portland sits where the Willamette River meets the Columbia, with the snow-covered cone of Mount Hood visible to the east on clear days. It is called the City of Roses, and the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, above the city, has thousands of rose bushes. Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the United States, covers the hills west of downtown, and the Japanese Garden nearby is a quiet retreat.
Top-ranked sights in Portland: Multnomah Falls, Latourell Falls, Columbia River Gorge.
Special offers in Portland
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
Similar experiences
![Afternoon Half-Day Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland]()
Free cancellation
