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Explore Columbia River Gorge Half-Day Small-Group Tour

Explore Columbia River Gorge Half-Day Small-Group Tour

Overview

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.

City: Portland

Wed 18 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $89.00

Make a reservation

Wed 18 Feb

Starting at $89.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

PA system so people in back can hear their guide

Air-conditioned vehicle

Bottled water

Snacks

Additional Info

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

What To Expect

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

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.

Columbia River Highway

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.

Sandy River

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.

Portland Women's Forum State Scenic Viewpoint

Here's your chance to capture the quintessential Gorge shot.

Vista House

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.

Latourell Falls

A short walk from the vehicle reveals a 249-foot hanging waterfall adorned with fluorescent lichen and columnar basalt.

Shepperd's Dell State Natural Area

This delightful little cove provides for a hidden surprise and some remarkable pictures.

Bridal Veil Falls State Park

An old logging ghost town dating to the 1880s, harboring a waterfall, an operating post office, and a circa-1920s B & B.

Wahkeena Falls

A short switch-back trail through Hemlock and Doug-fir leads to a bridge at the base of the falls.

Multnomah Falls

The tallest waterfall in the state, with a combined height of 620 feet.

Oneonta Gorge

A slot canyon created by a fault, with plants growing on the walls found nowhere else.

Horsetail Falls- Columbia River Gorge

Get some quirky photos at this quirky waterfall!

Beacon Rock

View the fifth-largest free-standing monolith in the world, from a distance.

Rooster Rock State Park

As we pass by, view the rock that inspired North America's oldest continuously running nudist beach!

Show 11 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (34)

Aaron_M

Nov 2019

Loved the tour! We saw some amazing sites. Our tour guide Marcus was very good and polite. I would definitely go again

Response from Host

Dec 2019

Thanks for the great review, Bianca! You and Aaron were awesome! Enjoy your next Beats Antique show!

Rosie-in-Berlin

Oct 2019

My sister and I loved this tour. Our guide, Taryn, was the best! She tailored the tour to take us on more hiking trails, showed us the variety of plant life in the gorge and took us to the stunning waterfalls. We saw and learned so much!! She told stories about the history of the area and kept us fascinated during the whole time we were driving from spot to spot, so the time just flew by. It was also so convenient to be picked up right from our Airbnb! Not only was it was so much fun talking to an expert who had lived in the area for so many years, it was also so practical as we saw a lot in a short space of time, and were able to pack a lot more into our short stay in Portland thanks to Terran Travels. We loved the tour so much (even despite the rain!) that we immediately booked another one with Terran Travels as soon as we came back.

Response from Host

Nov 2019

Thank you Rosie! We thoroughly enjoyed taking you and Gina to the Gorge and Coast! Best wishes on the tour guiding!

BingaDinga

Oct 2019

These tours are an excellent option for travellers who don't have a car, but want to get areas of Oregon that aren't easily accessible by public transport. I cannot recommend these tours enough! I did the half day Columbia valley half-day tour with my sister, with convenient and punctual pickup directly from our accomodation. The vehicle was comfortable and spotlessly clean. Our guide was a local and knew a lot about the history and geography of the region. She was chatty, friendly and informative. We wanted to do a bit of proper hiking so she took us around the waterfalls. The scenery was breathtaking. We loved that it didn't feel too "touristy" or artificial - it was clear that Taryn was passionate about the landscape and its natural history, and she was flexible and receptive to what we wanted to do. We loved the tour so much we immediately booked another one for the next day! The second tour we did was the Oregon coast day trip. We had been planning on using public transport, but the timings were inconvenient and we saw so much more than we would have done on foot/by public bus. Our guides took us to places little known even to locals (due to their inaccessibility at high tide). We explored beaches, caves, rockpools, old forests with giant trees hundreds of years old. We went to several fantastic viewpoints from which we could see far along the coastline. Both our guides were well informed about the flora and fauna, and curious to find answers to questions they didn't already know. Our guides took good care of us and were so friendly; even after our tour they were full of recommendations for the rest of our trip. It was an absolutely wonderful day. The tours are fantastic value if you want to see the natural beauty of this state. It's an essential for people who don't have their own car; but even if we had chosen to drive, we wouldn't have learned nearly as much about the fascinating history, wildlife, and geography of this region.

Response from Host

Nov 2019

Thanks for the amazingly generous reviews! It was a pleasure taking you and Rosie to the Columbia Gorge and Oregon Coast. Hope to see you again some day!