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Beyond Portland

Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland, OR

Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
Very popular!
5+ bookings in the past 6 hours.
  • 4 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Quintin_T ·
Jun 2026
I would highly recommend the Columbia River Gorge tour. This is a fantastic way of seeing the rugged beauty of Oregon. Our Wilderness Adventures tour guide, Mark, was very knowledgeable about the different areas of the gorge. Very impressed with the Multnomah and Horsetail Falls. We will definitely return to explore the other areas that Mark pointed out. I'm glad we took this tour!
· Karen_F ·
May 2026
Our guide Sean was very knowledgeable about all things regarding the history, geographical points, botanical etc. he gave us personalized attention and any questions we asked were thoroughly answered. He was very attentive to our needs and areas of interest. It was one of our best experiences on our vacation and the landscape is awesome and beautiful. We would highly recommend this tour and specifically Sean Connolly to anyone!

Overview

The Columbia River Gorge is known for its dramatic waterfalls and impressive vistas—but if you don't have car, planning a trip from Portland can be tricky. Instead, enjoy a hassle-free way to check off many top attractions in just half a day, all thanks to this small-group sightseeing tour. Visit the historic Vista House, admire Latourell Falls, stop at Multnomah Falls, and more, all while your guide shares insider stories.
  • This Columbia River Gorge tour is great for first-time visitors
  • Round-trip transit from central Portland makes exploring easy
  • This small-group tour is capped at 12 to keep your sightseeing personal
  • Discover several waterfalls and scenic viewing points in just half a day

What's Included

  • Transportation in a premium, high-roofed passenger van
  • Knowledgeable, local and friendly guide
  • Bottled water
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Live commentary throughout the tour
  • Gratuities- If you enjoy the tour and would like to tip your guide, a 20% gratuity is suggested

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 900 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97205, USA

    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.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Meet your guide and group in downtown Portland at your appointed time. Hop aboard your comfortable, climate-controlled vehicle, and then head east along the Columbia River towards the quaint town of Troutdale, known as the Gateway to the Gorge.

Continue along the Historic Columbia River Highway to the first stop: Crown Point. This famous overlook sits 733 feet (223 meters) above the river, and offers 180-degree views. It also includes the Vista House, an observatory and museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

From there, drive deeper into the Columbia River National Scenic Area. Visit the first waterfall of the trip: Latourell Falls, which plunges 249 feet (76 meters) down. Depending on the season, stroll along a short, paved trail for a closer view.

Next, head to a lesser-known waterfall directly off the historic highway, Horsetail Falls. Feel the mist on your face as the water plummets down into the deep pool below.

The final stop of the tour is the grand Multnomah Falls. Plummeting 620 feet (189 meters) in two major steps, it is the highest waterfall in Oregon and second-highest continuously flowing waterfall in the nation. Stop in the Multnomah Falls Historic Lodge before departing.

Finally, board the vehicle for a return trip to Portland via the Columbia River scenic route. Depending on changing visitation patterns in the Columbia River Gorge, this tour may also run in reverse order.
1

Director Park

5 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (Pass By)

2

Vista House

15 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

3

Latourell Falls

20 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

4

Multnomah Falls

40 minutesAdmission Ticket Included

5

Horsetail Falls- Columbia River Gorge

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

6

Director Park

5 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • A maximum of 12 people per booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9
based on 1,388 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Knowledgeable energetic...

Robert_D, Jul 2026
Knowledgeable energetic guide with experience in science education. See multiple falls in quick succession. Wear good shoes for slopes and wet areas

Enjoyable tour

Sophia_G, Jul 2026
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.

Amazing Waterfall Experience

Michael_S, Jul 2026
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!!

Waterfalls

Lana_C, Jul 2026
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!❤️

Excellent!

Celia_W, Jun 2026
Very convenient pick up and drop off downtown. Our tour guide was fantastic. Super knowledgeable and engaging. I’d highly recommend this tour!

Waterfall tour is the best

Clara_L, Jun 2026
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...

Meggan_G, Jun 2026
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.

This was an absolutely...

Nicki_M, Jun 2026
This was an absolutely incredible tour of several different waterfalls around the Columbia River Gorge, each one with its own unique charm. Definitely recommend. The tour guide named Norther was a fantastic guide, she was highly knowledgeable about the history of Portland and super enthusiastic about nature & wildlife. It was a pleasure to have her as a tour guide. Thank you Norther and Wildwood Adventures!

Great tour

Jill_R, Jun 2026
Great tour! We learned a lot, and it was stunning. Our tour guide was the best and was very knowledgeable.

Do the tour!

Arlene_G, Jun 2026
You will not appreciate the wonder of the Columbia River Gorge without a tour. You'll learn all about how the gorge was formed, geology, history, plant life, Portland culture, and so much more on this tour. The scenery of course is unbelievable! Well worth the cost.

Waterfall Tour

Mary_B, Jun 2026
This was a fantastic tour! Andy our tour guide was very knowledgeable, accommodating and friendly. We highly recommend

Aaron is the best!

Steven_C, Jun 2026
Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Aaron was more than a guide. He was a history, geology and biology teacher as well.

A beautiful drive and an educational experience

Rita_J, Jun 2026
Lot’s of fun! Easy hikes! Our guide was knowledgeable and very nice. She was also a safe driver. Recommend for sure!

Sean was an excellent...

Debra_Z, Jun 2026
Sean was an excellent tour guide! We learned so much about Portland and the four waterfalls we visited.

Don’t go chasing waterfalls!

Kathleen_A, Jun 2026
I had the most amazing time seeing the waterfalls of Portland. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was amazing. Andy was a great tour guide, you can tell he loves what he does and has a ton of knowledge. I would definitely recommend this tour to my family and friends.

Was impressed with our tour guide and the route that was chosen. Would recommend for anyone who wants to see some beauti

George_F, Jun 2026
Great tour. I would recommend as the guide knew rid bits of information that made it interesting Great Van

Waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge Area

Twila_M, Jun 2026
We truly enjoyed the experience. Patrick was very knowledgeable about information in the area. The waterfalls were beautiful. I would recommend this excursion to visitors in the Portland area.

Highly recommend. Had...

Chase_B, Jun 2026
Highly recommend. Had half a day to kill before a flight and this was a great way to experience the outdoors. Patrick was great!

Multnomah Falls

Chetna_P, Jun 2026
We had an amazing tour to Multnomah Falls! Our tour guide was awesomevery knowledgeable about the area, its history, and all the beautiful sights along the way. He was also incredibly patient, making sure everyone was comfortable and had enough time to enjoy each stop and take photos. His friendly attitude and expertise made the experience even more enjoyable. We learned so much and never felt rushed. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish!

Columbia River Gorge Falls

Quintin_T, Jun 2026
I would highly recommend the Columbia River Gorge tour. This is a fantastic way of seeing the rugged beauty of Oregon. Our Wilderness Adventures tour guide, Mark, was very knowledgeable about the different areas of the gorge. Very impressed with the Multnomah and Horsetail Falls. We will definitely return to explore the other areas that Mark pointed out. I'm glad we took this tour!

Beautiful Relaxing Trip

Jennifer_B, Jun 2026
Thought this would be the best way to get out of the city and see as many waterfalls/hiking spots as possible, and it did not disappoint. The guide was wonderful and full of information. It was so beautiful. I would recommend to. anyone who wants to get out of Portland and see more!

Must see

Alan_l, Jun 2026
Definitely something you should see if it’s your first time ever visiting Portland. It was beautiful.

Grest Tour!

Diane_L, Jun 2026
The waterfall tour with Eric was fabulous! Eric has a wealth of knowledge and we all learned a lot not only about waterfalls but Portland. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

My husband and I had a...

Lidia_p, Jun 2026
My husband and I had a great time, the waterfalls were beautiful, Eric was our guide and he was knowledgeable and really nice, highly recommended

Great trip to see the...

Mary_H, Jun 2026
Great trip to see the Columbia River Gorge and some beautiful waterfalls. Daniel was very knowledgeable!!

No corny jokes from this...

Kristi_A, Jun 2026
No corny jokes from this guide. He knows his history. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The stops were spaced out just right.

Daniel was great! He gave...

Brianne_W, Jun 2026
Daniel was great! He gave lots of info on the history around portland and the cascades. He happily gave recommendations for places to go in the city and was pleasant! The waterfalls were easily accessible and short walks to view them. You get plenty of time for photos at each stop.

Few opportunities like this one!

Judith_T, Jun 2026
It was time well spent - great waterfalls and Norther was an amazing guide as her knowledge on everything we saw surpassed any expectations.

5/5 stars — an easy recommendation!

Kate_M, Jun 2026
5/5 stars — an easy recommendation! Our Columbia River Gorge tour was absolutely beautiful, and our tour guide, Sean, made the experience exceptional. He took the time to get to know each person in the group, interacted with everyone throughout the day, and made every stop interesting and engaging. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and personable approach really elevated the entire experience. We learned so much about the area, its history, and the natural beauty of the Gorge. The scenery was stunning, and the tour was well-paced and enjoyable from start to finish. Our kids, ages 10 and 14, had a great time as well, which says a lot! Sean did a fantastic job making the tour enjoyable for all ages. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Sean, for such a memorable day!

Chasing Waterfalls

Tim_Y, Jun 2026
We saw every kind of weather except snow! And in several cycles. Our guide was well prepared though with umbrellas and ponchos. Aaron is thoroughly knowledgeable about the Columbia Girge. It was a pleasure to have him as a guide.
Likely to Sell Out

From $89.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 20 days in advance.

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