Departure: Daily
Duration: 9:00am - 12:45pm
Pick-up Location: Downtown Portland Hotels or Pre- arranged locations
The number #1 attraction in Portland area... Multnomah Falls & Gorge Waterfall Tour. The great ice age Lake Missoula Flood left scars literally from Montana to the Pacific Ocean. Take photographs as we explore the waterfalls. Our tour guides will share research uncovering the effects of the Lake Missoula Flood in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington. This catastrophic flood propelled over 500 cubic miles of water, ice, rock and mud across eastern Washington, scouring the Columbia River Gorge, and covering the Willamette Valley with up to 400 feet of water and left gravel bars a mile wide and hundreds of feet high. In addition, our guides will show you many of the signs still visible today.
Highlights:
-Bring a camera! The views of Portland, Multnomah Falls and Cascade Mountains are indescribable!
-En route to the Waterfalls, learn about the geological landscape and the region’s culture, giving you an understanding of how this incredible terrain was shaped over time.
-Enjoy views of gorgeous waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area.
-Follow your professional tour guide to view stunning waterfalls, plants and wildlife.
Itinerary:
We don't just drive by the waterfalls! We stop and allow our guest to get out and up close. We start along the Historic Columbia River Highway National Scenic Byway. Some of the waterfalls include visiting Portland Women’s Forum, Crown Point Vista House, Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Multnomah Falls and Horsetail Falls .Waterfall stops may include:
1. Crown Point Vista House
Best known of the scenic lookouts along the Historic Columbia River Highway, providing a panoramic view of the Columbia River. The Crown Point Vista House was built in 1916 and refurbished and completely remodeled in 2005, with its beautiful marble interior and brass fixtures.
2. Latourell Falls
Plunge 249 feet (76 m) over a massive wall of columnar basalt – some of the best formations in the Pacific Northwest – before cascading hastily towards the Columbia River. This waterfall is usually most recognized for the large patch of bright yellow lichen adorning the cliff face to the right of the falls, and this characteristic has led many famous photographers to this captivating location. If you stand in just the right place, and look way up, behind the falls you see another falls!
3. Bridal Veil Falls
A winding footpath and a bridge lead to a vantage point for the falls. The falls consists of two cascades in quick succession along angling rock faces, so when there is good water flow, the falls looks very much like its bridal veil namesake. This waterfall is one of the best kept secrets in the Columbia River Gorge. People read about, but rarely get a chance to view the actual waterfall.
4. Wahkeena Falls
Most beautiful in the Yakima language sometimes spelled Wah-kee-na, tumbles 242 feet in a cascading type of falls with 3 plunging falls. On up behind this falls is a cascade which flows a long way. . . and then you come to Fairy Falls.
5. Multnomah Falls
The second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. Nearly two million visitors a year come to see this ancient waterfall, making it Oregon’s number one public destination. Fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies but is highest during winter and spring.
6. Horsetail Falls
Horsetail Falls was named for its distinctive form and plunges 176 feet. The trail leads to Upper Horsetail Falls, also called Ponytail Falls. There the trail leads behind the base of the Falls. Horsetail Falls is a great opportunity to stop and take some photos or simply enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area.
Return to Portland: