Multnomah Falls & Columbia River Gorge half-day hiking tour

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/8

Duration4h

GroupUp to 30

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

The waterfalls here carry stories older than the rocks they fall through.

A half-day hiking tour of Columbia River Gorge's western end with an air-conditioned van pickup, visits to three or more waterfalls including Multnomah Falls and Latourell Falls, short hikes to overlooks and vistas, and a guide who tells the geology, botany and old stories—including Indigenous legends—of the canyon. The itinerary shifts with weather and road conditions, so the waterfalls you see may differ from the sample stops listed, but you'll always visit at least three waterfalls and a viewpoint.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Columbia River Gorge waterfalls

Pickup at convenient location
Drive 15-30 minutes into Columbia River Gorge
Visit Multnomah Falls and Benson Bridge
Stop in Bridal Veil town
Hike to hidden romantic waterfall
Visit Latourell Falls and hike up to 2 miles
Optional visit to Horsetail Falls or Bridal Veil Falls
Stop at Vista House viewpoint
Drive back through Troutdale to drop off

The Experience

How do you fit the most famous waterfall in Oregon, a hidden fairy-tale canyon, and 80 miles of columnar basalt cliffs into a half-day? The tour starts with a van pickup from a convenient spot and a 15–30 minute drive into the western end of the Columbia River Gorge, where the canyon narrows and the water starts falling. Multnomah Falls comes first—the tallest waterfall in the state and one of the most photographed in the U.S. You'll walk out to the iconic Benson Bridge for the full view and have time to browse the gift shop, though the steep hike to the top is not included. The van then moves through Bridal Veil, a town that once ran on lumber and now holds a post office and a nunnery, and stops at least once there.

The hikes are short. Wahkeena Falls sits a half-mile up a gentle trail through forest, and the guide describes it as a genuine fairy land. Latourell Falls, the most impressive plunge-style waterfall in the Gorge, offers an optional longer hike up to two miles if you want it—the water tumbles over 15-million-year-old columnar basalt, and the guide shares the local legend of a Beaver princess whose spirit lives in the falls. Vista House, a historic rest stop perched at the mouth of the Gorge, gives you a walk to the upper deck (weather permitting) and a view that justifies the detour. The drive back takes 35 minutes and passes through Troutdale on the way out of the canyon.

Weather and road construction often shift which waterfalls you visit—Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are alternates—but the tour always includes at least three waterfalls and a viewpoint. The van is air-conditioned, and the guide brings reusable water bottles if you've left yours behind. Permit and parking fees for Multnomah Falls are included during permit season. The whole tour runs rain or shine and takes about four hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

Air-conditioned van pickup from a convenient location.
permit and parking fees for Multnomah Falls during permit season.
reusable water bottles provided if you don't have your own.
a live guide in English who shares the geology, botany and Indigenous stories of the canyon.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Around Portland Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Multnomah Falls and other major waterfalls without arranging your own transport or paying separate entry fees—the van pickup and permit costs are handled, so you show up and walk straight to the water.