Mt. Hood Loop Tour from Portland: Waterfalls & Timberline Lodge

The only year-round lift-served skiing in North America sits atop the mountain you'll circle in a single day.

An eight-hour guided loop from Portland that climbs toward Mt. Hood, Oregon's highest peak, with stops at Multnomah Falls, the Columbia River Gorge viewpoints, the town of Hood River for lunch, and Timberline Lodge partway up the mountain. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and a local driver-guide leads groups of no more than 14 people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Columbia River Gorge
2. Multnomah Falls30m
3. Mt. Hoodpassing by

Mt. Hood Loop and Columbia River Gorge

• Travel through Columbia River Gorge
• Visit several viewpoints and waterfalls
• Visit Multnomah Falls and rest area
• Enjoy lunch in Hood River with views
• Explore historic Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood
• Pass by Mt Hood highest point

The experience

The day starts with a drive through the Columbia River Gorge, where you stop at several viewpoints and waterfalls along the way. The route follows the river east from Portland, climbing gradually as the landscape opens. Multnomah Falls, Oregon's tallest waterfall, sits about an hour into the drive: a rest area and visitor center there let you walk to the base or stay on the overlook, and a gift shop sits at the top if you want to pick something up.

After the falls, you continue to Hood River, a small town with views of both Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. Lunch happens here, so you eat with the mountain in sight and the gorge behind you. From there, the road climbs toward Timberline Lodge, a historic stone building situated roughly halfway up Mt. Hood itself. The lodge is the base for the year-round skiing that happens above it: the only lift-served ski area in North America that operates twelve months a year, thanks to the glaciers near the summit. You explore the lodge and the area around it before heading back down to Portland.

A local driver-guide leads the whole loop, so navigation and timing are handled. Groups stay small (no more than 14 people per booking), which means the van moves at a pace that lets you linger at stops without holding up a crowd. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Portland bookend the day, so you don't arrange transport to the meeting point.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Portland.
• a local driver-guide for the full eight hours.
• stops at Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge viewpoints, and Timberline Lodge.
• lunch time in Hood River (you choose the restaurant).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Oregon Tour Co., LLC

Is this one for you?This is a shared tour with a fixed route and timing, which is what keeps all the stops (the gorge, the falls, Hood River, and Timberline Lodge) inside a single day without you planning the sequence or managing the drive. Choose it if you want to see Mt. Hood and its surroundings without renting a car or navigating the mountain roads yourself.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Mt. Hood Loop Tour from Portland?

The tour runs eight hours total, including all stops, lunch in Hood River, and the drive back to Portland.

What waterfalls do you see on the Mt. Hood tour?

Multnomah Falls, Oregon's tallest waterfall, is the main stop. You also pass other waterfalls and viewpoints throughout the Columbia River Gorge on the drive.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, lunch happens in Hood River, where you eat with views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. You choose where to eat in town during the lunch break.

What is Timberline Lodge and why is it on the tour?

Timberline Lodge is a historic stone building situated about halfway up Mt. Hood. It's the base for the only year-round lift-served ski area in North America, and exploring the lodge and the area around it is part of the day's route.

Is hotel pickup included in the Mt. Hood tour?

Yes, the tour includes pickup and drop-off at your Portland hotel, so you don't need to arrange transport to the starting point.

How many people go on the Mt. Hood tour?

Groups are kept small, with a maximum of 14 people per booking. A local driver-guide leads the entire loop.