Portland: Multnomah Falls & Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Half-Day

Four waterfalls and a 620-foot drop in one afternoon

You get picked up at your Portland hotel and spend an afternoon visiting four major waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge (Latourell, Multnomah, Horsetail and Vista House) with a local guide who explains the geology and history as you go. Transport, water and parking fees are included, and you're back at your hotel by early evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each4 stops

1. Columbia River Gorgepassing by
2. Vista House15m
3. Latourell Falls20m
4. Multnomah Falls25m

Afternoon tour of Columbia River Gorge

• Start along Historic Columbia River Highway
• Explore Columbia River Gorge geology and history
• Visit Vista House overlook
• Walk trail to Latourell Falls
• Visit Horsetail Falls if time allows
• Walk to Benson Bridge at Multnomah Falls
• Explore Multnomah Falls area and lodge

The experience

The van pulls up at your Portland hotel in the early afternoon, and you're heading east toward the Columbia River Gorge before you've finished your coffee. The drive itself is part of it: the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway winds through what used to be lava flows and ice-age floods, and your guide starts talking about the geology before you even stop. Fifteen thousand years ago, water from Lake Missoula carved this whole canyon out, and you can see it in the basalt walls and the way the river still cuts through. It's the kind of landscape that makes you understand why people keep coming back.

Vista House comes first, perched on a ridge with a view that opens up the entire gorge. It's a 1916 sandstone building with marble and amber-green art glass, built as a memorial to Oregon pioneers, and the overlook is exactly what the name promises. Then you're walking a quarter-mile down to Latourell Falls, which drops 249 feet over columnar basalt that's covered in yellow lichen and green moss. The mist hits you before you see the full fall, and the punch-bowl pool at the base is where most people stop to breathe and take photos. Latourell is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Oregon, and you'll understand why the moment you're standing there.

Multnomah Falls is the main event. At 620 feet, it's the second-highest year-round waterfall in the United States and draws over 2.5 million visitors a year. The upper section plummets 542 feet into a pool, then drops another 69 feet to form a creek that runs into the Columbia River. You walk out on the Benson Bridge, which puts you right under the spray, and the lodge at the base has a restaurant and gift shop if you need a break. The area around the falls was damaged by fire in recent years, but the waterfall itself and the lodge are open and worth the stop. If time allows, Horsetail Falls (which really does look like a horse tail), gets a quick visit on the way back.

The whole tour runs about four hours from pickup to drop-off at your Portland hotel. You're in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van with a local guide who knows the gorge's history and can point out details you'd miss driving yourself. Bottled water is included, and parking fees for Multnomah Falls are covered during permit season. The tour operates in all weather, so bring layers and a camera: the light changes constantly in the gorge, and you'll want to capture it.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Portland, transport in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van with a knowledgeable local guide, bottled water throughout the tour, and parking fees for Multnomah Falls during permit season. The guide provides a comprehensive narrative of the Columbia River Gorge's geology and history as you visit Vista House, Latourell Falls, Multnomah Falls, and Horsetail Falls, with time to walk to each waterfall and take photographs.

Options for this experience

2 options

Gorge Waterfalls Tour, open to the publicGuide in English · 14:00includes pickup

Gorge Waterfalls Tour, privateGuide in English · 14:00Take a private tour of the Columbia River Gorge and its stunning waterfalls! Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 3h 30m, runs every day at 14:00, from US$ 76.50 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (1 to 12 years) · Infant (under 1)

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 Hub World Travel dba America's Hub World Tours LLC

Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying in Portland without a car who want to see the gorge's main waterfalls in one afternoon. Expect about four hours out, which is what fits four stops and the walking time at each fall into a half-day slot.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years); Infant (under 1).

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 tour?

About four hours total, including pickup and drop-off at your Portland hotel.

What waterfalls do you visit?

Multnomah Falls (620 feet), Latourell Falls (249 feet), Horsetail Falls (176 feet), and Vista House overlook in the Columbia River Gorge.

What's included in the price?

Van transport, a local guide, bottled water, and parking fees for Multnomah Falls during permit season. Hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Portland are included.

Do you walk much on this tour?

Yes, but the walks are short. Latourell Falls is about a quarter-mile down and back. Multnomah Falls involves walking to the Benson Bridge. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes, it operates in all weather conditions. Dress appropriately for rain and cool temperatures.

What type of vehicle is used?

A Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van. This is not a boat tour.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

Where does pickup happen?

At your downtown Portland hotel. Drop-off is at the same location.

Who operates the tour?

America's Hub World Tours, in collaboration with Oregon Tour Experts, which handles transportation and guiding.