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Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - On the eastern edge of the Portland Metro Area is the western edge of the beautiful 85-mile long Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
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Columbia River Highway - Your guide will drive you along segments of this stunning 74-mile (119 -km) highway that was inspired by the Axenstrasse in the Swiss Alps.
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Sandy River - We’ll parallel the Sandy River while driving the western segment of the Columbia River Highway. The Sandy’s headwaters is a glacier on Mt. Hood, and the river is known for its Steelhead and Chinook runs. As a result, the Sandy is one of three tributaries of the Columbia who’s dams have been removed since 2007.
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Portland Women’s Forum State Scenic Viewpoint - Here’s your chance to capture the quintessential Gorge shot.
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Vista House - This 100-year-old ‘fanciest rest stop in the world’ sits atop a basalt point above the Columbia River, with a 360-degree balcony. The sandstone, limestone, and marble building includes historical interpretation and fancy restrooms.
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Latourell Falls - A short walk from the vehicle reveals a 249-foot hanging waterfall adorned with fluorescent lichen and columnar basalt.
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Shepperd’s Dell State Natural Area - This delightful little cove provides for a hidden surprise and some remarkable pictures.
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Bridal Veil Falls State Park - An old logging ghost town dating to the 1880s, harboring a waterfall, an operating post office, and a circa-1920s B & B.
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Wahkeena Falls - A short switch-back trail through Hemlock and Doug-fir leads to a bridge at the base of the falls.
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Multnomah Falls - The tallest waterfall in the state, with a combined height of 620 feet.
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Oneonta Gorge - A slot canyon created by a fault, with plants growing on the walls found nowhere else.
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Horsetail Falls- Columbia River Gorge - Get some quirky photos at this quirky waterfall!
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Beacon Rock - View the fifth-largest free-standing monolith in the world, from a distance.
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Elowah Falls - This 1.5-mile (2.4-km) roundtrip hike will take you to the base of Elowah Falls, providing sunning views of Beacon Rock across the Columbia River along the way.
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Bonneville Lock & Dam - Another National Historic Landmark, Bonneville Dam was the first Public Works Administration dam on the Columbia River, completed in 1938.
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Bonneville Hatchery - Largest hatchery in the state of Oregon.
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Bridge of the Gods - Columbia River crossing for the Pacific Crest Trail, and lowest point on that trail. Named for a Native American legend that explains the local geology.
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Phelps Creek Vineyards - Located in the stunning Columbia Gorge. Tasting fees included.
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Rooster Rock State Park - As we pass by, view the rock that inspired North America’s oldest continuously running nudist beach!
- Bottled water
- PA system so people in back can hear their guide
- Snacks
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Entry/Admission - Multnomah Falls
- Wine Tasting Fees at 1 vineyard
- Gratuity (always appreciated)
The Columbia Gorge NSA features waterfalls, mountains, monoliths, terraces, resort towns, vineyards, orchards, and The River, harboring a plethora of fish and birds, and unique plants and invertebrates. In the early 1900s, Portlanders would drive their Model T cars along the Columbia River Highway to gaze at waterfalls. There is said to be over 4000 waterfalls; many are hidden away, but many are just a short hike off the Historic Highway. On this afternoon half-day tour you’ll make new friends while exploring “waterfall alley”, including views of the Vista House and a stop at Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon and most visited site in the Pacific Northwest. Your expert guide will teach you about the natural history, cultural history, and wine background of the area, as you drive the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway. You’ll continue on to stop at a vineyard in the Columbia Gorge American Viticultural Area (AVA). Tasting fees included.
- Minimum age for wine tasting is 21 years old.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
