Head from Portland to Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area for an educational outdoor adventure! Follow your naturalist guide on several short hikes to view stunning waterfalls and wildlife. Admire the diverse scenery, including high desert landscapes, rivers and basalt cliffs, and learn about the country’s early pioneer history at a museum. Lunch and round-trip hotel transport are included.
Highlights
- Columbia Gorge Adventure from Portland
- Admire views of waterfalls, desert landscapes and cliffs on several hikes with your naturalist guide
- Learn about the region's local and unique pioneer history, like the Oregon Trail, Lewis & Clark, and Native American traditions at a museum
- Enjoy a seasonal local lunch, plus snacks and refreshments throughout the tour
- Small-group tour limited to 10 people ensures a more personalized experience
Useful Information
See Some of the Regions 90 Waterfalls!
After pickup from your Portland hotel in the morning, you'll be driven by luxury Mercedes to Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. Just 20 minutes outside the city, you'll travel along the mighty Columbia River while admiring the towering basalt cliffs formed from the river cutting through the Cascade Mountains.
When you arrive, your naturalist guide will lead you on a series of short walks to view some of the more than 90 gorgeous waterfalls here, including the second-tallest perennial waterfall in the US, Multnomah Falls. Enjoy morning tea and snacks as you admire the sights.
Continue farther up the river to the town of Hood River, where breathtaking natural beauty and high winds create a paradise for windsurfers, kite boarders and sightseers.
Stop for a delicious lunch in Hood River (see Itinerary section below for a sample menu) and then continue driving east across the Cascade Divide, where the landscape changes suddenly and dramatically to high desert. Take out your provided binoculars and spot wildlife such as birds and eagles roaming above the basalt cliffs and among sagebrush and pine trees.
Next, in the town of The Dalles, visit one of two museums -
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Learn how the early pioneers made their way west along the difficult and often deadly Oregon Trail, and hear stories about the native people along the Columbia River and the treacherous journey of Lewis and Clark through this region in 1805.
Maryhill Museum (seasonal)
Encounter an impressive collection of art from around the world, including more than 80 works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, and an array of artifacts like petrogylphs, intricate baskets and beadwork from the Pacific Northwest’s indigenous groups.
When you arrive, your naturalist guide will lead you on a series of short walks to view some of the more than 90 gorgeous waterfalls here, including the second-tallest perennial waterfall in the US, Multnomah Falls. Enjoy morning tea and snacks as you admire the sights.
Continue farther up the river to the town of Hood River, where breathtaking natural beauty and high winds create a paradise for windsurfers, kite boarders and sightseers.
Stop for a delicious lunch in Hood River (see Itinerary section below for a sample menu) and then continue driving east across the Cascade Divide, where the landscape changes suddenly and dramatically to high desert. Take out your provided binoculars and spot wildlife such as birds and eagles roaming above the basalt cliffs and among sagebrush and pine trees.
Next, in the town of The Dalles, visit one of two museums -
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Learn how the early pioneers made their way west along the difficult and often deadly Oregon Trail, and hear stories about the native people along the Columbia River and the treacherous journey of Lewis and Clark through this region in 1805.
Maryhill Museum (seasonal)
Encounter an impressive collection of art from around the world, including more than 80 works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, and an array of artifacts like petrogylphs, intricate baskets and beadwork from the Pacific Northwest’s indigenous groups.
Itinerary
Sample Menu:
Local organic chicken
Fritatta or lasagna
Selection of soups
Selection of cold salads: pasta, corn, mixed greens, beets and other seasonal items
Local organic chicken
Fritatta or lasagna
Selection of soups
Selection of cold salads: pasta, corn, mixed greens, beets and other seasonal items
