Portland Sightseeing and Columbia Gorge Waterfalls Full-Day Tour
by Hub World Travel dba America's Hub World Tours LLC
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$330Overview
This full-day bus tour lasts about eight and a half hours, covering Portland city highlights and the Columbia River Gorge. The tour includes transport in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van with hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Portland. A local guide shares information about the city’s history and culture as you travel. The Portland city portion covers major sites such as Pioneer Courthouse Square, NW 23rd shopping district, the Pearl District, South Park Blocks, and Lan Su Chinese Garden. Depending on the season, the tour visits the International Rose Garden, the Oregon Society of Artists gallery, and the World Forestry Center. You will have time to explore the PSU Farmers Market on the morning city tour, with options to stay for lunch. The Columbia River Gorge segment explores the scenic canyon, its rock formations, and waterfalls. The route follows the historic Columbia River Highway (built 1913 - 1922), with stops including Vista House, a viewpoint memorializing Oregon pioneers; Latourell Falls, which drops 249 feet over basalt formations; and Multnomah Falls, a 620-foot waterfall with a lodge and walking access to Benson Bridge. The guide provides background on the area’s history, including tribal use, Lewis and Clark’s expedition, pioneer settlement, and the highway’s construction. Bottled water is provided, and the tour operates in all weather conditions. There is some walking involved, especially at waterfall stops and garden visits. Gratuities and lunch are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Columbia River Gorge
The tour drives through the Columbia River Gorge, the nation’s second National Scenic Area and the largest and most populated. The area combines natural beauty with urban amenities. The guide explains the history of the gorge, including tribal fishing and trade, Lewis and Clark’s expedition, pioneer river travel, and Samuel Hill’s role in building the first scenic highway.
Columbia River Highway Drive
The route follows the Columbia River Highway, built from 1913 to 1922, extending seventy-four miles from the Sandy River near Troutdale to The Dalles. The highway is notable for its early 20th-century road design innovations and is driven along during the Gorge portion of the tour.
Vista House
This viewpoint, built between 1916 and 1918, stands atop a panoramic overlook of the Columbia River Gorge. Vista House was created as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and serves as a scenic rest stop along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Visitors spend about 15 minutes here to take in the views and the building’s architecture.
15 min
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls plunges 249 feet (76 m) over a large basalt wall into a punch-bowl pool. The basalt includes columnar formations with a large patch of yellow lichen and is surrounded by green vegetation. Visitors walk down to the pool below the falls to hear the water and feel its mist. The stop lasts about 20 minutes.
20 min
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is a 620-foot (189 m) waterfall split into two parts; the upper falls drops 542 feet into a pool, and the lower falls drops 69 feet forming a creek that flows into the Columbia River. It is Oregon’s tallest waterfall and the second highest year-round in the US, attracting over 2.5 million visitors annually. The stop allows time to walk to Benson Bridge and visit the Historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, which includes a restaurant, gift shop, snack and espresso bars, and an interpretative center. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here.
20 min
Pioneer Courthouse Square Drive-by
The tour includes a drive around Pioneer Courthouse Square, an urban park in downtown Portland known as the city’s event center. The guide shares the location’s history, encouraging visitors to return later for a closer look.
International Rose Garden
The tour stops for about 20 minutes at the International Rose Garden in Washington Park. The garden features over 550 varieties of roses and offers views of the Cascade Mountains. Visitors can walk among the roses and enjoy the park’s landscaping.
20 min
Washington Park Drive-through
The tour drives through part of Washington Park, a large urban park with gardens, museums, a zoo, and forested areas. The drive allows visitors to see the park’s extent and consider returning for further exploration.
Pearl District Overview
The guide explains the Pearl District’s transformation from warehouses and rail lines to a neighborhood with restaurants, art galleries, shops, and boutiques. This area is noted for its urban renewal and cultural significance.
PSU Farmers Market
The Portland State University Farmers Market spans nearly three blocks on campus and supports local food producers. The market includes numerous vendors, a Veggie Valet for holding purchases, live music, and a Chef in the Market series featuring seasonal cooking demonstrations. Visitors spend about 30 minutes walking through the market, which is the final stop on the morning city tour, with time to stay for lunch and further exploration.
30 min
Oregon Society of Artists Gallery
The tour visits the Oregon Society of Artists (OSA) Gallery between mid-October and the end of April on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. The gallery hosts monthly rotating exhibits and showcases works by master painters tied to Portland’s art history. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and includes information about the OSA’s founding in 1926.
30 min
World Forestry Center
The World Forestry Center offers two floors of hands-on exhibits about forests worldwide, suitable for all ages. Exhibits cover tree planting, wildlife, wood benefits, outdoor activities, and forest-related careers. The first floor focuses on forests as habitats and resources, while the second floor explores global forest connections. The center is visited from mid-October through the end of April on Thursdays through Sundays, with a 30-minute stop.
30 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Portland Sightseeing and Columbia Gorge Waterfalls Full-Day Tour
by Hub World Travel dba America's Hub World Tours LLC
Choose from 2 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$330Overview
This full-day bus tour lasts about eight and a half hours, covering Portland city highlights and the Columbia River Gorge. The tour includes transport in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van with hotel pickup and drop-off in downtown Portland. A local guide shares information about the city’s history and culture as you travel. The Portland city portion covers major sites such as Pioneer Courthouse Square, NW 23rd shopping district, the Pearl District, South Park Blocks, and Lan Su Chinese Garden. Depending on the season, the tour visits the International Rose Garden, the Oregon Society of Artists gallery, and the World Forestry Center. You will have time to explore the PSU Farmers Market on the morning city tour, with options to stay for lunch. The Columbia River Gorge segment explores the scenic canyon, its rock formations, and waterfalls. The route follows the historic Columbia River Highway (built 1913 - 1922), with stops including Vista House, a viewpoint memorializing Oregon pioneers; Latourell Falls, which drops 249 feet over basalt formations; and Multnomah Falls, a 620-foot waterfall with a lodge and walking access to Benson Bridge. The guide provides background on the area’s history, including tribal use, Lewis and Clark’s expedition, pioneer settlement, and the highway’s construction. Bottled water is provided, and the tour operates in all weather conditions. There is some walking involved, especially at waterfall stops and garden visits. Gratuities and lunch are not included.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Columbia River Gorge
The tour drives through the Columbia River Gorge, the nation’s second National Scenic Area and the largest and most populated. The area combines natural beauty with urban amenities. The guide explains the history of the gorge, including tribal fishing and trade, Lewis and Clark’s expedition, pioneer river travel, and Samuel Hill’s role in building the first scenic highway.
Columbia River Highway Drive
The route follows the Columbia River Highway, built from 1913 to 1922, extending seventy-four miles from the Sandy River near Troutdale to The Dalles. The highway is notable for its early 20th-century road design innovations and is driven along during the Gorge portion of the tour.
Vista House
This viewpoint, built between 1916 and 1918, stands atop a panoramic overlook of the Columbia River Gorge. Vista House was created as a memorial to Oregon pioneers and serves as a scenic rest stop along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Visitors spend about 15 minutes here to take in the views and the building’s architecture.
15 min
Latourell Falls
Latourell Falls plunges 249 feet (76 m) over a large basalt wall into a punch-bowl pool. The basalt includes columnar formations with a large patch of yellow lichen and is surrounded by green vegetation. Visitors walk down to the pool below the falls to hear the water and feel its mist. The stop lasts about 20 minutes.
20 min
Multnomah Falls
Multnomah Falls is a 620-foot (189 m) waterfall split into two parts; the upper falls drops 542 feet into a pool, and the lower falls drops 69 feet forming a creek that flows into the Columbia River. It is Oregon’s tallest waterfall and the second highest year-round in the US, attracting over 2.5 million visitors annually. The stop allows time to walk to Benson Bridge and visit the Historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, which includes a restaurant, gift shop, snack and espresso bars, and an interpretative center. Visitors spend about 20 minutes here.
20 min
Pioneer Courthouse Square Drive-by
The tour includes a drive around Pioneer Courthouse Square, an urban park in downtown Portland known as the city’s event center. The guide shares the location’s history, encouraging visitors to return later for a closer look.
International Rose Garden
The tour stops for about 20 minutes at the International Rose Garden in Washington Park. The garden features over 550 varieties of roses and offers views of the Cascade Mountains. Visitors can walk among the roses and enjoy the park’s landscaping.
20 min
Washington Park Drive-through
The tour drives through part of Washington Park, a large urban park with gardens, museums, a zoo, and forested areas. The drive allows visitors to see the park’s extent and consider returning for further exploration.
Pearl District Overview
The guide explains the Pearl District’s transformation from warehouses and rail lines to a neighborhood with restaurants, art galleries, shops, and boutiques. This area is noted for its urban renewal and cultural significance.
PSU Farmers Market
The Portland State University Farmers Market spans nearly three blocks on campus and supports local food producers. The market includes numerous vendors, a Veggie Valet for holding purchases, live music, and a Chef in the Market series featuring seasonal cooking demonstrations. Visitors spend about 30 minutes walking through the market, which is the final stop on the morning city tour, with time to stay for lunch and further exploration.
30 min
Oregon Society of Artists Gallery
The tour visits the Oregon Society of Artists (OSA) Gallery between mid-October and the end of April on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. The gallery hosts monthly rotating exhibits and showcases works by master painters tied to Portland’s art history. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and includes information about the OSA’s founding in 1926.
30 min
World Forestry Center
The World Forestry Center offers two floors of hands-on exhibits about forests worldwide, suitable for all ages. Exhibits cover tree planting, wildlife, wood benefits, outdoor activities, and forest-related careers. The first floor focuses on forests as habitats and resources, while the second floor explores global forest connections. The center is visited from mid-October through the end of April on Thursdays through Sundays, with a 30-minute stop.
30 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.