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Waterfalls and Legends: A Columbia River Gorge Self-Guided Drive

1 Review 5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 100% of reviewers | Portland, USA
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 32 (0) days in advance.

3 to 4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

This 140-mile driving loop explores the geologically violent and breathtaking Columbia River Gorge. Traveling from mossy rainforests to high-desert plateaus, you’ll trace pioneer history and dramatic landscapes carved by Ice Age floods.

Highlights include:

* Iconic Waterfalls: View the 620-foot Multnomah Falls and the elegant Latourell Falls.
* Historical Marvels: Visit the "Crown Jewel" Vista House and a full-scale concrete Stonehenge.
* Unique Legends: Discover the "Bigfoot Capital," where harming a Sasquatch is a felony.
* Nature & Wildlife: Meet Herman, an 80-year-old sturgeon, and see "Silver Skeleton" forests recovering from fire.
* Geological Giants: Marvel at the 848-foot Beacon Rock monolith.

What's Included

  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • App for Android and iOS
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
  • Food and drink
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

624 Southwest Halsey Street
Troutdale, OR 97060, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

HQFX+5X
Prindle, WA 98671, USA

The tour ends near the Lower Cape Horn Trailhead on Evergreen Highway.

What To Expect

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Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
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Multnomah Falls (pass by)

Drive past the "Crown Jewel" of the Gorge, Oregon's tallest waterfall at 620 feet. Learn the indigenous legend of a maiden’s sacrifice and view the historic 1925 stone lodge. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
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Vista House at Crown Point (pass by)

Roll past this 1918 "observatory" perched 733 feet above the river, which critics once nicknamed the "$100,000 Outhouse". Learn about its marble interior and green opal-tiled dome while enjoying panoramic views. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
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Latourell Falls (pass by)

Drive past this elegant 224-foot "plunge" waterfall. Learn about the neon-yellow lichen covering the cliffs and the unique hexagonal columnar basalt formations created by ancient, cooling lava flows. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
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Shepperd's Dell Falls (pass by)

Cruise over a stunning white concrete arch bridge to see this "blink-and-you’ll-miss-it" waterfall. Learn about George Shepperd, a dairy farmer who donated this land to the public for just one dollar. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
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Bonneville Fish Hatchery (pass by)

Pull in to visit Herman the Sturgeon, a 10-foot-long, 500-pound "prehistoric beast" who has survived both kidnappers and forest fires. Learn about the ancient sturgeon species that has existed since the Triassic period. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
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Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail - Bridge of the Gods Trailhead (pass by)

Cross or drive past this legendary steel bridge, a critical milestone for Pacific Crest Trail "hiker trash" trekking from Mexico to Canada. Learn about the indigenous legend of a natural stone bridge destroyed by fighting mountains. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
Read more

Dalles Dam (pass by)

Drive past this massive concrete barrier that forever silenced the roar of Celilo Falls, once the "Wall Street of the West". Learn about the 15,000 years of indigenous history currently submerged beneath the reservoir's surface. Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour.
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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions

Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Waterfalls and Legends: A Columbia River Gorge Self-Guided Drive?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (PST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

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Activity code: C-110804P1278

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.00
1 reviews

Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
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Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 32 (0) days in advance.

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What's Included

Activity name

  • Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
  • Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
  • App for Android and iOS
  • Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start
  • Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
  • Smartphone and headphones
  • Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour
  • Food and drink
  • Transportation

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The total tour time includes walking the route and passing by the attractions

Report Product Issue

Activity name