Troutdale, the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. We will travel the Old Historic Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway, an engineering feat in its day, and learn about the geology and history of one of America’s great gorges. The Old Highway, was designed to showcase the natural wonders of the Columbia River Gorge taking in the beautiful vistas and sheer cliffs, to its gorgeous waterfalls, including the famous Multnomah Falls, second highest water falls in the lower 48. You will learn about the history and geology of the lava flows, floods, and men who shaped the gorge over the millennia.
This is a very flexible tour. There are a number of options to choose from. From the giant sturgeon and Powerhouse at Bonneville Dam to Thunder Island Brew Pub for food and a beer. There is also the recently restored and opened Mitchel Tunnels that is a pretty cool to walk through. It all is up to you and how much time you want to spend exploring.
So dress for the weather and make sure to wear some comfortable walking shoes for short hikes to get up close to the water falls and other sites.
TOUR DETAILS
-
Start Time10:00am
-
Finish Time6:00ish
-
Meeting PlaceI can pick up anywhere outside the Portland City Limits. For those living in Portland, we can choose a location near you, but still outside the city limits. (Sorry for the inconvenience, but has to do with red tape between my insurance provider and Portland/PBOT)
-
PriceBase Fee: $540 (6 tickets), then $90 per person after that.
-
IncludedWater and snacks.
-
Lunch optionsMultnomah Fall lodge offers food and snacks as does Thunder Island Brew Pub in Cascade Locks,
NOT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR?
TOUR ITINERARY
THE WOMEN’S FORUM/CHANTICLEER POINT
The Women's Forum/Chanticleer Point is the first stop with a magnificent view of the Columbia River Gorge and Vista House at Crown Point. Learn about the forces of nature that shaped the gorge, from the rise of the Cascades to the great floods that formed the gorge we see today.
CROWN POINT
Vista House at Crown Point was built as a scenic rest stop on top of Thor’s Ridge. It offers breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge and houses an extensive collection of photos showing the construction of the Historic Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway, the first completely navigable road through the gorge connecting The Dalles to Portland in 1916. Eventually this road went to the Oregon Coast and out to eastern Idaho. Today is called Hwy 30.
LATOURELL FALLS
Latourell Falls, famous not only for the beautiful even spill of water over its 249 ft high basalt cliff, but for the fluorescent lichen that grows on the surrounding cliff faces. We will take a short hike to a viewpoint that overlooks the falls or take the slightly longer walk to the base of the falls to let the cool refreshing spray envelop you. Also a great example of columnar basalt.
MULTNOMAH FALLS
Visit the second highest year-round waterfall in the continental United States, 627 ft high Multnomah Falls, one of Oregon’s most beautiful and photographed waterfalls. The waterfall consists of two drops: the larger upper fall and the shorter lower fall which is spanned by an architecturally beautiful foot-bridge. From the base of the falls, it is a 10 minute walk up to the scenic bridge before returning to have lunch in the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge. Question for you: Why are there two waterfalls?
HORSETAIL FALLS
At 176 ft, Horsetail Falls is the third highest waterfall on the old highway. There will be an opportunity to get out and take some great photos.
BONNEVILLE DAM AND FISH HATCHERY
This was the first dam built on the Columbia River and was dedicated in 1938. Visit the fish ladder and viewing room to watch salmon migrating up the river. At the hatchery, visit the salmon rearing ponds and the underwater viewing room to observe huge rainbow trout and enormous prehistoric sturgeon swimming about.
CASCADE LOCKS
Indian lore has it that a natural bridge, Bridge of the Gods, once spanned the Columbia River at this location many centuries ago. Learn about the history behind the lore and of the plight of the pioneers who had to challenge the rapids that once existed here and the Indigenous people who called this place home.
MITHCHEL TUNNELS
Mitchel Tunnels is a recently recreated tunnel blown out of the basalt rock to restore what had once been there when they first built the Old Columbia Gorge Highway. It part of restoring the old highway back to its original look and access for the public to hike and bike without traffic. The original tunnel had 5 picture portals/windows to let light and air in and they have been recreated once again and makes for some really cool pictures of shadow and light. It"s a fun experience.
