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Things to do in Cascade Locks

Our most recommended things to do in Cascade Locks

From Portland: Columbia Gorge Waterfalls Tour

1. From Portland: Columbia Gorge Waterfalls Tour

Discover the scenic beauty of the Columbia River Gorge on a small group tour with an expert guide in a luxury passenger van. Explore Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, stopping at several picturesque waterfalls typical of the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Depart from downtown Portland and drive towards Troutdale, known as the Gateway to the Gorge. Enjoy the journey along the Historic Columbia River Highway, the first planned scenic roadway in the United States. Arrive at Crown Point Vista House, an overlook that sits high above the Columbia River. From there, continue along the historic highway deep into the Columbia River National Scenic Area. Arrive at the first waterfall of the day, the dramatic Latourell Falls, which plunges 249 feet over a massive wall of columnar basalt.  You'll also have the chance to visit an often overlooked gem, Horsetail Falls, directly off of the historic highway. Once at the base of these falls, it won't be difficult to see how it received its name.  Proceed next to the grand Multnomah Falls, which plummets to the ground from 620 feet in two major steps. Explore the Multnomah Falls Historic Lodge and stand on the easily accessible viewing platform that offers a full view of the Benson Bridge and cascading falls beyond. Afterward, relax on the journey back to Portland via the Columbia River Gorge scenic route.

Waterfall Trolley - Hop-On Hop-Off on the Waterfall Corridor

2. Waterfall Trolley - Hop-On Hop-Off on the Waterfall Corridor

Avoid the traffic and parking problems on the historic Columbia River Highway by taking a convenient hop-on-hop-off trolley tour, with onboard narration. Hop off at any of the stops and discover some of the scenic trails along the "waterfall corridor" of Oregon. Depart from Multnomah Falls or Corbett and set off on the trolley tour. Learn more about the area and the waterfalls from the onboard narration. Hop on or off at any of the stops to do some sightseeing or hiking surrounded by the beautiful landscape. Hike to Bridal Veil Falls, explore Latourell Falls, or take in the panoramic views from Crown Point. As you journey between the locations, enjoy the fantastic views from the open-air trolley that features unobstructed views, perfect for snapping photos. Stops are made at the following locations: • Corbett• Crown Point• Latourell Falls• Bridal Veil Falls• Angels Rest• Wahkeena Falls• Multnomah Falls• Triple Falls• Horsetail Falls• Ainsworth

Portland: Mount Hood Wine and Waterfalls Full-Day Tour

3. Portland: Mount Hood Wine and Waterfalls Full-Day Tour

Enjoy a full-day tour of the beautiful landscapes of the wine-growing regions near Portland. Discover breathtaking sights like the Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls. Enjoy a mouth-watering lunch and a winetasting experience at a local winery.  Be picked at your accommodation in Portland and relax in comfort aboard a Mercedes Sprinter van as you travel through the verdant landscape of the Willamette Valley which is known for its hazelnuts, berries, evergreen trees, and Pinot Noir wine. Ride into the foothills of the western Cascades and ascend to the tree line on Mount Hood, the highest peak in Oregon. Spend an hour at the historic Timberline Lodge, built by local artisans during the Great Depression.  Explore the interpretive displays, go hiking, or play in the snow, before heading thorugh the Hood River Valley to a picturesque winery. Eat a farm-to-table lunch while enjoying a wine tasting at a boutique vineyard with a view of Mount Hood.  Learn about wine production in the region and visit 1 other winery in the Columbia Gorge or Columbia Valley areas. Travel through the Columbia Gorge and admire the towering basalt cliffs, before stopping for half and hour at Multnomah Falls. Have time to walk up to the Benson Bridge, visit the interpretive center, or peruse the gift shop. Afterward, head back to Portland to be dropped off at your hotel.

Bridal Veil: Columbia River Gorge Shuttle Ticket

4. Bridal Veil: Columbia River Gorge Shuttle Ticket

THE WATERFALL LOOP This loop is for those folks looking to take their time in the Gorge. You will have the opportunity to visit and photograph 6 different locations on this trip. The loop takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete if you are not planning to hike. This tour has audio narration to provide historical information about the go HOW DOES THIS LOOP WORK? The bus leaves our lot in Bridal Veil and heads west passing the Angels Rest Trailhead. It continues past upper Bridal Veil State Park and along the Historic Columbia River Highway. You will pass Sheppards Dell and if you look to the south side of the road you will see a small waterfall. The bus will then stop at Latourell Falls and give you 15min to take a small walk to see the waterfall and take pictures. The bus will then take you up the hill through a thick canopy to Crown Point State Park/Vista House. Here you can get off and take in the views and building for 15min. After the bus picks you up at Crown Point it will take you all the way to Horsetail Falls. You will pass many waterfalls along the way, both named and unnamed. At Horsetail you will get 10min to view and take pictures before the bus is back to pick you up and take you Multnomah Falls. At Multnomah Falls you can get off and enjoy the amenities including snack bar, coffee stand, restaurant and gift shop. Take your time here because our express comes approximately every 30 minutes. The express or the next Waterfall Loop bus can take you to Wahkeena or back to our parking lot. Give yourself about 2.5 hrs to complete this loop.

7 Wonders of the Gorge 3.5-hour Jetboat Cruise

5. 7 Wonders of the Gorge 3.5-hour Jetboat Cruise

Discover the lower Columbia River Gorge from the water on a roundtrip jetboat cruise from Portland. Travel at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour as you journey along the Willamette River and the mighty Columbia River toward Multnomah Falls. Marvel at views of the city and surrounding countryside as you make your way to Multnomah Falls. Enjoy sights like Cape Horn, Crown Point, Rooster Rock, Mount Hood, and much more, with a live guide narrating your journey. Explorer cruises are an adventure-style experience traveling at speeds up to 45 miles per hour. You are welcome to bring food and drink on board (no food/drink included or available for purchase), as long as it fits in a small bag that can be held in your lap or at your feet. The boat can be loud, so noise-canceling headphones or complimentary ear plugs will be available. The Explorer is an open-air boat and not climate controlled; please dress for the weather. There is a small bathroom on board. The boat is not wheelchair/walker accessible. Although the boat is mostly covered, there is an uncovered deck in the back. Sunglasses, hats and sunscreen are recommended. Binoculars and cameras are encouraged! Please keep bags and personal belongings to a minimum as there is limited space. Note that river conditions vary and may result in frequent, sustained turbulent motion along with varied weather. For safety and comfort, guests should be in good health and without conditions that could be aggravated by motion. Please consult your doctor prior to booking a cruise on the Explorer if you have a health concern.

From Portland: Bigfoot Adventure 3.5-hour Jetboat Cruise

6. From Portland: Bigfoot Adventure 3.5-hour Jetboat Cruise

Explore the history and lore of Bigfoot while traveling 80 miles roundtrip on the high-speed Explorer Jetboat from Portland to Multnomah Falls. See the landmarks that make the Northwest famous while listening to exclusive recorded narration by Cliff Barackman (star of Animal Planet‘s “Finding Bigfoot”) and a live tour guide. Explorer cruises are an adventure-style experience traveling at speeds up to 45 miles per hour. Note that river conditions vary and may result in frequent, sustained turbulent motion along with varied weather. For safety and comfort, guests should be in good health and without conditions that could be aggravated by motion. Please consult your doctor prior to booking a cruise on the Explorer if you have a health concern.

Portland: Flightseeing Tour Mount Hood

7. Portland: Flightseeing Tour Mount Hood

Go on this flight tour up to Mount Hood and enjoy a unique view. Enjoy a low-level tour past Multnomah Falls and the rest of the Columbia River Gorge. Take a unique flight climbing above the Sandy River toward Mount Hood and over the Mount Hood National Forest. At the peak of the tour, on a clear day, you are able to see Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adam, Mount Jefferson, and of course, Mount Hood. Descend back into the Columbia River Gorge, flying past Oregon’s famous natural celebrities such as Elowah Falls, Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls, and more.  This grand tour showcases some of the best natural landmarks in Oregon.

From Portland: Multnomah Falls & Columbia River Gorge Tour

8. From Portland: Multnomah Falls & Columbia River Gorge Tour

Escape the hustle and bustle of central Portland for the morning on a half-day coach tour of the Columbia River Gorge. Experience the natural beauty of the Rose City’s most scenic area. Follow the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition, more than 200 years after the famous explorers. View the gorge from Vista House at Crown Point, and marvel at the world famous Multnomah Falls. Depart Portland at 08:30 AM, enjoying the downtown sights as you leave the city via one of its many bridges. Once out of the metropolitan area, drive the historic Columbia River Highway, enjoying panoramic views hundreds of feet above the river at Crown Point. Descend through the famous highway loops to pristine Latourell Falls. Continue past Wahkeena Falls to Oregon’s most famous natural attraction — Multnomah Falls and Lodge. See the Oneonta Gorge and Horsetail Falls. Return to Portland along the river level route of the Lewis and Clark expedition, taking in panoramic views of Beacon Rock, Cape Horn, and Rooster Rock along the way.

From Portland: Mt Hood, Hood River Valley and Columbia Gorge

9. From Portland: Mt Hood, Hood River Valley and Columbia Gorge

Travel east of Portland through the verdant landscape of Willamette Valley, known for its hazelnuts, berries, Christmas trees, and Pinot Noir. Stop at a donut shop in the town of Sandy for coffee and morning treats before beginning your ascent of Mount Hood, the highest summit in Oregon. Spend the next hour at the historic Timberline Lodge and enjoy 1 hour of free time. From Timberline Lodge, head to Hood River Valley. Here, feed baby pygmy goats, get a photo of Mount Hood, purchase local fruit and preserves, taste cider, or buy a huckleberry milkshake. Afterwards, visit downtown Hood River and break for lunch. After lunch, learn about the geological history that shaped the Columbia River Gorge as you drive eastward past windsurfers in the Gorge, before stopping at a viewpoint to admire panoramic views of the Cascades. Next, travel westward through the Columbia Gorge and stop at Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon, where you can walk up to the Benson Bridge, visit the interpretive center, buy a snack, or peruse the gift shop before heading back to Portland.

Portland: Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Morning Tour

10. Portland: Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Morning Tour

Millions of years ago, during the formation of the Cascade Mountain Range, lava and other pyroclastic matter flowed west from what would be the Cascades all the way to the Pacific Ocean, creating a thick shell of basalt rock that covered Western Oregon. Then, during the Pleistocene Ice Age, roughly 15,000 years ago, water from the Lake Missoula Flood carved out the Columbia River Gorge as hundreds of cubic miles of water, ice, rock and mud rushed from present-day Montana to the Pacific Ocean. Explore the beauty of the canyon walls and rock formations, breathtaking waterfalls and awe-inspiring visas that make the Columbia River National Scenic Area one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon. Our enthusiastic guides will introduce you to the most amazing places in the Gorge while providing a comprehensive narrative of this spectacular landscape and its transformative history. Your adventure will take place along the Historic Columbia River National Scenic Byway, where some of the locations we may stop include, Portland Women’s Forum, Crown Point Vista House, Latourell Falls, Multnomah Falls, and Shepperd’s Dell. Perched atop one of the most panoramic overlooks in the Columbia River Gorge, Vista House provides an unrivaled, majestic view. Often referred to as “The Crown Jewel of the Columbia River Gorge,” Vista House was built between 1916 and 1918 as a memorial to Oregon pioneers, a scenic viewpoint, and a comfort station for those traveling on the newly constructed Historic Columbia River Highway. Built with expertly carved sandstone and stunning marble, then finished with bronze lining and amber-green opalescent art glass windows, Vista House and the view it offers are sure to amaze and inspire you. Latourell Falls plunges 249 feet (76 m) over a massive wall of basalt and then rushes through the forest into the Columbia River. The falling water of Latourell is framed by some of the most perfect columnar basalt formations in the Pacific Northwest that are adorned with a large florescent patch of yellow lichen and shrouded in brilliant green flora. We’ll venture down to the punch-bowl pool below the falls, where you’ll hear the tremendous rush of water and feel the cool mist that it creates. You’ll easily realize why this special place is one of the most photographed waterfalls in Oregon. Multnomah Falls is fed by underground streams that originate miles above on Larch Mountain. This ancient 620 foot (189 m) waterfall is divided into two sections; the upper falls plummets an impressive 542 feet into a pool and again drops 69 feet to form a creek that runs into the Columbia River. Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States and the highest in Oregon, and is Oregon’s number one natural attraction, drawing over 2.5 million visitors a year from around the world. At the base of the waterfall sits the Historic Multnomah Falls Lodge, a full-service day lodge complete with a restaurant, gift shop, snack and espresso bar.

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What people are saying about Cascade Locks

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 230 reviews

Our guide I think his name was Michael was very informative and knew a lot about the history of the local area. He kept the tour very interesting and was helpful answering questions I had . He even dropped us off at our Hotel instead of the pick up point . I really appreciated that so we didn’t have to do the 20 minute walk back .

I went on this tour with my sister as a local, she was visiting from out of town. It was entertaining and I think that it was well worth the experience. Even though I have been to the gorge before, it was nice to learn some facts and background that I did not know.

it was a very packed day with lots of fun experiences! I really liked the stops we made, and the weather was perfect. our guide, Damon, was also very nice and extremely knowledgeable.

Enjoyable trip in a comfortable van to 4 waterfalls with interesting knowledge from the guide at each stop. Well worth the cost.

Highly recommend this tour. Well worth the low price!