Half-Day Historic Highway Waterfalls Tour: Multnomah, Latourell, Horsetail

A guided half-day trip from Portland along the Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byway, built around the waterfalls that line the western Columbia River Gorge. Viewpoints on the route can include Portland Women's Forum, Crown Point Vista House, Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Multnomah Falls. A camera is worth bringing for the views. The Gorge view from Crown Point shows the Columbia cutting through the Cascade Mountains. Vista House, built in 1917, was meant as a place for travellers to rest. Latourell Falls is the closest major waterfall of the Gorge to Portland, with overhanging columnar basalt that lets Latourell Creek plunge 249 feet. Wahkeena Falls, 242 feet, is tiered and takes its name from a Yakama word for most beautiful, and it is visited as parking and timing allow. Horsetail Falls drops 176 feet beside the highway. Multnomah Falls is about 30 minutes from Portland and 611 feet tall. The visit includes a trip up to Benson Bridge and a stop at the gift shop, but not the hike to the top, which is long and steep. The route also passes through Bridal Veil, a former lumber town that now has a small post office and a nunnery.