Small-Group Waterfall Shuttle from Portland Hotels: Five Falls and Vista House

Waterfall Shuttle runs this small-group tour of the five best-known waterfalls of the Columbia River Gorge and the Crown Point Vista House. The operator says views are better and crowds lower than on the busy options, with an expert guide leading. Pickup is from over 50 downtown Portland hotels, so no rental car is needed. The day starts with a 45-minute drive from downtown to the Waterfall Corridor. The group then works back toward the city one waterfall at a time, using 2.5 of the 3.5 hours to walk around the waterfall state parks, with room for photos. Horsetail Falls is almost 200 feet tall, and swimming beneath it is possible. Oneonta Gorge is seen from the road. At Multnomah Falls, the tallest in Oregon, the van pulls up to a parking spot near the falls, and there are ice cream, pizza and a gift shop. Shepperd's Dell Falls is a quick stop with a very short walk, Latourell Falls falls from a basalt overhang, and the day ends at Vista House with views over the Gorge. Route and itinerary can change with road and weather conditions.