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Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Tour from Portland, OR
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All reviews the columbia river gorge gift shop view of the river multnomah falls small museum worth a stop highway portland
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Reviewed 9 August 2022

We were staying in Portland near the airport. I had mapped out a day-trip loop heading along the Columbia River Gorge and then south to Mt. Hood. As the first leg of the trip, we were heading to Multnomah Falls, so stopping first at Vista House seemed an obvious choice (since it is closer to Portland).

A caveat - Vista House and Multnomah Falls both open at 9 a.m. Given the crowding at the falls, you might want to consider going there first and back-tracking to Vista House.

We arrived at Vista House around 8:50 a.m. The only downside to that was that (being in the Portland area) it was still gray and overcast. If you want bright and sunny conditions at this spot, you'll probably have to schedule it for the afternoon (based on my admittedly limited experience in the area).

There was plenty of parking when we arrived, but I am not sure what it is like later in the day. It is free to enter, but we had to wait until exactly 9 a.m. In the meantime, we took photos from the plaza and road adjacent to the tower. The views down to the river are quite impressive. As an aside: the large ice-age flood that helped to shape the gorge had water levels higher than this site!

Inside, they have some exhibits downstairs about the history of the site. It was a stop on the pre-interstate U.S. highway system back in the 1930s. You can also climb up to the roof-level plaza for slightly higher views.

Overall, this was an interesting and worthwhile stop if you are driving through the gorge in either direction. It is just a short drive / detour from the highway.

Date of experience: July 2022
1  Thank JustPeachy3
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 July 2022

We stopped here on our tour of the Columbia River Gorge. Terrific views! And the building is very cool. Nice stop.

Date of experience: July 2022
Thank swearengen
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 20 July 2022 via mobile

Great view overlooking the Columbia River valley with Oregon on one side and Washington on the other. Cool old building with viewing areas on the roof. It’s a good stop for bathrooms and snacks or coffee as you take the scenic route along the river, above I-84. No fee for entry or parking. Quick stop.

Date of experience: July 2022
1  Thank Rather_Nomadic
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 31 January 2022 via mobile

We stopped at the Vista House to look at the awesome view of the river below. The state could use the building better as a snack area or gift shop.

Date of experience: January 2022
2  Thank Bostonterrier61
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 31 January 2022 via mobile

Best view in all of Oregon. The actual the house was closed for the winter and it was big wind chill factor of less than zero when I was there. But it was still beautiful

Date of experience: January 2022
Thank OldProChef
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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