We start east of Portland with the single best overview of the entire gorge. Vista House is a 1918 octagonal stone observatory equal parts art nouveau and roadside chapel perched on the cliff edge. On a clear day you can see twenty miles of the Columbia River in either direction.

A short five-minute walk from the road brings you face-to-face with Latourell a single 249-foot ribbon plunge framed by yellow columnar basalt and (in autumn) the brightest maples in the Gorge. It's the cleanest, easiest waterfall view on the entire tour.

Wahkeena means "most beautiful" in the Yakama language, and it earns the name. Unlike Multnomah's single dramatic drop, Wahkeena tumbles 242 feet through a series of moss-draped tiers. A short stroll from the road gives you the full view; we'll point out the fern grottos most visitors miss.

The headline act, and worth the extra time. Multnomah Falls drops 620 feet in two cascades, separated by the postcard-famous Benson Bridge. We park nearby, walk you up to the bridge for the iconic shot, and give you time to wander the lodge plaza, grab a coffee, or simply sit and watch the spray.

On the way back to Portland we pause at Rooster Rock a wide, quiet riverside park named for a basalt monolith on its eastern edge. It's a chance to stretch, take in the wide Columbia from water level, and watch the freight ships move slowly upriver. A calm contrast to the waterfall stops.

If you'd like a quiet finale, we can add The Grotto a Catholic outdoor sanctuary carved into a 110-foot basalt cliff, surrounded by old-growth forest. The lower plaza alone is free to visit; you'll see the cave shrine, statues, and seasonal floral arrangements. Especially atmospheric in winter or on a misty morning.