Hiking Classes in Portland, OR

This is our favorite tour! One of the most unique experiences in the world, riding down the historic highway built for Model Ts with the spectacular Columbia Gorge unfolding beneath us. We transport our guests and bikes in comfortable vans, and our guides ride with our small groups for much of the ride. You'll get personal attention and the safest experience we can provide. Beyond the 180 years of pioneers and loggers, before the century-old highway, this was the land of people with a rich mythology. We tell the stories that have been told to us by the indigenous people as best we can. You'll visit waterfalls, with engaged hiking and a leisurely approach to the tour itinerary. We want you to enjoy yourself -- whether you are traveling alone or with a big group. Ages 13 and up. (We can accommodate much bigger groups traveling together, please reach out!) Please note there are cars that share the scenic highway.

Immerse yourself in waterfall hiking in one of the most unique geologic formations in Oregon! Over the course of the three hours we are in the canyon, we will discovering South Falls' stunning amphitheater and history as the centerpiece of a failed attempt to become Oregon's first National Park. From here we will descend into the up-and-down trails that make up the gorgeous canyon, encountering century-plus-old trees, wildflowers in season, mosses, lichens, and mushrooms and a variety of fantastic rock formations. We will experience up-close encounters with some of the state's most unusual and impressive waterfall formations. On this hiking experience we will explore 4-6 waterfalls and enjoy snacks with the option to purchase a light breakfast or lunch from the cafe. Our hike will be between three and eight miles (5 - 13 km) depending on group energy and desire.

The 80 miles of the Columbia River Gorge’s steep rocky sides offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the world: pounding waterfalls, eagles, century-old trees, ferns, flowers, ancient rocks. This half-day of exploring and meditating on wonders with very short hikes and visits to overlooks and vistas will have you gasping in awe. We'll visit waterfalls and overlooks, selected by our guides to include both the most iconic, like the unmissable Latourell Falls, a stunning plunge-style falls that is one of the most iconic in Oregon, and the special. Depending on weather conditions, this could include a few small hidden waterfalls and another spectacular plunge-style falls with columnar basalt. We'll also tell you stories, not just of the geology and botany and the oft-repeated tales of pioneers and road-builders, but also the old stories we've learned, of gods and animal spirits and the Beaver princess tragically turned into a waterfall.

When tour guests asks us, "what one thing should I not miss in Portland," we pick the 5-mile (8-10 km) hike in Forest Park. No matter what the season, hiking in the park is entering another world right on the borders, and through the fabric, of the city. PLEASE NOTE THIS HIKE HAS 900 FT ELEVATION GAIN We offer two departures, both with varied terrain and about 900 ft (300 meter) elevation gain. The classic hike is focused around a Northwest Portland experience, and ends at the International Rose Test Garden (when in season), the Forest Park Experience at 9 a.m. We have limited 1:30 p.m. departures. Once weekly, we offer an afternoon hike that starts at Goose Hollow, through neighborhoods and up into the park (2:30 p.m.). Both pass iconic spots; Japanese Garden, Pittock Mansion, and Witch's Castle; but take a different approach to the forest. In Forest Park—within minutes leaving the street—you can forget, or wonder at the fact that you are still in a city.

The Oregon Coast is an experience like no other and our guides have selected a quieter, slower approach to the day: a visit to Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach; hikes through old-growth forests to views beyond what the common tourist sees; up-close encounters with the iconic monoliths that make the Oregon Coast so unusual; a lunch stop in a sweet beach town; recommendations for our favorite cinnamon rolls, pie or ice cream; sand (if you want it) between your toes. Day tours can feel long but ours feels more like a just-right exploration with plenty of time to sit however you like with the majesty of the ocean -- or spend most of your time wandering in the forest as you listen to waves crash beneath you. If you choose to walk with us in the forest, your day will include some short but steep low-elevation incline hiking.

The 85-mile (137-km) long Columbia Gorge NSA would be a national park if it weren't a critical transportation corridor. It features waterfalls, mountains, monoliths, terraces, resort towns, vineyards, orchards, and The River, harboring a plethora of fish and birds, and unique plants and invertebrates. There is said to be over 4000 waterfalls; many of which you have to hike to see. On this tour you'll hike the western, rainforested, southern side of the Gorge, dubbed "waterfall alley" where we'll have you getting misted by waterfalls, peering over cliffs, and learning stories of the area only the locals know.