Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey

At Clarkston, find yourself at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. The name Clarkston is in reference to William Clark and is located directly across the river from Lewiston, Idaho, which is named for Meriwether Lewis, though neither of them ever traveled to the Clarkston side of the river. Travel by comfortable jet boat into one of North America’s most scenic spots, spectacular Hells Canyon.  The 125-mile long canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River and at 7,993 feet is North America’s deepest river gorge—most of it inaccessible by road. The earliest known settlers in the canyon were the Nez Percé tribe and, as you travel up the river, look to the hillsides and see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock formations. This afternoon, join your fellow travelers in the lounge for songs and stories by a local Nez Percé storyteller.

Set sail this evening on the Snake River, and overnight, transit two in the series of eight locks which will lower the ship some 700 feet as you make your way west, nearly 10 times that of the Panama Canal.

The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off cruising on our Zodiac and kayak adventures. Visit Palouse Falls, where cascading waters plunge 198 feet into the pool below. These falls and the canyon are an important feature of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across the region. Afterward, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.

Today we will spend the day cruising through some of the most scenic and geologically interesting stretches of the Columbia River and the Columbia Plateau. Our onboard geologist and naturalists will talk with you about the Columbian Basalt Flows and the Missoula Floods that sculpted the landscape 13,000 years ago. Relive the historic tales of the Corps of Discovery through the eyes of the historian as you sail by landmarks from their epic journey. Or unwind with a massage from the wellness specialist.

Spend your morning visiting the stunning Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington, featuring 15,000 years of cultural and natural history of the Columbia Gorge with displays both inside and outside.  Or trek up the iconic Beacon Rock, the 848-foot basalt column that once formed the core of an ancient volcano.  Lewis and Clark camped here on their way west, and it was at Beacon Rock that they first noticed the tides affecting the water levels in the Columbia River, more than 120 miles from its mouth.

Continue through the Gorge to Hood River, located in the shadows of majestic Mount Hood where you will enjoy a farm to table orchard lunch overlooking the golden Hood River Valley.  The valley is known for its fruit growing orchards-including one of the world’s largest pear growing areas. After lunch you’ll have the option to visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum and explore one of the largest collections of still functioning antique cars and planes in the country or trek the trails of Tom McCall Nature Preserve which is home to over 200 plant species.

This evening, enjoy the company of a local brewer onboard and partake in some of their craft brews while you hear about how the microbrew industry got started in Hood River.

We begin our journey by navigating the Columbia to the mouth of the river at Astoria. At Cape Disappointment, where Meriwether Lewis saw the Pacific in November of 1805, explore the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, see Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, and the north jetty of the Columbia River Bar. Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which chronicles the history of river navigation and all aspects of maritime commerce in the region.  Hear harrowing stories of crossing “The Bar” at the mouth of the Columbia, one of the most dangerous passages in the world. In the afternoon explore the Astoria area with several options to choose from.

Arrive in Portland, located on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snow-capped Mt. Hood. The city is known for its eco-friendliness, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Spend your morning visiting the stunning Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington, featuring 15,000 years of cultural and natural history of the Columbia Gorge with displays both inside and outside. Or trek up the iconic Beacon Rock, the 848-foot basalt column that once formed the core of an ancient volcano. Lewis and Clark camped here on their way west, and it was at Beacon Rock that they first noticed the tides affecting the water levels in the Columbia River, more than 120 miles from its mouth.

Continue through the Gorge to Hood River, located in the shadows of majestic Mount Hood where you will enjoy a farm-to-table orchard lunch overlooking the golden Hood River Valley. The valley is known for its fruit growing orchards-including one of the world’s largest pear growing areas. After lunch you’ll have the option to visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum and explore one of the largest collections of still-functioning antique cars and planes in the country or trek the trails of Tom McCall Nature Preserve which is home to over 200 plant species.

Spend the day cruising through some of the most scenic and geologically interesting stretches of the Columbia River and the Columbia Plateau. The onboard geologist and naturalists will talk with you about the Columbian Basalt Flows and the Missoula Floods that sculpted the landscape 13,000 years ago. Relive the historic tales of the Corps of Discovery through the eyes of the historian as you sail by landmarks from their epic journey. Or unwind with a massage from the wellness specialist.

Drive through some of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, with bright, rolling green fields of sprouting wheat, asparagus, the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onions, and now the vineyards that bring Walla Walla world-wide recognition. Enjoy historic Walla Walla with a visit to the Whitman Mission, a National Historic Site, and the location of the 1847 attack on missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and 12 members of their household by a group of Cayuse seeking retribution for the spread of measles among their people and the inability of Whitman to heal the sick. Enjoy lunch and a tasting at a local winery.

The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off cruising on our Zodiac and kayak adventures. Visit Palouse Falls, where cascading waters plunge into the pool below. These falls and the canyon are an important feature of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across the region. Afterwards, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.

At Clarkston, find yourselves at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. Travel by comfortable jet boat up the Snake River into one of North America’s most scenic spots, spectacular Hells Canyon. The 125-mile long canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River and at 7,993 feet is North America’s deepest river gorge—most of it inaccessible by road. The earliest known settlers in the canyon were the Nez Percé tribe and, as you travel up the river, look to the hillsides and see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock formations. In the afternoon, join your fellow travelers in the lounge for songs and stories by a local Nez Percé storyteller.

This evening, enjoy the company of a local winemaker onboard and sip of their wines while you hear about how the geology of the area surrounding the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, the newest Viticultural Area in the United States, affects the flavors of their wines. (Note: Winemaker on board eastbound itinerary only.)

After breakfast this morning transfer to the airport for connecting flights home. Choose to fly from nearby Lewiston, Idaho, or travel though the picturesque landscapes of the Palouse to Spokane, Washington, located two hours away.

At Clarkston, find yourself at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. The name Clarkston is in reference to William Clark and is located directly across the river from Lewiston, Idaho, which is named for Meriwether Lewis, though neither of them ever traveled to the Clarkston side of the river. Travel by comfortable jet boat into one of North America’s most scenic spots, spectacular Hells Canyon.  The 125-mile long canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River and at 7,993 feet is North America’s deepest river gorge—most of it inaccessible by road. The earliest known settlers in the canyon were the Nez Percé tribe and, as you travel up the river, look to the hillsides and see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock formations. This afternoon, join your fellow travelers in the lounge for songs and stories by a local Nez Percé storyteller.

Set sail this evening on the Snake River, and overnight, transit two in the series of eight locks which will lower the ship some 700 feet as you make your way west, nearly 10 times that of the Panama Canal.

The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off cruising on our Zodiac and kayak adventures. Visit Palouse Falls, where cascading waters plunge 198 feet into the pool below. These falls and the canyon are an important feature of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across the region. Afterward, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.

Drive through some of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, with bright, rolling green fields of sprouting wheat, asparagus, the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onions, and now the vineyards that bring Walla Walla world-wide recognition. Enjoy historic Walla Walla with a visit to the Whitman Mission, a National Historic Site, and the location of the 1847 attack on missionaries Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and 12 members of their household by a group of Cayuse seeking retribution for the spread of measles among their people and the inability of Whitman to heal the sick. Visit Fort Walla Walla Museum featuring an eclectic collection of historical artifacts, farming implements, a 17-building historic pioneer settlement and an impressive display of a 1919 Harris hillside wheat combine complete with life-size replica of a team of 33 mules. Enjoy lunch and tasting at a local winery.

Today we will spend the day cruising through some of the most scenic and geologically interesting stretches of the Columbia River and the Columbia Plateau. Our onboard geologist and naturalists will talk with you about the Columbian Basalt Flows and the Missoula Floods that sculpted the landscape 13,000 years ago. Relive the historic tales of the Corps of Discovery through the eyes of the historian as you sail by landmarks from their epic journey. Or unwind with a massage from the wellness specialist.

Spend your morning visiting the stunning Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, Washington, featuring 15,000 years of cultural and natural history of the Columbia Gorge with displays both inside and outside.  Or trek up the iconic Beacon Rock, the 848-foot basalt column that once formed the core of an ancient volcano.  Lewis and Clark camped here on their way west, and it was at Beacon Rock that they first noticed the tides affecting the water levels in the Columbia River, more than 120 miles from its mouth.

Continue through the Gorge to Hood River, located in the shadows of majestic Mount Hood where you will enjoy a farm to table orchard lunch overlooking the golden Hood River Valley.  The valley is known for its fruit growing orchards-including one of the world’s largest pear growing areas. After lunch you’ll have the option to visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum and explore one of the largest collections of still functioning antique cars and planes in the country or trek the trails of Tom McCall Nature Preserve which is home to over 200 plant species.

This evening, enjoy the company of a local brewer onboard and partake in some of their craft brews while you hear about how the microbrew industry got started in Hood River.

Arrive in Portland, located on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snow-capped Mt. Hood. The city is known for its eco-friendliness, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.