The Best Columbia and Snake River Cruises for You
Four itinerary types, side by side.
Get Columbia & Snake QuotesChoosing the Best Columbia and Snake River Cruises
The best Columbia and Snake river cruises for you depend mostly on time and how far up the Snake you want to go. Here are the itinerary types side by side.
| Itinerary | Length | Covers | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia & Snake classic (American Cruise Lines) | 9 days incl. hotel night | Portland to Clarkston, one way | Seeing the whole route in a week |
| Food, Wine and History (Lindblad) | 6 or 8 days | Portland to Clarkston, either direction | Active travelers and wine lovers |
| Columbia River Gorge (American Cruise Lines) | 7 days | Round trip from Portland on the lower river and Gorge | Shorter trip, no Snake River |
| Grand Columbia & Snake (American Cruise Lines) | 16 days | Round trip from Portland, embarking at Stevenson | The most complete version, from 2027 |
Questions Worth Asking
- Is the pre-cruise hotel night included, and where is it?
- How do I get home from Clarkston? Lewiston and Spokane airports are the usual choices.
- Which excursions are included and which cost extra, for example jet boats or helicopter tours?
- Which ports does my specific departure call at? Stops vary from sailing to sailing.
Our companion site ColumbiaRiverCruising.us explains each port and the Gorge in detail. Watching the fares? The cruise-offers newsletter sends offers as they appear.
Upriver or Downriver?
The one-way sailings run in both directions, and the choice is mostly about logistics and mood. Starting in Portland means an easy arrival at a big airport and a trip that builds from the green Gorge to the drama of the Snake’s canyons, finishing with a jet boat into Hells Canyon. Starting in Clarkston saves the Gorge’s waterfalls and the Pacific for the end, and puts the big-city airport at the end of the trip, when connections matter most.
Whichever you choose, check the hotel night: some departures include it at the start, and you may want an extra night at the far end, in the Lewis Clark Valley or Spokane, before flying home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of the best Columbia and Snake river cruises is best for wine lovers?
Lindblad’s Food, Wine and History trip is built around the region’s wineries and food, and American Cruise Lines’ sailings also include tastings in the Gorge and on the Columbia Plateau. Late-season departures coincide with harvest.
What are the best Columbia and Snake river cruises for a first trip?
For most travelers, the week-long Portland–Clarkston sailing: it covers the whole route from the ocean to Hells Canyon. Choose the Gorge-only cruise if you prefer fewer days on board.
Is the longer grand voyage worth it?
If you want to see both the river mouth and Hells Canyon without a one-way flight, and like longer cruises, yes. It starts and ends in the Portland area and runs once a month in its first season.
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