For answers to questions about the Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley Tour and the Gray Line Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Tour see the respective FAQ sections for those tours on this website. The questions covered in this FAQ section deal with the questions relating to the combining of the various tours offered.
1. What are all the various combination tours are available?
Answer: There are 4 combination tours available:
Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley and Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Combination Tour – includes a two-day Big Pink Sightseeing Pass that is for two consecutive days (the day it is purchased and the day following). As reservations are required on the Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Tour you will need to advise us which day you are planning to take this tour.
Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley One Day Pass and the Portland Spirit Sightseeing Cruise – includes a one-day Big Pink Sightseeing Pass and a ticket on the Portland Spirit sightseeing vessel that may be used on the day of purchase or during the following two days.
Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley Two-Day Pass and the Portland Spirit Sightseeing Cruise – includes a two-day Big Pink Sightseeing Pass that is for two consecutive days (the day it is purchased and the day following) and a single ticket on the Portland Spirit sightseeing vessel that may be used on the day of purchase or during the following two days.
Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley, Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Tour and the Portland Spirit Sightseeing Cruise – includes a two-day Big Pink Sightseeing Pass that is for two consecutive days (the day it is purchased and the day following) and a single ticket on the Portland Spirit sightseeing vessel that may be used on the day of purchase or during the following two days. As reservations are required on the Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Tour you will need to advise us which day you are planning to take this tour.
2. What days of the week do you run?
Answer: We operate the combination tours on the same days and times as we operate our other tours. Combination tours that include the Portland Spirit vessels are subject to schedule changes so please inquire at the time of purchase about the schedule for the upcoming period. The Noon and 7 pm cruise operate daily (with an occasional exception) and additional departures frequently added.
3. Do I have to take all the combo tours on the same day?
Answer: Subject to operating dates, no. The combination tours are subject to the following use:
- Tours that include a one-day Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley Tour Pass – Trolley Pass must be used on the day of purchase
- Tours that include a two-day Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley Tour Pass – Trolley Pass must be used on the day of purchase and the following day.
- Tours that include the Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Tour – reservations are required on this tour so just let us know which day you want to take this tour.
- Tours that include a Portland Spirit sightseeing cruise – the vessel ticket is good the day of purchase or for two consecutive days following the day of purchase.
4. I am confused with the various combination pricing, what’s the best deal and how do I assess the savings?
Answer: The best deal by far is the Big Pink Sightseeing Trolley and Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Combination Tour. With the included two-day Big Pink pass you save $9 on an adult ticket compared with buying the tours separately. A great deal for what could be a whole weekend of touring. Adding the Portland Spirit River Sightseeing Tour to any Big Pink or Gray Line tour adds $20 per adult and $14 per child to the price of the Big Pink or Gray Line tour. So decide which Big Pink or Gray Line tour or combination you want and then add the Portland Spirit cruise at $20 per adult, saving an additional $10 per adult off the comparable prices when buying them separately.
5. The Portland Spirit Sightseeing Cruise is normally priced at $30 per adult. Can I buy it from Big Pink/Gray Line separately for $20?
Answer: Nice try, sorry. The combination pricing with the Portland Spirit is only available with the purchase of a Big Pink/Gray Line Tour.
6. The Portland Spirit offer a variety of tours, including a lunch and dinner cruises on the Willamette River. What if I want to take one of those cruises?
Answer: If your choose to take your sightseeing cruise at the same time as the normally scheduled lunch or dinner cruise you may upgrade to include lunch or dinner at the Portland Spirit ticket booth prior to boarding. With the purchase of the combination tour you still save $8 per adult.
7. Where do I buy my tickets and get on the tour?
Answer: The tickets for the combination tours maybe purchased from the pink Gray Line/Big Pink Sightseeing ticket booth located at the Pioneer Courthouse Square at SW Broadway and SW Yamhill Street (approximate street address being 780 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205). They may also be purchased from the Portland Spirit ticket booth at the 1020 SW Naito Parkway, Portland, OR 97204.
8. Are reservations required on the Combination Tours?
Answer: Reservations are only required on the Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge portion of the combinations. When you purchase your ticket just let us know what day we should be expecting you on that portion of the tour. The daily schedule of the Portland Spirit may change from time to time so inquire regarding the current schedule when you purchase your tickets.
9. Are these narrated tours?
Answer: Yes, each portion of the combination tours is narrated.
10. I am staying near the Convention Center, and I want to start the Hop-On Hop-Off or Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge Tour from Pioneer Courthouse Square. How do I get to and from there?
Answer: The MAX Light Rail Line provides transportation ($2.50 per person) from four Eastside Stations to Pioneer Courthouse Square. Three different lines serve the stations to Pioneer Courthouse Square so board any of the west bound trains headed to Downtown Portland. The Blue and Red Lines will bring you right to the Square where as the Green Line will result in a 1 block walk to the Square.
The trains run approximately every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays and every15 to 20 minutes on weekends and holidays, but because you can use any one of the three lines servicing the Convention Center Station, the wait is rarely longer than 5 minutes.
The stations starting from the furthest East, their addresses, the transit times and number of stops to Pioneer Courthouse Square are as follows:
Lloyd Center/NE11th Ave – NE Holladay & NE 11th – 16 minutes – 8 stops on Blue and Red lines, 6 stops on Green line.
NE 7th Ave – NE Holladay & NE 7th – 14 minutes – 7 stops on Blue and Red lines, 5 stops on Green line.
Convention Center Station – NE Holladay and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd – 13 minutes – 6 stops on Blue and Red lines, 5 stops on Green line.
Rose Quarter Transit Center Station – 47 NW Holladay – 11 minutes – 5 stops on Blue and Red lines, 4 stops on Green line.
11. I am driving to Portland, how do I get to where I can buy tickets?
Answer: If you are driving to Portland and want to come to our ticket booth at Pioneer Courthouse Square, MapQuest or Google Map the address of 780 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205 and follow the directions. The trolley and coach loading area is on SW Broadway just north of SW Yamhill Street in front of Nordstrom’s. Below are also directions:
From the North:
Take I-5 South to I-405 via Exit 302B toward US-30W/Beaverton/St. Helens.
Take Exit 2A, Couch Street, toward Burnside Street.
Stay straight to go onto NW15th Ave.
Take 2nd Left on to SW Alder Street.
Turn right onto SW Broadway.
Trolley Loading Location is just before you get to SW Yamhill Street.
Parking is available downtown, see below.
From the South
Take I-5 North to I-405 via Exit 299B, on the left toward US-26/City Center/Beaverton.
Take Exit 1A on the left toward Naito Parkway.
Stay straight to go onto SW Harbor Drive.
Turn right onto Naito Parkway.
Turn left onto SW Morrison Street.
Turn left onto SW Broadway.
Trolley Loading Location is just before you get to SW Yamhill Street.
Parking is available downtown, see below.
From the West
Take US-26 East.
Once you near downtown Portland take the exit on the left marked Market Street/City Center.
Turn left on SW 10th Avenue.
Turn right on SW Yamhill.
Trolley Loading Location is on Broadway which you will cross.
Parking is available downtown, see below.
From the East:
Take I-84 West to I-5.
Take the I5 Exit on the left toward Beaverton/Salem/City Center.
Take the exit toward City Center.
Take the ramp toward Morrison Street/City Center.
Turn slightly right on to the Morrison Bridge.
Take the ramp toward SW Naito Parkway Northbound.
Turn slightly left on to SW Washington Street.
Turn left onto SW Broadway.
Trolley Loading Location is just before you get to SW Yamhill Street.
Parking is available downtown, see below.
12. Where do I park in downtown Portland?
Answer: We recommend Smart Park lots operated by the City of Portland. There are three lots convenient to Pioneer Courthouse Square. The closest is at SW10th and SW Yamhill (780 SW 10th). Other lots are at SW 4th and SW Yamhill (850 SW 4th) and SW 3rd and SW Alder (650 SW 4th). Rates are a $1.60 per hour for the first 2 hours, $5.00 for 3 hours, $7.00 for 4 hours. On weekdays the over 4 hour rate goes to an all day rate that varies by garage location but is between $12 and $15. On weekends the over 3 hour rate goes to an all day rate of $5.00 per day for the period from 5am to 6pm. After 6pm, the rate for the period from 6pm to 5am varies from $3.00 to $6.00 depending on garage location.