8 Day American Cruise Lines River Cruise from Hayden Island to Clarkston 2024

Day 1 Clarkston, WA

Nestled in a handsome valley surrounded by steep hillsides, Clarkston embellishes the shoreline along the Snake River at the river’s confluence with the Clearwater River. Settle into your hotel and enjoy this historic town at your leisure. Named for William Clark of the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition, Clarkston’s origin dates back to the late 1890s, tracing its roots to the Nez Perce, the Native American tribe that originally inhabited the valley.

Each Columbia and Snake Rivers itinerary comeswith a Hotel Stay, providing you with a seamless way to board the ship and explore the local area.

On the morning of the cruise, meet in the hotel lobby after breakfast and we will transport you to the ship to begin your cruise. All luggage will be brought directly from the hotel and placed in your stateroom aboard the ship.

Day 2 Cruising the Snake River

Board your ship and enjoy a Welcome Reception. Spend the day cruising the legendary Snake River in the company of fellow guests and crew. Watch the remote wilderness and canyon hillsides glide by in ever-changing scenic panoramas. Admire the steep hillsides, dotted with white pelicans, osprey, bald eagles, cormorants, blue herons, and more.

What you won’t see are snakes, as the river doesn’t actually have snakes in it, but rather an abundance of salmon. While some believe the river was called the Snake is because its shape has many twists and winds, it is actually believed to have received its name from a Native American hand symbol.

Enjoy our Hells Canyon Flightseeing Adventure over, through, and around the Nez Perce's "land of the winding rivers." On this unforgettable narrated experience, soar over scenic rolling hills, crystal clear rivers, and abounding timbered wilderness as you learn about the region’s spectacular ecology, geology, and history.

This is a Signature shore excursion and should be reserved in advance. Please call (800) 894-8570 for information.

As you embark upon your journey, enjoy a Welcome Aboard Reception with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Meet the crew, your onboard experts, and fellow guests. Learn more about the wonderful adventure ahead of you.

Day 3 Pendleton, OR / Richland, WA

Richland sits at confluence of the Yakima and Columbia River. Our ship docks just steps away from scenic waterfront walking trials, unique shops, and local wineries. Enjoy a variety of guided excursions to area parks and museums, including the REACH Museum where you can discover Eastern Washington’s rich landscape and history, from the Ice Age to the Atomic Age. Admire the beauty of the Columbia and Snake River confluence at Sacajawea State Park and explore the grounds where the Corps of Discovery camped in October 1805 amidst a thriving community of Native Americans.

A full-day excursion also visits Pendleton, Oregon to enjoy western heritage, Native American history and the network of underground tunnels created a century ago for both legal and illicit activities.

Visit the REACH Museum and discover Eastern Washington’s rich landscape and history, from the Ice Age to the Atomic Age. Explore the featured galleries and rotating exhibits inside, as well as the amazing outdoor area with breathtaking views of the majestic Columbia River and surrounding scenery. Discover the geological impact of the Ice Age floods and basalt lava flows to the area. Learn about the Manhattan Project at Hanford and its continuous influence on the region. Continue to the 9-11 Memorial in Kennewick which is home to a 30 foot 6,000 pound steel column recovered from the World Trade Center Twin Towers, a sobering reminder of the tragic events of the day.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Come join us for a lively look into Pendleton's infamous and entertaining past. No town has a more colorful history. Find out why Pendleton was known as the entertainment capital of Eastern Oregon as you follow your guide underground to the Shamrock Card Room, Hop Sing's (Chinese Laundry), the Empire Ice Cream Parlor, and through the tunnels beneath the sidewalls to the Empire Meat Market. Stand under prism glass and go through a secret passageway to a prohibition Card Room. Continue through the tunnels to the Duck Pin Bowling Alley where you will learn about the Triple Nickels and Doolittle Raiders who trained here. If you are interested in learning about Pendleton Air Base, visit the Pendleton Air Museum a few doors down.

Explore the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute to learn about the storied past, contemporary culture, and bright economic future of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla Tribes. With world-class exhibits and interactive displays, local, regional, and national history is interpreted through the voices, collective memories, objects, and images of the native people. In the expansive Museum Store, discover the creativity of dozens of tribal artists as well as books, music, huckleberry treats, and exclusive Tamastslikt limited-edition collectible Pendleton blankets. Along the way, enjoy conversations with elders, traveling exhibits, storytelling, and hands-on displays. Between sites, enjoy a complimentary lunch at Sister's Cafe.

This is a Signature shore excursion and should be reserved in advance. Please call (800) 894-8570 for information.

Activity Level: Moderate| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Explore this fascinating destination, located at the very place where Lewis and Clark Expedition camped for two nights, amidst a thriving community of Native Americans. Learn about the activities that took place at the site through interactive exhibits about the Corps of Discovery and Sacagawea, woman known for her helping the Lewis and Clark Expedition Team. Stroll the green, tree-shaded grounds, and read the seven story circle installations by internationally known artist Maya Lin.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Day 4 Cruising the Columbia River Gorge

From the comfort of your private balcony, admire the magnificent bluffs of the Columbia River Gorge, covered in deep green forest and framed by picturesque hillsides that quickly ascend toward the sky. Windsurfers and kiteboarders adorn the landscape as they drift across the broad, shining river.

There are a variety of activities scheduled on board when the ship is underway, which vary depending on the itinerary and scheduled date. Enjoy destination-focused enrichment programs with special guest speakers who present topics related to the region and ports of call, including Art Classes, App-titude Classes (Tech Made Easy), Cooking Demonstrations, Mixology (practice of making great cocktails,) Trivia, Game Shows, and more.

Day 5 The Dalles, OR

The Dalles, the last stop on the historic Oregon Trail, nestles along the Columbia River with a beautiful view of both Mount Hood and Mount Adams, each towering more than 11,000 feet above your cruise ship. To the pioneers of the 1800s, this rugged terrain was treacherous, but to today's visitors, it is fascinating.

Venture ashore on your own to explore the historic downtown, steps from the ship, featuring fascinating museums, intimate cafes, local pubs, and a collection of historic murals which embellish the streetscape. Or enjoy guided excursions to learn about the area’s rich history, view a unique art collection in a magnificent building perched on a bluff above the river, or spend an afternoon with expert sommeliers enjoying the bounty of the fertile Columbia Valley.

Throughout your journey on the Columbia River, you will transit 8 locks, lifting the ship more than 700 feet vertically. Building upon the lectures of our onboard experts throughout the week, this excursion provides guests with an in-depth understanding of and appreciation for the engineering that enables the Dam to generate enough hydroelectric power to provide nearly 500,000 homes with electricity.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center, which showcases the area's unique history and cultural diversity. From the Native American tribes that inhabited the gorgeto the expedition of Lewis and Clark and 19th-century loggers, learn of the bountiful life on the gorge as you explore this amazing museum.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Plummeting 620 feet, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation. Experience the sights and sounds of this magnificent waterfall, fed by rain, snow-melt, and underground springs on Larch Mountain.

Admire the falls from the Visitor Center or take a short hike to Benson Bridge, one of the most photographed pieces of architecture in Oregon, to feel its misty spray and get a great photo.

Multnomah Falls also offers one of the best places in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area to view the basalt rock formations exposed by Ice Age Floods.

Activity Level: Moderate| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Experience this amazing guided excursion along a local river fed by blue aquifer melt from Mount Adams. Along the way, view eagles, herons, ospreys, ducks, fish, and occasional otters. Paddle up the mellow river, taking a break to swim and take photos. Gently float back down stream trying to spot as many fish as possible, finishing your journey with a scenic look down the Gorge.

Activity Level: High | ADA ACCESSIBLE: No

Day 6 Kalama, WA

From our convenient new dock at Kalama, Washington, enjoy the grand landscape of the Cascade Mountains scenic drive to view the remnants of nearby Mount St. Helens. A local guide enhances your understanding and shares the story of the volcano’s 1980 eruption and its impact on the environment and the lives of those in the area. Just off the ship dock, enjoy an expansive city park, unique local artwork throughout an impressive adjacent hotel, and an interesting interpretive center. Or venture out to a nearby family vineyard for an afternoon of wine tasting.

May 18, 1980 is a day etched into the history of the United States, as the powerful eruption of Mount St. Helens drastically changed the landscape of what is now referred to as the National Volcanic Monument. On your scenic journey to the Mount St. Helens, learn about the eruption, how it affected the landscape and surrounding communities, and how the environment has responded naturally to the disturbance. Admire spectacular views of the pumice plain and blast site.

Activity Level: Moderate| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Just a short walk from the ship, explore this new facility that celebrates Kalama’s unique place in Pacific Northwest history as a transportation and commercial hub, and is designed to replicate a traditional waterfront warehouse of the 1800s. Exhibits track Kalama’s first inhabitants, the Cowlitz Tribe, and the settlers that followed over the next hundred years, including renowned Oregon Trail writer Ezra Meeker. Displays illustrate how Kalama’s particular landscape gave birth to a booming transportation system, impacting the area both culturally and economically.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Day 7 Astoria, OR

Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies. Colorful Victorian homes adorn the hillside that climbs steeply up from the river, earning it the nickname “The Little San Francisco.” Explore this remarkable town on your own or choose from a collection of well-curated excursions.

Step into history on a guided exploration to the National Park Service replica of Fort Clatsop, the 1805-06 winter camp of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Board a local red trolley to ride along the picturesque waterfront or savor the perspective from a bluff high above the city at the picturesque Astoria Column. Peruse the town’s quaint shops, galleries, wineries, and brew pubs. Or simply stroll off the ship to the nearby acclaimed Columbia River Maritime Museum.

Explore downtown Astoria on your own aboard this convenient shuttle which makes several stops on a continuous loop throughout the day including:

- Downtown Astoria - for shopping and exploring

- Heritage Museum - featuring Clatsop County’s rich and exciting history in permanent and changing exhibit galleries

- Astoria Column - a tower overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River, from which you can enjoy the majestic views of the countryside from land

- Flavel House Museum - once the home of Captain George Flavel, this 1885 Queen Anne home features original Eastlake influenced woodwork, period furnishings, and exotic hardwood

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Enjoy a scenic journey to Cape Disappointment State Park and visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, situated high on the cliffs 200 feet above the pounding Pacific surf. A series of mural-sized “timeline” panels guide visitors through the westward journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition using sketches, paintings, photographs, and the words of Corps members themselves.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Experience the Columbia River Maritime Museum on a self-guided excursion. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is the official maritime museum of the state of Oregon and also prides itself as being one of the finest maritime museums on the West Coast.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

On this excursion, you will learn the history of the area while visiting Fort Clatsop, the site where the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered in 1806. Explore the Visitor Center and take a walk outside to view the Fort that was built during this famous expedition.

Activity Level: Low| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Your knowledgeable guide will greet you at the dock to begin your exploration along Astoria's Riverwalk. Enjoy views of the majestic Columbia River with cargo ships at anchor and constant river traffic. Continue along the main downtown street and view several excellent examples of early 20th-century commercial architecture, including the towering Astor Hotel and the highly ornate, terra-cotta clad Liberty Theater. Stroll along city sidewalks to the Garden of the Surging Waves, which celebrates the town’s Chinese history. Enjoy the Beaux Arts-style Clatsop County Courthouse and the former Clatsop County Jail, which is now the Oregon Film Museum. The jail, used from 1914 to 1976 is not only noted for being the longest used, freestanding jail in Oregon, but also seen in the many movies filmed here, most famously, The Goonies. Your excursion will end at the well-known Flavel House. Completed in 1886, it is considered one of the finest examples of Queen Anne Stick style architecture in the Pacific Northwest.

Activity Level: Moderate| ADA ACCESSIBLE: Yes

Day 8 Day of Cruising

Continueyour journey in this vibrant region with majestic Mount Hood serving as a stunning backdrop. Situated between the waters of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, the area's history is forever entwined with the fortunes of these great rivers. In the golden age of riverboats, sternwheelers crossed the waterfront while steam whistles and calliopes rang out across the water.

There are a variety of activities scheduled on board when the ship is underway, which vary depending on the itinerary and scheduled date. Enjoy destination-focused enrichment programs with special guest speakers who present topics related to the region and ports of call, including Art Classes, App-titude Classes (Tech Made Easy), Cooking Demonstrations, Mixology (practice of making great cocktails,) Trivia, Game Shows, and more.

Day 9 Portland, OR

Enjoy breakfast on board. As we transport you to the airport to begin your journey home, reflect upon your amazing adventure and the memories and friendships made along the way.