The Columbia was named after a fur-trading vessel, the Columbia Rediviva, helmed by American ship captain Robert Gray, the first explorer to enter the river, in May of 1792.
The largest river in the Pacific Northwest at 1,243 long, the Columbia River rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flowing northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, where it turns west to form most of the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific Ocean via a drainage basin roughly the size of France. River Cruises on the Columbia often continue on to the Snake River in eastern Oregon as well for a complete Columbia & Snake River experience.
The duo of the Columbia and its tributary, the Snake River, is one of the most popular river cruise itineraries in the United States. Overflowing with history and gorgeous natural landmarks like the Columbia River Gorge and Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge, this was the territory first explored by Lewis and Clark. Today, wine connoisseurs are drawn by the increasingly popular Pacific Northwest wines that are produced here.
The best cruise lines operating on the Columbia and Snake rivers are American Cruise Lines, American Queen Steamboat Company, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, and Un-Cruise Adventures. Cruises along the river operate from April to November, with springs generally green and rainy, summers hot, and fall a favorite time for most travelers, with grapes on the vines and foliage bursting into glorious color.
