Eco Tours of Oregon: Tours from Portland to Oregon & Washington

Native American Cultural Tour

Click photo for view of Warm Springs tribal member Lucinda Green

Travel across Mount Hood and the Cascades into Oregon’s vast high desert to the Museum at Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Be the guest of a respected tribal member as you enjoy traditional foods and the culture firsthand. We combine this tour with sightseeing in Eastern Oregon’s "Canyon Country" and Mount Hood, too! Lunch included.
Full day $89.50 + $5.00 museum entrance fee.

This tour is normally scheduled from 8 AM to 5:30 PM, but we're flexible! Because we travel in small groups, options are available to adjust our itinerary according to your wishes as the day progresses. The following is a sample itinerary.

8:00 AM	Pick up at your hotel or residence. Learn about Northwest Native American history as we travel east through three out of Oregon's four major topographical areas: the lush Willamette Valley, the high alpine Cascades and the High Desert Plateau on the east side of the Cascades. The diversity of ecosystems along this drive is amazing! Click photo for view of canyons of Eastern Oregon
9:15 AM	Rest stop at Government Camp, nestled at the base of scenic Mount Hood, which was known as sacred Wy'East to many Native Americans.
10:30 AM	Arrive at the multi-million dollar Museum at Warm Springs. Here you'll spend approximately one hour looking at the fascinating exhibits on both the traditional and modern lifestyles of the native people of the Cascades, the Columbia River and its tributaries and nearby high desert plateaus. (Admission $5.00 -- not included).
12 Noon	We'll drive deeper into the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, where you'll arrive at the home of Lucinda Green, a third-generation spiritual healer and tribal member, living on the banks of the beautiful Deschutes River. Here you'll be invited inside for lunch, storytelling and cross-cultural "sharing time". Lunch will be a modern yet traditional meal of Indian Tacos and Indian frybread. (Please let us know if you prefer a vegetarian meal ahead of time). During this time, you'll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions about Indian life, such as spiritual practices, education, health, and traditional versus modern lifestyles within the confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Many consider this unique, off -the-beaten-path experience to be the highlight of the tour and even of their trip to Oregon!
2:00 PM	After lunch, we'll tour through the beautiful high desert Indian reservation with stops for photos, shopping and at the luxurious Kah-Nee-Tah Resort with its mineral hot springs, pool, hiking trails and horseback riding.
3:00 PM	Heading back towards the northwest, there will be views of other major Cascade peaks like Mount Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, the Three Sisters and Mount Bachelor.
5:00 PM	Arrive back in Portland.
If notified in advance, tour options include:
1.	Sightseeing to historic Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood.
2.	Short walks to natural attractions like old growth forests.
3.	Overnight stay at Kah-Nee-Tah Resort or other accommodations with additional sightseeing in the high desert. Suggestions are Smith Rock, Lake Billy Chinook, the John Day Fossil Beds, The Painted Hills, Lavalands, Newberry National Volcanic Monument and the High Desert Museum.
4.	Seasonal Cross-country Skiing and Downhill Skiing at Mount Bachelor or Mount Hood.

The cost of this day tour is $89.50, + $5.00 museum entrance fee, which includes door-to-door tranportation, the interpretive naturalist services of your ecotour guide and the traditional luncheon and visit to the home of the Warm Springs tribal member.