There is absolutely no place like this anywhere else. In half a second, you drive out of the city and next you know, you’re surrounded by trees and serenity.I love this place to get away, have some quiet spiritual time and get a blessing or two. I’m not what you would refer to as a practicing Catholic, but I am spiritual in my own sense. There is a church on property where they conduct masses. The parking lot is not immense so I don’t know where one would park if attending a Sunday mass amongst travelers such as myself.There is also a gift shop and a room where you can get blessed or an object blessed. My daughter got her necklace blessed.I did not take the huge elevator up to the top of the mountain as I didn’t want to pay $10 honestly. There is enough on the grounds itself to view and many areas to pray or take in the statues.This is a place of tranquility that I try to visit each time I’m in Oregon.

Ive only been here twice, only for a specific purpose that didnt involve walking the grounds. If you want to get to main garden, it will cost you about 10 bucks and you can get mil discount about a buck. After walking the bottom grounds, take the elevator to the top. Its a great walk through the trees and gardens. Take your time and bring some patience.

Peaceful, healing, soulful, you feel so blessed when there. Amazing time and stress free. Cant wait to go back.

I love going to The Grotto. I recommend it to people who are looking for a nice walk and quiet time in nature. The bottom part is busier with people walking, taking pictures, praying or shopping. The upper gardens are great for a more quiet and peaceful time or just walking around. Its not too much of a walk, maybe 20 minutes. The meditation chapel is beautiful but it was very warm in their due to all the glass.

One of my favorite places in Portland. You get there and immediately feel like you are somewhere far and serene. You pay to have access to the upper level and it’s worth it (approx $10 per person). I especially like the meditation space and the different stations with various countries’ rendition of the Virgin Mary. It’s a well maintained peaceful sanctuary well worth a visit.

Garden is so nice. The Grotto is something I ve never seen before so that was interesting for me.Even if you are not christian it worth to spend some times there n enjoy all flowers n trees.Its 10$ to take elevator to go to upper dock. Although its little bit expensive for elevator but garden is nice n peaceful to make it worth.They are good plenty of parking there as well.All people are super nice n helpful

Lovely grove of shady old growth trees (over 100 years old!) and paved paths for walking and contemplation. 3 Masses a day are now offered. The bottom level is dog-welcoming. A great place to picnic too!

Peaceful place to visit. Lovely gardens. View from the chapel is nice. Religious or not you feel something when you walk here.

Absolutely gorgeous and serene. Love it. I recommend over and over

Serenity. The Grotto radiates it. Whether or not you are a person of faith, its hard to imagine feeling anything but tranquility and peace in this outdoor palace of beauty. Take a deep breath before the wonderous gardens, shrine and chapel take your breath away!Although my favorite time to visit is at Christmas (the holiday just feels incomplete without seeing the lights!), The Grotto is open daily for a meditative stroll along garden paths (be sure to check out the upper gardens!), quiet, reflective prayer in the Chapel of Mary, or shopping for souvenirs and religious paraphernalia in the gift shop. At Christmas time, stop in to hear local school choirs, puppet shows, a petting zoo, and of course, the gorgeous Christmas light displays!The Grotto is among Portlands most important treasures, and a must-see for locals and visitors alike.

So blessed to have been able to visit this piece of heaven on earth.The gift shop offers a wide variety of unique gifts.

One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. In may, it was absolutely stunning. Worth the xtra few dollars to take the elevator up the hill and see even more stunning gardens. We stopped here on a road trip and I haven’t seen any place like this

The Grotto Gardens is just stunning. It’s my favorite place to reflect.

A restful, serene, beautiful wooded area with statues and tributes to Jesus.

Came here as a kid. not sure if its still open during covid

A very serene place to be in after a stressful week. You don’t need to be Catholic to be here to do some soul searching or just plainly want a peace of mind and surrounding for a short period of time. There is an upper level you could venture to and spend some quiet time overlooking nearby area within Portland.

Very beautiful placed popped in on a Sunday very peaceful neighborhood around it is pretty sketchy . The 14century 3d painting is awesome something to definitely see

I always bring visitors to Portland to experience the Grotto. Its one of the most incredible places in the Pacific Northwest.There is such a peaceful feeling, and the grounds are absolutely breathtaking, especially in the summer. I highly recommend visiting this incredible and uplifting place!

This is one of the best places for a peaceful and a relaxing walk. We went here for seeing the Christmas lights which had an entry fee but the lights were really beautiful and got the whole place lighten up. The decoration and presentation was really good. The church interiors were also good and you get a peaceful time for prayers.

Very unique. Very mystic cave church. Should be seen if you visit Portland.

OH DANG! This spot is awesome, I took my mother who uses a mobility scooter and this was more accessible than the Japanese garden in Washington Park. Beautiful gardens, mostly native plants and trees wonderfully maintained and presented. Very nice views of the Columbia river gorge and My. St. Helens, Perhaps the best 10$ Ive spent on an attraction here in Portland. Its also extremely easy to get to from public transit, the 12 bus stops you off almost in the parking lot.

This sanctuary is absolutely breath taking.In and out! Fully!

Very nice and well kept. Diverse groups of people worship and sight see here.

Beautiful place. Went on a Sunday during service and caught a bit of it. Beautiful grounds and laid out very nicely. Not as large as I was expecting. This place is fairly busy, at least when I came, so dont expect to have a particular quietude or space to literally meditate without interruption. Its beautiful, perhaps on slower days it would be better for a quiet solo stroll. Must see.

One of the most peaceful places I have ever experienced within a metropolitan area. Though Im not a particularly religious person, the calm you feel while visiting the Grotto is undeniable. Highly recommend visiting this beautiful sanctuary of peace for all peoples of the earth).

My wife and I came here during our visit to Portland and we absolutely loved it. It served as a very peaceful visit here. Its aimed as a catholic sanctuary however you dont have to be religious to visit. I highly recommend this place if youre looking for somewhere to escape from society for a while. Plenty of parking and a cool little gift shop at the entrance.There are tons of little sections throughout the grotto. Plenty of places to sit and mediate, pray, or just simply hanging out. It was raining when we went by so we had to hide in the church for a little while.Our favorite part was the quiet room overlooking the airport and river. It was breathtaking. I wont forget this place. I loved it.

The Grotto in Portland, Oregon is a Catholic shrine dedicated to Mary, Our Sorrowful Mother. I have been here several times, and always enjoyed my visit. The Grotto is filled with many religious statuary in a natural, forest setting.When you visit The Grotto you have several options: you can visit at no cost and just walk the lower grounds, visit the gift shop, and attend mass, 12pm on weekdays. I attended the mass, and it was quite beautiful. It was wonderful to see so many nuns.In addition, you can pay $6.00 and visit the upper level, via an elevator. This contains beautiful gardens, walking trails, and much beautiful art to reflect upon. Also, there is a lovely observation room with a sweeping view of the area. I would allow at least 1 hour for the upper level.There is free parking, restrooms, and a gift shop.At Christmas time they have a beautiful Festival of Lights, which I highly recommend.My recommendation would be to visit during the week, as it is less crowded.

This is a hidden gem in Portland. There is so much peace and serenity in this place I feel so amazed and relieved at the same time. The garden is so well taken care. The trees are so tall and green. The flowers are so beautiful. The $8 ticket basically means this whole wonderful experience is a free give away. Recommend for any Catholic or non-Catholic to come and explore.

I walked around the beautiful gardens at the Grotto in NE Portland with a family member following the graveside service for my mother. Peaceful, social distancing compliant and the perfect setting to process.

A must see for anyone who is interested in reflection/self-reflection, meditation, contemplation or has a sense of/for the spiritual.The single upright carved post says it all: MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH. The lower grounds are free to visit. To use the elevator to the Upper Gardens, purchase a token (which costs $8) in the gift shop.The upper level offers incredible panoramic views and has a dedicated viewing/meditation area.For those familiar with Mary, there are numerous chapels dedicated to her many apparitions.The Grotto makes a perfect West Coast bookend to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. The Shrine and Chapel to Our Lady of Leche in Saint Augustine, Florida is a beautiful and serene place as well.

A beautiful and peaceful space decently appreciable by non-Catholic folks, especially the remarkable modern architectural meditation room overlooking the city with a big glass view.Admission up the elevator is $8, where most of the garden spaces lie. Stations of the Cross and an area for Mass are on the lower level, and free. Some awesome international shrines are up the elevator, in addition to the meditation space.

A place you don’t want to miss when traveling in Portland.

What a beautiful and tranquil place! Came here during my trip to Portland and was totally taken back by the scenery. A good size of the ground is open to the public free of charge. However, to truly enjoy this place you have to pay $6 to visit the 26 acres garden, and it is definitely worth every penny! If you are stressed or just want to unwind after a long day or week, visit The Grotto, you wont regret it!

It’s a wonderful place to walk and in meditation. Connect to inner peace. Relax. Find god . Find spirit. Just be !Place of many religions. Any one can come, everybody welcome !I would love to come back

Very good place to spend an hour or two on a hot afternoon (because it stays pretty cool in the gardens).Although the tickets for admission to the upper level gardens cost $8 (for an adult), its well worth its price - there are very good statues & sculptures in the upper gardens that depict stories of Jesus Christ & Christianity, the gardens are very well maintained and the atmosphere due to the tree cover is very cool, calm & peaceful.I would recommend visiting this place when youre on your way to the airport after finishing your trip as it is very close to the airport.

Super cool church in the forest, as if you werent already spiritually connected with the nature surrounding. This church is situated in the woods not in the best surrounding neighborhood, its interesting how they selected the location with all the strip clubs and dive bars but hey. Once you park in the lot you feel like you are at another trail, but when you start walking you realize this place has a divine feel to it. I definitely think its a good place to stop and check out even if your not Catholic or Christian.

Beautiful grounds and a serene setting. I spent a sunny day walking around and had a great time enjoying the fall foliage. Definitely a quiet place meant for reflection, and was very much worth the experience to go to the upstairs garden.

The Grotto is a very peaceful place to visit.. If you need to think of something or even come here for leisure and learn about something about the tSaints or Jesus... this is for you and your family.. Highly recommended💖💖👌🏼🙏🏼

Isn’t at the top of the list for Portland attractions... but it should be! The Grotto is unique in the way that it connects Catholicism with nature through beautiful paths and statues. I’m not Catholic but it was still a great place to go to learn about Catholic emphases and history. Also a great place to learn a bit about the faith and it sparked the interest of some of my friends! You can see some good stuff for free like the big Mary cave, but buying the $8 ticket up the elevator is worth it, thats where most of it is!

Loved. It. Prepare to spend awhile here. Definitely pay yo go up the the upper gardens. Very tranquil. Many less people right when it opens.

This is my absolute favourite spot in Portland. Its a gem, really and truly, in every way. Tucked away off the Sandy & 82nd intersection in NE, its a lesser known paradise of the Portland area.At ground level, there is a gift shop, a chapel built into the side of a cliff and a quaint church for services. These services are free and open to all. For $6, you can take the elevator 100 feet up to the part of The Grotto that makes it truly special.At the top of this cliff, is a meditation room that clings in silent repose with a lovely view on a clear day. Aside from the meditation room, there is a sprawling garden and grounds that are lovingly tended to and home to thousands of different plants, trees and flowers. Set within this environment is an array of Christian art, much of it focused on the later life of Christ and his mother Mary (to whom The Grotto is dedicated). The lovely setting is perfect for meditating on your own existence, and your place within the grander scheme of existence.Most visitors respect the silent nature of this space, and refrain from speaking loudly or making telephone calls while atop The Grotto. Please respect the reflective nature of this place, if you visit. While its a Catholic establishment, folks of any background can surely respect and admire the beauty of this dedication to Mother Mary and the earth which we inhabit. Dogs are not allowed in the upper gardens, so plan accordingly.During holidays, The Grotto hosts beautiful musical events that come with raving recommendations. Though please note that these events tend to be a bit expensive.

This place was so Serene and beautiful. I like the naturistic walk through a forest with caves and religious statues. Im not very religious, but walking through here definitely made me feel like I was walking on clouds. The upper level of The Grotto is a $6 fee or $35 for an annual pass. If I lived in the area I wouldnt mind coming here frequently just to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.

Probably one of the most serene places I have ever been. It is so nice to just be able to relax and enjoy nature.

A beautiful place to explore the history and enjoy the beautiful nature at the same time

Very peaceful. Good place to walk in hot days with all the tree cover. Nice grotto, chapel, and cross station stops walking path from the parking lot. Visitor center, store, and bathroom on the ground floor.Buy a token from visitor center to access elevator to upper ground. There is a building with commanding view northward with some seating place and very quiet.Upper ground also has a nice winding trail with flowers, ponds, streams, chapel and monastery. You can also find restroom facility on the upper ground.Plenty of free parking in the complex ground.Overall very peaceful and good place to cool down on a hot day.

I think I finally found peace and serenity. Beautiful walk. 8 dollar elevator ride up. Going down is free if you are up for the hike. Beautiful works of art. Chapel, gift shop, memories.

Unfortunately it was cold and raining, but still worth the experience. Its a beautiful place to visit whether you are religious or not. The woman we purchased our tokens from was humorous and informative. The grounds are lovingly maintained and I can only imagine how beautiful it is in the spring. You are given a map with a few walking options, it took about an hour? Unfortunately my hands were too wet and cold to unlock my phone, so I wasnt able to take more pictures of the actual grounds. Its very peaceful and the glass overlook is enclosed, heated and has comfortable chairs if you want to reflect on things.

Absolutely gorgeous. I am not Catholic but this place is full of beauty and a great place to visit for prayer and reflection. It also offers beautiful walks through well maintained gardens. Worth the visit and worth our $7.50 admission cost. If I lived in Portland this would be a weekly destination. I would love to sit in the Gardens and read. Maybe hang out with St. Francis.

I enjoyed going to the grotto during their lights celebration! The lights are wonderful and the walking paths were easy to follow in the dark. They also have a pretty good parking system with parking attendants. There are audios of Jesuss birth throughout the first path. The different candle and prayer stations were open for those who practice Catholicism. There also were food vendors and Christmas gift booths set up in the court yard. By far my favorite part was sitting and listening to the choirs (their is a schedule online). They also are collecting food for one of the food banks!

Very nice gardens. A nice place for prayer, meditation or walk.

This was such a beautiful and reflective place to come across in Portland. The grounds before the Grotto are beautiful and can be accessed for free, creating a pleasant walk up to the Grotto itself. If you pay a small fee in the building, you may ride the elevator up to see the rest of the grounds and sweeping views of Portland. The sclupture, art, and architecture I found to be extremely powerful and moving. The gardens accented all of this beautifully. We will definitely return here upon our next visit to Portland.

Nice place to visit and relax. The view from up top is peaceful. Wheel chair and stroller accessible.

The lights are amazing . The petting zoo is great. The kids really loved it. The choirs were also fabulous as usual. The kids also like the puppet show. Very entertaining!We saw a Mountain View choir singing and they did a fabulous job really really good! Hard to believe that it wasnt a professional choir.

Kinda worth visiting but dont expect too much.

The grotto is an interesting religious sanctuary for any religious or nonreligious folks who can go to for a peaceful walk to see the grounds beauty. There is a large parking lot offering free parking. Along the path walking to the decorated cave is lined with scripture and various religious statues. A favorite of mine was a small trickling waterfall which sounded very peaceful. To enter the grounds is free besides wanting to see vast views of the gorge and Colombia river is a small fee pay which you can ride the elevator to see this view. The decorated and candle lit cave is a beautiful view and very peaceful.

The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful mother is Amazing, quiet, glorious a must see.

So beautiful and peaceful. Even if youre not religious come here and smell fresh air. The views are scenic.

Very relaxing place. Beautiful gardens! A must visit place.

Im not Catholic or religious at all but this place was so Serene and beautiful and ethereal. Upper garden is only $12 for two people (6 bucks each) . And the view from the meditation room is spectacular. Well worth it . Will definitely be back

I loved the place ... First time going, so peaceful. I will definitely come back, I only really explored the top level. Next time I will do the bottom.. but all in all a great experience for me an a great learning experience

Beautiful time. Lights were fun to look at, the church is gorgeous. The music playing throughout and singing was delightful. Beautiful gift shop and friendly staff.

Has a nice Botanical Garden in the upper area of the Grotto. Must-visit for Christians who need some peace and quiet. I believe Non-Christians will also enjoy a visit to this place.

Pretty! Don’t forget to wear your walking shoes! LOTS of walking!! Cool place, but I’m not Catholic, so I’m probably not as into it as others.

Missing this place so much to visit again!!! Already visited many times. Very beautiful and peaceful place to pray and relax. Feeling all of peaceful moments in all beautiful gardens and nature in The Grotto is my most favorite part. And of course the amazing scenery of Portland seeing from the top. - From Vancouver BC Canada

I went to the Grotto because I saw it was a Catholic park. After following the Stations of the Cross (the path was full of cobwebs so Im guessing not very many people walk in that part of the Grotto), I walked towards the outdoor chapel. Inside the visitor center, I asked about their mass schedule and the ladies inside graciously invited me to a mass later in the evening.I attended the most beautiful mass for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. If I lived in Portland, this is where I would attend church.

What a peaceful and amazing place for reflection. The people there are welcoming and friendly. The art is amazing! I can’t wait to go back!

Simply put, this place is amazing. Definitely worth the visit.

Beautiful gardens!! Favorite was the Virgen De Guadalupe. shrine for sure.

A sanctuary in the city! If I lived here I would frequent these gardens. Beautiful, mystical...the perfect setting to quiet the mind and hear God speak through His creation. Portland, there is a treasure in your midst. 😊

This is one of the greatest gems in Portland! The Upper Gardens are incredible and absolutely worth the fee. The Grotto is my favorite place to go when I need a breath of fresh air but dont want to drive far. Definitely check it out if you have never been!

Came here on a weekend afternoon, not too many cars. Saw some people walking about but nothing too crazy. Its $8 to go up the elevator into more of the garden, a steep price if you ask me. Lots of trees and statues, nothing too special, but peaceful, quiet, and got a good view of the city.

A place of serenity and beauty, manicured grounds that blend well into forest. The shrine build into the rock edifice is lovely. You don’t have to be a Christian to appreciate the majestic tranquility.

Find yourself needing slow down, take a relaxing stroll along the peaceful paths here and find yourself very regenerated.

Pretty and secluded little outdoor spot in Portland. Pretty views from the meditation building at the top of the hill.

Amazing. Beautiful, peaceful... I have never seen anything like this place.. Very unique!

Beautiful as always! The kids really enjoyed every experience available! Cost affordable. Total win

Very peaceful and tranquil the elevator to the upper part was out so couldnt go up there to visit the lower garden was really nice.

You want to visit this piece of heaven on earth. A well kept, enlightening, amazing site.

It was beautiful just be prepared to pay 12 per adult.I really enjoyed it.it is a must see.

Wow. I can’t believe such a beautiful sanctuary exist close to the Portland airport. If you have the time, please go and enjoy walking around👏🏼

Awesome place! So much beauty and history here!

I visited during the Christmas festival of lights. I love coming every year. Its minimal and yet beautiful. The choirs are a joy to listen to and the church is stunning.

I loved this place, perfect combination of natural and spirituality. The lower level is free to access however the upper level youll have to pay to take the elevator up. There in the building built in memory of Marilyn Moyer, is the most beautiful replica of Mother Mary and Jesus. Along with the sculpture is a beautiful view of The Grotto. After visiting the rare sculpture I would walk through the houses of the saints. There are many different saints from different countries. The calming walk through nature is breath taking, strongly suggest bringing mosquito repellant! There also is a labyrinth where you would walk and follow the path and center your thoughts. Overall this spiritual area of renewal is a must for both religious and nature loving people.

Absolutely beautiful. The landscape was lush and it was a peaceful place. The shrine was remarkable carved in the rock. Members of our travel group are religious so it was a special place for them as Christians.

Its cool. Lots of stuff to look at but make sure to give yourself time to look at stuff so check the times. And look in all the building because they got cool stuff hidden.

Went back every day I was in Portland, beautiful, peaceful spiritual place

Beautiful this time of year! Wonderful gift shop! We walked the stations of the cross. Stroller friendly!

Get there early for a seat if Mass is celebrated in the chapel. Priest gave a really good homily today June 16

Beautiful place. Nice walk great views

Beautiful, calm and meditative. Love the labyrinth.

Love the serenity, grace and faith you can feel here

What a great place to go and it’s very beautiful there!

It is probably over rated place for me. Went there on Jan/31 - and after paying up hill tickets, ended up seeing nominal lights. Dont get me wrong, it is beautiful place for those who wants to go there. But I wouldnt go there after paying $12 per person. Its not worth.

Its nice but nothing to go out of your way for

Very cool historical location 7$ adult admission for the elevator ride to the top. And the view is spectacular.

So peaceful and relaxing. I could have stayed there all day.

Quite an experience! It stays true to the motto; to be a place to provide solitude, peace and where one can pray...

Oh my goodness The Grotto is a must see no matter what religion you are! It is a gorgeous location and I appreciate the thought and design that went into everything!

The Christmas lights are beautiful this time of year. Very deep spiritual vibrations fill this sacred space.

Great place to visit and meditate and pray. Visiting the gardens are definitely worth it, same with the church. I felt very much at peace during my visit here.