Visiting the Grotto in Portland, OR
Start at the base of an extinct volcano. Look for the stone altar in the manmade cave beneath a sheer cliff. That’s our destination, at least to start. We’ll be taking the elevator up the cliff in a moment. Tucked away in a forested corner of Northeast Portland, the Grotto is a place you can’t fully appreciate until you’re there. At once a place of worship and a tranquil botanical garden that welcomes people of all faiths, it doesn’t fall neatly into a single category. I’d say there’s something for everyone here. It just might not be the same thing. Whether you’re looking to have a peaceful day in nature, light a prayer candle, or see the annual Christmas Festival of Lights, here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Grotto.
Assumption of Mary Statue and Rose Garden in the Upper Level
Know before you go
Visiting the Lower Level of the Grotto is free. The Upper Level charges admission.
The Grotto has a free parking lot.
All parts of the Grotto are wheelchair accessible. Paths are paved and even with minimal grade. You can check out a wheelchair for free from the gift shop.
If you see everything on both levels, the total amount of walking is about one mile.
Leashed dogs are welcome in the outside areas of the Lower Level but not in indoor areas or the gardens of the Upper Level. Service dogs are allowed everywhere.
Look for restrooms in the Visitor Center and the gift shop on the Lower Level, and in a small building near the elevator on the Upper Level.
The Grotto is a Roman Catholic ministry. People of all faiths are welcome and encouraged to visit.
The Grotto combines nature and religious art
About the Grotto
The Grotto, also known as the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, was once a quarry. Union Pacific Railway used the land around Portland’s Rocky Butte to obtain rocks for railroad beds. When the land went up for sale, Father Ambrose Mayer, a Servite priest, purchased it to create a site of religious worship. In 1923, workmen carved out a recess in the basalt cliff on the side of Rocky Butte to form the Grotto and house its stone altar. The first Mass was held at the site in 1924. A replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà now sits on top of the altar.
Altar at the Grotto
The cliff at the Grotto forms a natural divide between its upper and lower levels. Look for a map near the Lower Level entrance for the layout of the grounds. The Grotto has grown throughout the years, adding buildings, statues, and gardens. The Chapel of Mary was added in 1955 and now provides space for indoor Masses and ceremonies. The newest building is the Meditation Chapel on the Grotto’s Upper Level, completed in 1991.
The Meditation Chapel
Today, the Grotto sees around 350,000 visitors a year. Some come as part of a religious pilgrimage or to attend a worship service. Many others come simply to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the grounds.
Lower Level
Path along the Stations of the Cross
You’ll enter the Grotto on the Lower Level. This area is free. Here’s what to do there:
See the centerpiece of the Grotto, a stone altar within a cave at the base of a basalt cliff.
Go for a walk in the woods along the Stations of the Cross trail. A short, paved trail makes a loop through a forest of Doug firs and alders. Along the way, bronze plaques set in stone frames depict the story of the crucifixion.
Visit the gift shop. There are products like religious books, decorations, and games. The gift shop also has a drop-off for food donations.
Look for the religious art of the Grotto, like the statue of St. Philip next to the Grotto’s small waterfall and the mosaic of St. Peregrine.
See the Chapel of Mary.
Upper Level
Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Shrine
The Upper Level includes the gardens and buildings on top of the Grotto’s cliff. This area has an admission fee. Here is what you can see and do there:
Visit the Meditation Chapel. This contemporary building has a wall of glass that overlooks parts of Portland, the Columbia River, and Washington State. You can see Mt. Saint Helens on a clear day. Take a moment to enjoy the view in one of the comfy armchairs.
Stroll around the Peace Gardens. Paths lined with trees and flowers meander around a couple of small ponds. According to an informational recording I heard in the elevator, the grounds of the Grotto contain over 2,300 plant species.
Walk the Grotto Labyrinth, modeled after the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France.
See the shrines representing international Catholic traditions.
Visit the small and picturesque Chapel of St. Anne.
Chapel of St Anne
Geology of the Grotto
The Grotto sits on Rocky Butte, an extinct cinder cone. At 97,000 years old, it’s Portland’s youngest volcano. Rocky Butte is part of the Boring Volcanics, a group of small shield volcanoes in and around Portland. The Grotto’s altar is carved into a basalt cliff over 100 feet high. The Grotto’s Lower Level is at the base of this cliff. If you take the elevator to the Upper Level, you will reach the top of the cliff, along with views of Portland, the Columbia River, Washington state, and Mt. Helens. The meditation chapel in the Grotto’s upper garden is the best place in the park for views.
Giant trees in the Grotto
When to visit
In spring, look for early-blooming flowers and bushes like daphne, daffodils, camellia, and forsythia.
Summer is the best time to time to see the most flowers in bloom, as well as the many rhododendron bushes. Look for roses, lilies, irises, lilacs, and foxgloves. Summer also tends to have the nicest weather with the least chance of rain. Trees provide good shade on the walking paths on hot days.
Fall has fewer flowers but does have some lovely changing leaves. Maple trees help keep the garden colorful into November.
Winter at the Grotto stays pretty green thanks to the large, mature trees along the paths. In late November and December, the Grotto hosts the Christmas Festival of Lights (more on that below). Dress warmly in winter and prepare for possible rain.
Hours vary based on the season but generally run from 9 AM until sunset. The Christmas Festival of Lights is held after dark from 5 PM (Nov. 25 – Dec. 16) or 4:30 PM (Dec. 17 – Dec. 30) until 9:30 PM. Find today’s hours of operation here.
The Grotto is closed on Christmas Day.
Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto
One of the Grotto’s most popular times to visit is during the annual Christmas Festival of Lights. It runs from the day after Thanksgiving until December 30th. The light displays are some of the best in Portland. Visit after dark to see the hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights that adorn a quarter-mile path on the Grotto’s Lower Level. Unlike most of the year, there’s an admission fee to visit the festival (details below).
Music is the other main attraction of the Christmas Festival of Lights. It includes around 150 performances in the Chapel of Mary, known for its great acoustics. Look for a variety of other family-friendly activities like caroling, puppet shows, and a petting zoo.
People of all faiths are welcome at the Christmas Festival of Lights.
Mass at the Grotto
Chapel of Mary
The Grotto holds a daily Mass in the Chapel of Mary at noon from Monday - Saturday.
Sunday Mass is held at 8 AM, 10 AM, and 12 PM. The second two are held outside in the Grotto Plaza in warmer months when weather permits. Otherwise, they take place in the Chapel of Mary.
A variety of other ceremonies and special events take place at the Grotto. Find a full list here.
Chapel of St. Anne
Parking
The Grotto has a large parking lot. It’s free. During busy times like the Christmas Festival of Lights, the parking lot can fill up, in which case you may need to take the free shuttle from the Parkrose/Sumner Park & Ride lot on Sandy Blvd. A parking attendant will direct you on how to catch the shuttle if needed.
Cost
Token to access the Grotto’s Upper Level
The Lower Level of the Grotto is free to visit.
The Upper Level has an entrance fee:
Adult: $10.95
Senior (65+): $9.95
Youth (6-11): $5.95
To access the Upper Level, you can purchase admission from the Visitor Center located to the left of the Chapel of Mary. Look for the sandwich board sign outside to help find it. Once you pay the admission fee, you’ll be given a token to access the elevator that will bring you to the Upper Level. Insert the token into the coin slot by the turnstile to enter. To exit, take the elevator back down and go back through the turnstile. You won’t need a coin to exit.
You can purchase an annual pass for the Upper Level:
Individual: $60
Individual and 1 guest: $85
Family (up to 6 people): $110
There’s an entrance fee for the Christmas Festival of Lights, which varies based on the day and whether you purchase tickets in advance. Weekdays earlier in the season are cheaper than weekends and dates closer to Christmas. Think in the ballpark of around $15/adult.
Find details about pricing and reserve tickets here.
Prayer candles at the Grotto
Getting there
Address: 8840 NE Skidmore St, Portland, OR 97220
The Grotto is located right off Sandy Blvd in Northeast Portland.
The Grotto is accessible by public transit. Bus lines 12, 71, and 72 have stops nearby.
Enjoy your trip to the Grotto!
With love,
Emma
Mosaic of St. Peregrine
More info
For information about the Grotto, including its history, hours, services, and points of interest, see its website here.
Explore nearby
Visit the Portland Japanese Garden.
