Complete Guide to Visiting the Grotto in Portland
Tucked away in a forested area of Northeast Portland, you’ll find the Grotto, a tranquil urban retreat perfect for escaping the bustle of the city. The gardens at the Grotto are among the most beautiful in Portland and provide a quiet space for reflection and meditation. Whether you are looking to have a peaceful day in nature or are interested in the annual Christmas Festival of Lights, here is everything you need to know about visiting the Grotto in Portland, Oregon.
Altar at the Grotto
About the Grotto
The Grotto is the site of a former quarry owned by the Union Pacific Railway, which 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 of Rocky Butte to create 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 stone altar.
The cliff at the Grotto forms a natural divide between its upper and lower levels. The Lower Level, the parking lot level, is free to visit. To reach the Upper Level, look for the towering elevator column that transports visitors between levels. There is an admission fee for the Upper Level (details below). Look for a map near the Lower Level entrance for the layout of the grounds.
The Grotto, also known as the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, 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 at the Grotto. The newest building is the Meditation Chapel on the Grotto’s Upper Level, completed in 1991.
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.
Mosaic of St. Peregrine
Know before you go
All parts of the Grotto are wheelchair accessible. Paths are paved and even with minimal grade. There is a ramp to reach the elevator for the Upper Level of the Grotto.
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.
Masks are not required in either indoor or outdoor areas of the Grotto. Visitors are encouraged to make their own decisions regarding mask-wearing.
The Grotto is a Roman Catholic ministry, although people of all faiths are welcome and encouraged to visit.
Path along the Stations of the Cross
Things to do at the Grotto - Lower Level
When you enter the Grotto, you will be on the Lower Level. This area is free to visit. Here are things you can see and 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 hiking trail makes a loop through a forest of 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.
Our Lady of Lavang Vietnamese Shrine
Things to do at the Grotto - Upper Level
The Upper Level includes the gardens and buildings on top of the Grotto’s cliff. There is an admission fee to visit this area. See below for details. Here is what you can see and do there:
Visit the Meditation Chapel. After leaving the elevator, take a left past the restrooms building and you’ll see 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 Chapel of St. Anne, a small picturesque red chapel.
Basalt cliff and altar of the Grotto
Geology of the Grotto
The Grotto sits on Rocky Butte, an extinct cinder cone that is Portland’s youngest volcano at 97,000 years old. 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 dramatic cliff of basalt over 100 feet high.
At the Grotto’s Lower Level, you will be at the base of this cliff. If you take the elevator to the Upper Level, you will reach the top of the cliff with views of Portland, the Columbia River, Washington state, and Mt. Helens to the north. 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 fir 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.
The Grotto is closed on Christmas Day.
Find today’s hours of operation here,
Entrance to the Grotto
Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto
One of the Grotto’s most popular attractions is the annual Christmas Festival of Lights which runs from the day after Thanksgiving until December 30th. The Grotto is one of the best places in Portland to see Christmas lights during this time. Visit after dark to see the hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights that adorn a quarter-mile path on the Grotto’s Lower Level. Note that there is an admission fee to visit the festival (details below).
Music is the other main attraction of the Christmas Festival of Lights. There are around 150 performances held in the Chapel of Mary during the festival, which is 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.
Chapel of Mary
Mass at the Grotto
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.
There are a variety of other ceremonies and special events that take place at the Grotto. Find a full list here.
Chapel of St. Anne
Parking
The Grotto has a large parking lot. It is free to park there. 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.
Token to access the Grotto’s Upper Level
Cost
The Lower Level of the Grotto is free to visit.
The Upper Level has an entrance fee:
Adult: $9.95
Senior (65+): $8.95
Youth (6-11): $4.95
To access the Upper Level, you can purchase admission from the Visitor Center located to the left of the Chapel of Mary. There will be a sandwich board sign outside to help find it. Once you pay the admission, 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: $50
Individual and 1 guest: $75
Family (up to 6 people): $100
There is 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.
General Admission (Ages 12+) $12-18
Youth (Ages 3-11) $5-8
Children 2 and under are free
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.
From downtown Portland, take I-84 East unit Exit 5 for 82nd Ave. Turn right on 82nd Ave. and continue for about 1.5 miles until Sandy Blvd. Turn right on Sandy Blvd and the Grotto will be about 0.2 miles down the road on the right.
From the south, take I-205 North until Exit 23B. Follow signs for Sandy Blvd. Continue on Sandy Blvd until you reach the Grotto on your left.
From the east, take I-84 West to I-205 North. From I-205, take Exit 23B and follow signs for Sandy Blvd. Continue on Sandy Blvd until you reach the Grotto on your left.
From the north, take I-205 South and exit onto Exit 23A. Follow signs for Sandy Blvd. Continue on Sandy Blvd until you reach the Grotto on your left.
The Grotto is accessible by public transit. Bus lines 12, 71, and 72 have stops nearby.
Assumption of Mary Statue and Rose Garden
Enjoy your trip to the Grotto!
With love,
Emma
Looking for more to do in and around Portland? Consider checking out these nearby activities:
Gardens of the Grotto’s Upper Level
References:
For information about the Grotto, including its history, hours, services, and points of interest, see its website here.
For geology:
Miller, Marli Bryant. Roadside Geology of Oregon. Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2014.
