Finding it, alone, was providential. Visiting the Grotto of the Sorrowful Mother was one of the most spiritually enriching pilgrimages I have ever lived. Highly recommend it. A perfect place to meditate on the perfection of God’s creation.

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

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.

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.

As a non religious person, I can honestly say, The Grotto is the most serene, beautiful escape for a busy mind. I visit several times per year, and always leave with a peaceful joy in my soul. Highly recommended for anyone needing a moment of quiet in this chaotic world

A wonderful place to meditate and contemplate life. I spent a half hour with the bronze replica of Michelangelos Pieta, before taking a slow stroll through the gardens and stations.

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

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.

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.

Love it beautiful peaceful place. Great for a walk and scenery pictures, and of course if you are Catholic a very spiritual 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.

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.

Very quiet peaceful surreal if you just want to go and collect your thoughts this is the place

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 am always impressed with how well they keep the grounds and how reverent visitors are to this place of peace.

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

One of the most serene locations I have experienced. Sacred ground. Exquisitely keep grounds. Prayerful and peaceful.

Never seen an outdoor church before. Very very interesting

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

So beautiful. When I walked into the church, I felt at peace.

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!

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

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

Thank you for a wonderful experience at the Grotto. The Upper Garden was really a blessing seeing those sculptures and the way how youve made the layout. Truly one check from my bucket list!

The National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful mother is Amazing, quiet, glorious 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

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.

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.

Beautiful place. You dont have to be religious to enjoy all of its beauty.

One of my top 5 favorite places in Portland. Such an amazing space to bring all different types of people to, and they will all be impressed and awed. As a newer Portland resident its really fantastic to come and check out such gorgeous sights and landscaping. I always recommend The Grotto to folks and I cant wait to check it out during the holiday season.

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.

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.

It is amazing. It shows different cultures all following the same religion and showcases some of their best work informs a statues shrines and little pieces here and there. The grotto is a collective immerses the sense of a Catholic history and religious circa holiness all placed into one area.

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

Such a beautiful place! I love going here for the Sunday masses held outside. It feels peaceful & just uplifting. Looks even more beautiful during Christmas!!

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.

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 have volunteered here. I love the sacred grounds of the Grotto.

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.

Beautiful place. Nice walk great views

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Love the serenity, grace and faith you can feel here

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.

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

Kinda worth visiting but dont expect too much.

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!

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.

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

Even if youre not Catholic, the grounds is a must see to experience the nature and landscape design of the Grotto and surrounding paths. It is very peaceful, quiet, and serene to walk through the paths and it is recommended to visit to reflect on yourself and life.

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.

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

Very nice peaceful and beautiful, light were amazing.

Nice quiet stroll through gardens of shrines and statues.

Sweet, peaceful spot. Sadly the upper gardens were closed but they are a must if youre in the area!

Reflective property to wander around. Peaceful. Most of the grounds are free to explore. Donations welcome. There is a garden you can access via an elevator that you need to pay for. Nice oasis in the middle of Portland.

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.

Beautiful place! Came for the scenery and was not disappointed. Ended up staying for mass even though not Catholic...such an awesome priest and message

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

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.

Beautiful place with a lot to see.

We have been here a few times and always found it a fun/entertaining place to go. In winter it is Xmas lights which are absolutely beautiful, hard to beat even for the price. In the spring time the gardens are absolutely beautiful and fun to walk around in. The parking is pretty plentiful. You could probably spend a few hours walking around but ~1 hour at least does it service.

Such a beautiful stroll to take.

Awesome place! So much beauty and history here!

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!

Im not religious, but this was a very beautiful place to visit. Its not a big place but its also free and theres a little cute gift shop too.

Its not a large area. You can see many stuff about Christian. If you are a Christian, youll like here.

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

Absolute amazing place. So beautiful. Especially if you are looking for a place to meditate or just a peacfull place.

I was feeling a bit stingy when confronted with the entrance fee for the upper level, having little idea what was up there or how long I might spend viewing. But it was worth it--and the money undoubtedly goes to a good cause (if only in preserving this historic slice of PDX greenery). Beautiful and interesting place to go on a date.

Its nice but nothing to go out of your way for

Beautiful, calm and meditative. Love the labyrinth.

Nice way to spend a little time.

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

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

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

Great experience. Peaceful

What a wonderful and peaceful day. Began with outdoor Mass, weather was lovely. Walked around in the shady downstairs portion which has a stations of the cross with places for reflection. The gift shop was tasteful and not overwhelming. Would like to return and visit the upstairs garden.

Went to church mass on holy week holiday, didnt had the chance to go up to see the garden due to rain. Will be back in the summer

It’s incredibly beautiful very peaceful and even though it has a Christian leaning it feels very welcoming

One of my favorite places in the world. Amazing and well kept garden, awesome location, beautiful church.

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.