How to spend 48 hours in Vancouver, Washington

Two women standing on a riverbank overlooking the East Fork Lewis River. There is a stone bridge (Moulton Falls Bridge) in the background. This waterfall is located near Vancouver, Washington.

If you love short hikes to stunning waterfalls, amazing food, and epic wildlife viewing, then you’re going to LOVE Vancouver, Washington! Located just 5 minutes north of Portland and three hours south of Seattle, this majorly underrated destination in the Pacific Northwest is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway that includes urban adventures, delicious food, and lots of time spent in nature.

If you’re looking for the perfect weekend getaway then read below for how we spent 48 hours in Vancouver, Washington!

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48 hour Vancouver Washington itinerary

DAY 1: waterfalls, wildlife, and the best pizza I’ve ever had

Chasing Waterfalls

Start your morning off by hiking to three beautiful waterfalls! Moulton Falls, Yacolt Falls, and Lucia Falls are all accessible by short hikes, and each waterfall offers unique and rewarding views. All of these waterfalls are within a very short driving distance of one another, and are all located about 35 minutes north of Vancouver, Washington.

Start by visiting Lucia Falls, which is located just 35 minutes north east of Vancouver. This waterfall has ample free parking at the trailhead, and the hike to these falls is less than a quarter mile along gently sloping grass, making this a great activity for a variety of skill levels. When the river is flowing hard you can feel the Lucia Falls’ mist swirling in the air, so make sure to pack a rain jacket (we love this REI rain jacket for women and men)!

A woman in a bright yellow jacket hiking along a river bank next to a waterfall along the East Fork Lewis River in Vancouver, Washington. — Amiana hiking along the rocks in front of Lucia Falls. The rocks can be wet and slippery from the waterfall mist, so please be cautious!

Next, drive five minutes down the road to Moulton Falls and Yacolt Falls. These waterfalls are located along the same trail, which parallels the beautiful East Fork Lewis River. The hike is 0.9 miles roundtrip with a 127 foot elevation gain, making it a bit more strenuous than Lucia Falls. Make sure to get a picture at the famous Moulton Falls Bridge!

Some of the rocks are slippery, so we recommend wearing waterproof hiking boots with good traction. If you’re in the market we highly recommend the Lowa Renegade (mens and womens), which we’ve worn for the last two years!

Wildlife viewing at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

After chasing waterfalls, head over to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge for amazing wildlife viewing. Located 20 minutes north of downtown Vancouver, Washington, the refuge is a massive marsh ecosystem that was established in 1965 to provide wintering habitat for dozens of bird species.

At the refuge you can do a fun 4-mile auto tour that takes you around the marsh. Make sure to drive slowly and keep an eye out for animals in the marsh next to you (bring binoculars!). We saw tons of birds, beaver, and a muskrat! This is a fantastic family activity, and you can download a free audio tour for your visit.

Gear tip: We recommend bringing a zoom lens for photography, as well as some binoculars! We love the Nikon Trailblazer binoculars, which are small, lightweight, and waterproof.

Amazing pizza and pints at Crust Collective

After a day exploring, head back to downtown Vancouver, Washington for dinner at the Crust Collective! They honestly have the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life, and they also have a delicious rotating smoothie-style tart ale (the “Fluorescent Farm”) that changes regularly.

Crust Collective looks over the newly renovated Vancouver Waterfront, so you’ll enjoy great views while you dine! We shared a salad and their Greektown pizza, which was covered in local veggies and fresh dill. They also brew all of their own beer at their sister brewery in Portland, Oregon.

A square pizza from Crust Collective covered in fresh vegetables. Behind the pizza is a pint of beer. This pizza shop and brewery is located near Vancouver, Washington. — The ‘Greektown’ pizza at Crust Collective

A great blue heron standing in a field of green grass at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge near Vancouver, Washington. — The ‘Greektown’ pizza at Crust Collective

DAY 2: Brunch, hiking around an extinct volcano, and exploring downtown Vancouver

Brunch at Cecilia

This picture shows two brunch entrees at Cecilia. The entrée in the foreground shows a giant stack of French toast with whipped cream on top. The Second entrée in the background shows eggs benedict with potatoes. There is also a glass of oink grapefruit juice in the background. Located near Vancouver, Washington. — The tres leches French toast, eggs Benedict, and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice at Cecilia.

Start off your second day in Vancouver with an amazing brunch at Cecilia! Cecilia opened their doors in 2023, and they are absolutely rocking the brunch scene in Vancouver. Their tres leches French toast was a highlight of our meal, and their dining space is bright and beautiful.

Hike at Battle Ground Lake

Next, head to Battle Ground Lake State Park! Located about 30 minutes north of downtown Vancouver, Battle Ground Lake is actually an extinct volcano that erupted over 100,000 years ago. Over time, the volcanic crater filled with water creating the lake that is there today.

We recommend hiking the Battle Ground Lake Loop Trail, which is 2.6 miles round trip with a 337 foot elevation gain and takes you around the perimeter of the lake. The lower path offers sweeping views of the lake throughout your hike, and takes you through a classic Pacific Northwest forest. This is also a great destination if you enjoy fishing, and they have a fantastic campground open year-round!

Note that you’ll need to pay a $10 day fee, or get a $30 annual Washington State Parks Discover Pass.

A woman in a teal rain jacket hiking along a hiking trail next to a lake. Green moss covers the surrounding trees. This hike is located near Vancouver, Washington. — Amiana hiking at Battleground Lake State Park.

Explore Downtown Vancouver

After hiking, head back into downtown Vancouver to look for their dozens of murals! Most of these murals were painted by local artists, and some of them are absolutely massive! We used this map as a guide for our walking tour looking for some of the 26+ murals scattered around town.

Next, check out the vibrant Vancouver Waterfront. Renovated in 2018, the Vancouver Waterfront overlooks the massive Columbia River and winds its way through the beautiful 7.3-acre Vancouver Waterfront Park. There are plenty of places to sit and take in the view of the ships passing by on the Columbia River, and there are also lots of local shops and dining options. I recommend stopping by the massive “Grand Street Pier,” which is an architectural masterpiece jutting 90 feet out over the Columbia River – this focal point of the waterfront park is truly a sight to behold!

A woman in a yellow jacket standing on the Vancouver Waterfront overlooking the Columbia River. There is a green bridge in the background. In true Pacific Northwest fashion, the sky is cloudy. This is located near Vancouver, Washington. — Amiana taking in the views along Vancouver’s downtown waterfront park.

Dinner at Slow fox Chili

After a long day of exploring it’s time for dinner! We recommend grabbing dinner at Slow Fox Chili which, as you can probably guess from the name, specializes in delicious homemade chili. They have great options for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike, and their cornbread is seriously delicious.

Have extra time in town? Check out these other stops!

If you have extra time in town we recommend adding these locations to your itinerary!

Hike at Beacon Rock – Located in the Columbia River Gorge, the 1.5 mile hike climbs 574 feet up a massive volcanic rock. The views of the Gorge at the top of Beacon Rock are outstanding!
Check out Fort Vancouver National Historic Site – Located in downtown Vancouver, and managed by the National Parks Service, Fort Vancouver is a wonderful place to visit to learn more about the area’s history (both indigenous and colonial).

Have you been to Vancouver? If you’re local, what “must see” attractions did we miss?

Click here to check out the Instagram reel we made of our time in Vancouver!

Looking for more Pacific Northwest travel inspiration? Click here!

How to spend 48 hours in Vancouver, Washington

48 hour Vancouver Washington itinerary