Bonneville Lock & Dam
Bonneville Lock & Dam
4.5
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Spans the Columbia River and links Oregon and Washington.
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10 within 5 kms
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26 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- kgilbert78Columbus, Ohio2,698 contributionsVery Interesting SiteThis was a very interesting site. There's the dam, the turbine and electrical equipment, and a visitor's center. Inside the visitor's center, you can view the fish-ladders from underwater and see the fish swimming back up the river. It is a good place to go on a rainy day (which this was). Watching the fish swim upstream was fun.Visited May 2022Travelled as a coupleWritten 19 April 2023
- Katie Hall13 contributionsVery interesting exhibitsWe really enjoyed touring this dam and fish ladders. The exhibits were very interesting. I especially like the display on Lewis and Clark and their journey, it was also fun to see the fish trying to climb the ladder.Visited August 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 August 2023
- minimize940314Los Angeles, California3,527 contributionsInformativeHighly informative. This is my first visit to an attraction managed by us army corps of engineers. The exhibition was informative and interactive. I could not see salmons flowing through the stream due to the muddy water condition, but my visit was worth it. Expect to spend about an hour if you are interested in knowing more about history and science.Visited February 2023Travelled soloWritten 28 August 2023
- Howard SYardley, Pennsylvania221 contributionsCruise ship excursion 1This is a small but well maintained dam. Good tour especially of powerhouse. Good to see a fish ladder. Movie is old and uninteresting. Nice gift shop. Very informative staff.Visited August 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 17 September 2023
- SoundStormMunich, Germany36 contributionsBigfoot found & now in Munich GermanyA visit to the site, like others have said, is worth the effort, especially during the salmon run season. Another unexpected pleasure was to find Bigfoot in the shop store! Not the everyday run of the mill Bigfoot, but a cool Bobble Head Bigfoot. Now my Bigfoot has been seen in Munich Germany. Where has your Bigfoot been seen?Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 October 2023
- WDCUeberauPhoenix, Arizona62 contributionsWell 'thought out' - knowledgeable friendly rangersVery interesting, well thought-out explanation of hydro power dam and fish ladder facility. Movie and history of area including dam system and environmental concerns well done. The rangers on duty were friendly and enjoyed sharing their knowledge; very personable. Would recommend.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 10 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
645 reviews
Excellent
394
Very good
214
Average
31
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6
Terrible
0
WDCUeberau
Phoenix, AZ62 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Very interesting, well thought-out explanation of hydro power dam and fish ladder facility. Movie and history of area including dam system and environmental concerns well done. The rangers on duty were friendly and enjoyed sharing their knowledge; very personable. Would recommend.
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoundStorm
Munich, Germany36 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
A visit to the site, like others have said, is worth the effort, especially during the salmon run season. Another unexpected pleasure was to find Bigfoot in the shop store! Not the everyday run of the mill Bigfoot, but a cool Bobble Head Bigfoot. Now my Bigfoot has been seen in Munich Germany. Where has your Bigfoot been seen?
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James c
Oklahoma City, OK186 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
This dam and power plant was a cool stop on the river gorge drive. The best part is viewing the fish ladders, I have always wanted to see salmon spawning, there are 5 floors that have different educational info, plus a view deck of the entire area with views of dam and of course you can also see the retired machinery that was used prior to updating. There is a fish hatchery on the other side , which is run by oregon wildlife department as this place is run separately by the US army .The hatchery is where you can see tons of salmon and leap out of the water!
Written 25 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Howard S
Yardley, PA221 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
This is a small but well maintained dam. Good tour especially of powerhouse. Good to see a fish ladder. Movie is old and uninteresting. Nice gift shop. Very informative staff.
Written 17 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
minimize940314
Los Angeles, CA3,527 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
Highly informative. This is my first visit to an attraction managed by us army corps of engineers. The exhibition was informative and interactive. I could not see salmons flowing through the stream due to the muddy water condition, but my visit was worth it. Expect to spend about an hour if you are interested in knowing more about history and science.
Written 29 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SMF-Collegeville
Batesville, IN212 contributions
Jul 2023
This is a large hydroelectric dam on the Columbia River. It has interesting exhibits on electricity (especially hydroelectricity), area information (including about the Native people and Lewis and Clark), and windows into the fish ladders.
We always hear about salmon using fish ladders - but lampreys also make the same sort of migration. And we were in lamprey migration season rather than salmon migration season. I never imagined seeing so many lampreys in one place.
We always hear about salmon using fish ladders - but lampreys also make the same sort of migration. And we were in lamprey migration season rather than salmon migration season. I never imagined seeing so many lampreys in one place.
Written 19 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie Hall
13 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We really enjoyed touring this dam and fish ladders. The exhibits were very interesting. I especially like the display on Lewis and Clark and their journey, it was also fun to see the fish trying to climb the ladder.
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marriott946
London, UK666 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
We were passing so we stopped and it was well worth the stop.
An Army Engineer Corp project which achieved its objective.
The fish ladder is brilliant and we saw lots of fish via the windows and outside on the actual "ladders"
An Army Engineer Corp project which achieved its objective.
The fish ladder is brilliant and we saw lots of fish via the windows and outside on the actual "ladders"
Written 9 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mktpro99
West Palm Beach, FL1,290 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
This is a very interesting place. There is a small exhibit as well as several views is the dam. Prior to the dam there is a large fish hatchery. Go check out the large trout and salmon towards the back.
Written 17 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kgilbert78
Columbus, OH2,698 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
This was a very interesting site. There's the dam, the turbine and electrical equipment, and a visitor's center. Inside the visitor's center, you can view the fish-ladders from underwater and see the fish swimming back up the river. It is a good place to go on a rainy day (which this was). Watching the fish swim upstream was fun.
Written 19 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
schmutaki
new jersey3,633 contributions
Which visitor center is preferable the Washington one or the Oregon one?
jbinwa
Woodland WA63 contributions
As a Washington resident it pains me to say Oregon has anything better than Washington, but I prefer the Oregon side because there is a wider variety of things to see (fish ponds with giant sturgeon and salmon just across the glass and at eye level, the boat locks, mature shade trees and a nicer area, a better gift shop, hatchery etc.) Washington side is better only when salmon are migrating and you can go down to glass fronted viewing area and see them swimming up the fish ladder.
schmutaki
new jersey3,633 contributions
Which visitor center is preferable the Washington one or the Oregon one?
MandL
Nevada242 contributions
We went to the Oregon visitor center, but it sounded like there was more opportunity at the Washington one. We were told you could tour on the Washington side. It is also newer. We drove back to Portland airport by way of Washington side and it was a beautiful drive.
roxirascal
North Bonneville, WA
Who is the current park ranger. For 2016. Thankyou
ThomasTCat
St. Louis, MO772 contributions
The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers operates and maintains the Bonneville Lock and Dam. The phone number for further information is 541-374-8442.
ger w
Welshpool, UK389 contributions
Hi
We are coming over to Oregon from the UK this fall.probably late August or September,which of these months would be the best for seeing the salmon move? We love your country and its people and have visited many times,looking forward to visiting again.
Ger 78910
amcord
Yacolt, WA42 contributions
Bonneville Dam has a fish count that is available online. This will help you keep track. I can't put the link here, but you can find it in the "Columbian" newspaper from Vancouver, WA.
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Claim your listingBONNEVILLE LOCK & DAM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Bonneville Lock & Dam
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Bonneville Lock & Dam:
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- Private Portland Waterfall Air Tour for Three (From €376.85)
- Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Air Tour from Portland (From €187.95)
- Amazing Columbia River Gorge and Portland Air Tour (From €272.95)
- Hotels near Bonneville Lock & Dam:
- (4.25 km) Best Western Plus Columbia River Inn
- (13.55 km) Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins
- (1.26 km) Eagle Creek Campground
- (7.23 km) Wilder & Pine Riverside Cabins
- (5.78 km) Skamania Lodge
- Restaurants near Bonneville Lock & Dam:
- (7.43 km) Big River Grill
- (4.21 km) Bridgeside
- (4.46 km) Thunder Island Brewing Co
- (13.60 km) Backwoods Brewing Company
- (4.40 km) Brigham Fish Market
- Attractions near Bonneville Lock & Dam:
- (1.46 km) Bonneville Hatchery
- (1.06 km) Beacon Rock
- (5.77 km) Skamania Lodge Zip Line Tour
- (0.90 km) Fort Cascades Historic Site
- (1.15 km) Ponytail Falls