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Cascade Locks
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Bonneville Lock & Dam
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Bonneville Lock & Dam

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Bonneville Lock & Dam
4.5
About
Spans the Columbia River and links Oregon and Washington.
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The area
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
10 within 5 kms
Beacon Rock Clubhouse Grill
14
3.2 km€€ - €€€
Bridgeside
564
4.2 km€€ - €€€ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Thunder Island Brewing Co
259
4.5 km€€ - €€€ • American • Brew Pub • Bar
Brigham Fish Market
91
4.4 km€€ - €€€ • Quick Bites • American • Seafood
Cascade Locks Ale House
144
4.6 km€€ - €€€ • American • Bar • Pizza
Jumpin' Jax Java
5
4.4 km€ • Cafe
Eastwind Drive-In
200
4.8 km€ • Dessert • American • Fast food
Locks of Dogs & Treats
10
4.5 km€€ - €€€ • American
Thirsty Coffee Bar
8
4.6 kmCafe
Cascade Inn
58
4.7 km€€ - €€€ • American • Bar • Pub
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Attractions
26 within 10 kms
Bonneville Hatchery
294
1.5 kmNature & Wildlife Areas
Beacon Rock
104
1.1 kmHistoric Walking Areas • Geologic Formations
Fort Cascades Historic Site
5
0.9 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
Ponytail Falls
18
1.2 kmWaterfalls
Beacon Rock State Park
67
1.9 kmState Parks
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
209
Speciality Museums
Sturgeon Viewing Pond and Interpretive Center
170
Bodies of Water • Educational sites
Wahclella Falls
57
2.7 kmWaterfalls
Washington Shore Visitor Center
5
1.9 kmBodies of Water • Dams
Multnomah Falls
63
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Scenic Drives
See all
See what travellers are saying
  • kgilbert78
    Columbus, Ohio2,698 contributions
    Very Interesting Site
    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.
    Visited May 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 19 April 2023
  • Katie Hall
    13 contributions
    Very interesting exhibits
    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.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 August 2023
  • minimize940314
    Los Angeles, California3,527 contributions
    Informative
    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.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 28 August 2023
  • Howard S
    Yardley, Pennsylvania221 contributions
    Cruise ship excursion 1
    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.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 17 September 2023
  • SoundStorm
    Munich, Germany36 contributions
    Bigfoot found & now in Munich Germany
    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?
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 October 2023
  • WDCUeberau
    Phoenix, Arizona62 contributions
    Well 'thought out' - knowledgeable friendly rangers
    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.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 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
Poor
6
Terrible
0
WDCUeberau
Phoenix, AZ62 contributions
Well 'thought out' - knowledgeable friendly rangers
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
Bigfoot found & now in Munich Germany
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
Highly informative and cool place to visit
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
Cruise ship excursion 1
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
Informative
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
Dam, Lock, and Fish Ladders
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.
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
Very interesting exhibits
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
Great Little Dam
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"
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
Worth the visit
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
Very Interesting Site
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.
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BONNEVILLE LOCK & DAM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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