Bonneville Lock & Dam
Bonneville Lock & Dam
4.5
About
Spans the Columbia River and links Oregon and Washington.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Bonneville Lock & Dam
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
Attractions
26 within 10 kms
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
635 reviews
Excellent
388
Very good
210
Average
31
Poor
6
Terrible
0
desertduo
Portland, OR92 contributions
Sep 2022
We visited the Bonneville Lock & Dam on the Washington side. It is self-guided with a theater that runs a video explaining a lot of how the area was formed. The turbine viewing room was awesome to see. They have lots of informational stations explaining things all along the way. The fish ladders are amazing, but the fish viewing room was fabulous! There were so many fish swimming through, it was hard to keep track of what types of fish each of them were! They have information cards to help identify the fish. It is a must-see place. Great place for kids! The grounds are beautiful and the staff are friendly and helpful.
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Richard E
Coos Bay, OR350 contributions
Aug 2022
Lots of water going through this Dam. The Visitor Center is very nice, and viewing from different levels via elevator.
The views are really impressive.
The views are really impressive.
Written 29 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TheLongLongTrailer
Hartsburg, MO591 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
It’s a ways I’m off the highway to the visitor center. Be sure to go down to the first floor to see the fish in the fish ladders! The hatchery area is beautifully done with ponds holding enormous trout and sturgeon. Cute gift shop. Army corps of engineers run site.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mark S
2 contributions
Jul 2022
A very impressive structure and interesting exhibits. And it is free! I was lucky enough to actually see a barge as it traveled through the locks.
A don't miss.
A don't miss.
Written 25 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
sumel2016
Kingston-upon-Hull, UK63 contributions
Jul 2022
The fish ladders are really interesting and the windows where you can see the fish go by are incredible. The gentleman who took us on the tour was very interesting and made our visit even better. The mural that must be 80 feet long was painted by a member of stafff during lockdown and is a work of art. Try and spot Bigfoot!
Well worth a visit and Free too
Well worth a visit and Free too
Written 23 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
maryarenas2022
3 contributions
Jun 2022
Another highlight of our trip was visiting the Bonneville Lock & Dam. Definitely worth the stop and checking this place out. Ended up staying a little over an hour, longer than expected but worth it.
Written 8 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ross201024
Millersville, MD67 contributions
Jun 2022
A great stop to view Fish Ladders with Salmon swimming up river. The Visitor Center was closed but Gate Officer allowed us in and we were able to walk the grounds and visit the Fish Hatchery with sturgeon and trout.
Written 23 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jobkwrm
Elgin, IL26 contributions
Jun 2022
We hadn't planned to visit this spot but saw the sign and decided to stop. The man at the info desk was very welcoming, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He gave us a lot of good information before we took a self-guided tour. We have enjoyed visiting other locks and dams, but this one is different because of the fish hatchery. The fish viewing area and fish ladder were great. So glad we visited.
Written 18 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BritKansas
Leavenworth, KS284 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
This was a hidden stop for us, we saw a sign for it & were curious about what it was, so we decided to stop. We are glad that we did. There was information about the dam, & locks, & how the fish migrate. There are viewing areas so that you can watch the fish. Overall it was a very informative stop, and I would highly suggest it.
Written 7 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
modernlizbennet
Raleigh, NC551 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
First of all, who puts a visitor center behind a security checkpoint? Moving on… I came for the fish ladder, I stayed for the tour of a power plant. Everything was fascinating, and the views are incredible. Best of all, it’s free!
Written 10 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
schmutaki
new jersey3,629 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 jersey3,629 contributions
Which visitor center is preferable the Washington one or the Oregon one?
MandL
Santa Barbara, CA242 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, MO713 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.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Bonneville Lock & Dam | Cascade Locks | UPDATED January 2023 Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Bonneville Lock & Dam
- We recommend booking Bonneville Lock & Dam tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 11 Bonneville Lock & Dam tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Bonneville Lock & Dam:
- Full-Day Mt Hood Waterfall Tour with Lunch and Wine Tasting (From €159.18)
- Multnomah Falls & Columbia River Gorge Tour with Gray Line (From €66.48)
- The Hood-Columbia Loop: Timberline, Orchards, and Waterfalls (From €121.73)
- Private 40-minute Waterfall Air Tour for Three (From €336.15)
- Columbia River Gorge Waterfalls Air Tour (From €162.93)
- 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
- (5.78 km) Skamania Lodge
- (5.75 km) Cascade Motel
- Restaurants near Bonneville Lock & Dam:
- (4.46 km) Thunder Island Brewing Co
- (4.21 km) Bridgeside
- (7.43 km) Big River Grill
- (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