US Army Corps of Engineers ®

News Release

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects on the Columbia River have opened their recreation facilities for the summer season; all will remain open until Labor Day.

Corps projects on the Columbia River at Bonneville, The Dalles and John Day dams all have popular recreation areas heavily used for boating, water skiing, boardsailing and fishing. Campsites are available near all the projects.

The Corps reminds visitors to wear their life jackets and exercise caution in and around the water. River levels are higher and reservoir and river water is very cold.

For information on boat ramp water elevations, visit: http://www.nwd-wc.usace.army.mil/nwp/graphics/willproj.html.

For information and tips on water safety, visit: http://www.boatoregon.com/.

The Columbia River, from Bonneville Lock and Dam eastward, is part of the 367-mile Northwest Discovery Water Trail that extends up the Snake River to Orofino, Idaho, on the Clearwater River.

Recreational boaters can find excellent information for trip planning at http://www.ndwt.org/ndwt/

Columbia River Recreation Opportunities

Bonneville Lock and Dam

Bonneville Lock and Dam is a National Historic Landmark located 40 miles east of Portland, at Milepost 40 off Interstate 84. It is consistently among Oregon's top tourist attractions.

Two visitor centers, one in Oregon on Bradford Island and one in Washington adjacent to the second powerhouse, are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Bradford Island Visitor Center is spread over four levels. Elevators are available for visitors. Historic displays and a store featuring books, videos, posters and maps are located on the main level. The upper floor affords an excellent view of the spillway, original powerhouse and surrounding mountains of the Columbia River Gorge. Theaters on the third floor play video presentations describing the dam's history and construction, salmon lifecycle and history, and a variety of other related subjects. For more information and program schedules, visit the Bonneville Web page at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b.

Viewing windows on the bottom floor of the visitor center provide a fish-eye view of salmon and other fish migrating up a fish ladder. The best time of the year to view these migrating fish is from April through October. Many of the same features are available on the Washington side of the project, including fish viewing windows and displays. Guided group tours of the power house are available by appointment.

The Washington Shore Visitor Complex is located along Washington State Highway 14 and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about visitor facilities and tours on either the Oregon or Washington shore, contact Bonneville Lock and Dam visitor information at (541) 374-8820. The Bridge of the Gods, a toll bridge four miles upstream from Bonneville Dam at Cascade Locks, Ore., provides easy access between the Oregon and Washington visitor areas.

While in the area, be sure to visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon hatchery on the project grounds. Display ponds of rainbow trout and large white sturgeon, juvenile salmon fish runs and Herman the 10-foot sturgeon can be viewed daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. These hours may be extended during the summer months. Contact the Bonneville Fish Hatchery at (541) 374-8393 for current hours.

There are fishing areas on both sides of the river downstream from Bonneville Dam. On the Oregon side, Bradford and Robins islands and Tanner Creek are open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the year.

On the Washington side, the Hamilton Island, Fort Cascades and North Shore day-use areas are open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., March 1 through Oct. 31 and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 1 through the end of February. The Hamilton Island boat ramp is open 24 hours to provide river access for boaters, however overnight camping and parking are prohibited. Cascades Island remains closed. For additional information call (541) 374-8344.

Boaters are reminded of the Boat Restricted Zone below the dam. The downstream boundary of the BRZ begins at the westernmost tip of Robins Island and extends across the river to the area immediately upstream of the Hamilton Island boat ramp. No boats are allowed in the area upstream of these two points due to public safety concerns.

There are no campsites at Bonneville Dam. Nearby campsites at Bonneville Dam are not operated by the Corps of Engineers.

The Dalles Lock and Dam

The Corps operates several parks along Lake Celilo, the Columbia River reservoir impounded by The Dalles Dam.

On the Washington shore adjacent to the dam, visitors can picnic at Hess Park, or primitive camp and fish for trout at Spearfish Park. Columbia Hills State Park offers camping, boating, trout fishing and swimming. The park also includes Horsethief Park, which has petroglyph viewing by appointment. To make an appointment, call (509) 767-1159.

Maryhill State Park offers modern campground facilities including group camping. It also attracts windsurfers, boaters and swimmers. Call (509) 773-5007 for more information.

Avery Park, The Wall, and Cliffs are less-developed sites that offer primitive camping, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and world-class windsurfing. Call (541) 506-7819 for more information.

On the Oregon shore, The Dalles Dam Visitor Center and Seufert Park are open May through September every day from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m, where visitors can find information about The Dalles Dam and the benefits and impacts related to its construction. The visitor center is staffed by both Corps of Engineers and Northern Wasco County Park and Recreation Department employees. Seufert Park was the site of a millennia-old traditional fishery and was also at the heart of the salmon industry in The Dalles area from 1884 to 1954.

Celilo Park is located about eight miles upstream from The Dalles Dam at Exit 97 off Interstate 84. This is a popular windsurfing, camping and picnic area with facilities that include a parking area, lawn, picnic facilities, boat ramp and flush restrooms.

Nearby Deschutes River State Park has a campground, boat launching facilities, hiking and excellent steelhead fishing. Call (541) 739-2322 for more information.

Rufus Landing is a very popular, less developed site that offers primitive camping, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing and world-class windsurfing. Call (541) 506-7819 for more information.

John Day Lock and Dam

There are several campgrounds and day-use areas located along Lake Umatilla, above the John Day Dam. World-class walleye, sturgeon, salmon, steelhead, catfish, large and small mouth bass and shad fishing is a main attraction in this area.

In Washington, Railroad Island, Rock Creek, Sundale, and Roosevelt parks offer boat ramps, fishing access and vault or chemical restrooms. Roosevelt Park also is a popular windsurfing destination and has picnic tables, drinking water and flush restrooms. A park host is generally available to assist visitors.

Plymouth Park is located near the I-82 Bridge and is accessible from Washington State Route 14. There are 32 paved campsites located in the sheltered campground with water, sewer and electrical hookups available. The fee is $12 per night for tent camping without hookups, $18 per night for water and electrical hookups and $20 for full hookups. The campground opens April 1 and will remain open through Oct. 31. For more information, please call (541) 506-7819. Reservations can be made online at http://www.recreation.gov or by calling by calling toll-free (877) 444-6777. A limited number of sites are available at each campground and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

A day-use facility at Plymouth Park, located one-quarter mile west of the campground, includes a protected swim beach, courtesy dock, restrooms and a picnic area with shelter. The beach is open May 1 through Sept. 30. A boat ramp is available for use year-round for a $3 user fee.

Some sites are managed as shared-use sites and may be closed during certain tribal fishing seasons. These sites include the east end of Avery Park, Sundale Park, the East launch ramp at Railroad Island Park and the North launch ramp at LePage Park. Please note there are several other parks managed by local municipal governments not mentioned here.

For more information on these parks, contact The Dalles - John Day - Willow Creek Natural Resource Management Office at (541) 506-7819, or visit http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/d/home.asp.

On the Oregon shore, Giles French Park is located just downstream of John Day Dam. Vehicle access at Exit 109 off Interstate 84 will lead into this two-mile-long riverside park. Popular activities include fishing, picnicking, primitive camping and boating. The level terrain extending the length of the park provides a leisurely hiking and biking pathway.

LePage Park is located at the confluence of the John Day and Columbia rivers at Exit 114 eastbound off Interstate 84. Rated by Reserve America in 2006 as one of America's top 100 campgrounds and in 2007 as one of America's top 25 fishing spots, LePage Park has a lot to offer. The park offers a campground with 22 paved sites, 20 tent sites, a day-use area and a swim beach. RV camping with water and electric hookups provide pull-through/waterfront sites at $18 per night, or back-in sites at $17 per night; tent camping without hookups is $12. Restrooms, a sanitary dump station, and a fish cleaning station are available. Fee collection by a gate attendant occurs from April 1 to Nov. 25. For detailed information, call (541) 506-7819. Reservations can be made online at http://www.recreation.gov or by calling toll-free (877) 444-6777.

Phillipi Park, accessible only by boat, offers a unique camping opportunity and is located along the east bank of the John Day River, three miles upriver from LePage Park. Phillipi Park is open April 1 through Oct. 15. Park facilities include an excellent docking facilities, flush restroom and showers. There is a $3 boat launch fee per day when launching to access Philippi Park from LePage Park.

Three-Mile Canyon at Exit 117 off Interstate 84 has a boat ramp, fishing access and a vault restroom. Campers are encouraged to bring self-contained cooking devices since open fires are prohibited. Boaters are advised to use caution and always wear their life jackets.

Willow Creek Lake

Willow Creek Lake is a flood damage reduction project designed to protect the town of Heppner, in northeastern Oregon. In 1903, Heppner experienced one of the most devastating floods in the history of the United States. The dam was constructed to prevent a recurrence of a similar disaster. The Willow Creek Park District manages a public boat ramp at the lake. The campground is open year-round, and has 16 sites with water and electricity and eight sites with full hookups. For more information, call the Willow Creek Park District at (541) 676-9618.

Mount St. Helens Sediment Retention Structure

Built and operated by the Corps, the Sediment Retention Structure controls the sediment flow on the North Fork of the Toutle River. It allows the billions of cubic yards of sediment resulting from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens to drop behind the structure and thus not settle downstream where it could cause flooding and impede navigation. An observation area is located off State Highway 504, near milepost 21. Parking and a picnic area are available. Travelers on Interstate 5 should turn off at exit 49 at Castle Rock, Wash., and follow signs to the Spirit Lake Highway. Visitors also may hike along a one-mile nature trail from the observation area to the SRS.

Summer lockage schedule on the Columbia River

The summer lockage schedule for recreational boaters using navigation locks to travel past U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers began May 15. Lock facilities are available at Bonneville Dam, near Cascade Locks; The Dalles Dam, near The Dalles, Ore.; and John Day Dam, near Rufus, Ore. The summer recreational vessel lockage schedule for all of these locks is available online at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/s/nl/home.asp.

The lockage schedule is the same for five Corps dams in the Walla Walla district, which means that recreational vessel lockage schedules are identical for the entire Columbia-Snake river system. Walla Walla District locks are located at McNary Dam, near Umatilla, Ore.; Ice Harbor Dam, near Burbank, Wash.; Lower Monumental Dam, near Kahlotus, Wash.; Little Goose Dam, near Starbuck, Wash.; and Lower Granite Dam, near Pomeroy, Wash.

The lockage schedule will remain in effect until Sept. 15. Recreational vessel operators have precedence over commercial vessels during the designated times. At other times, recreational vessels may be allowed to lock through with commercial craft, at the discretion of the lockmaster. Lockage outside the scheduled times will be considered for flotillas or other organized events sponsored by yacht clubs, marinas and other groups, provided 24-hour advance arrangements are made with the appropriate location.

About U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects on the Columbia River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains Bonneville Lock and Dam, John Day Lock and Dam and The Dalles Lock and Dam for hydropower production, fish and wildlife protection, recreation and navigation.

For more information on the Bonneville Lock and Dam, visit https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/home.asp. To learn more about The Dalles Dam and John Day Dam, visit https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/home.asp.

About U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas

The Corps is the nation's largest federal provider of water-based recreation, with about 10 million visitors enjoying Portland District’s recreation areas each year. Camping fees are charged at most Corps-managed campgrounds, but vary at each site, depending on facilities.

Park visitors are reminded to obey all posted regulations, wear their life jackets and exercise caution in and around the water. Boaters also should be mindful of any debris that may be in the water. Power boaters, water skiers and wind surfers should be aware of local conditions and water depths. Finally, to reduce litter, visitors are requested to "pack it in and pack it out."

Please note: All state marine board rules are enforced at Corps-managed lakes and rivers. Oregon and Washington state law requires children aged 12 and under to wear personal flotation devices while in boats that are operating; however, the Corps encourages all lake users, regardless of age or swimming ability, to wear PFDs while on the water.

For more information on local Corps recreational opportunities, visit the Portland District Web site at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil.

For information about locations, descriptions and recreational activities at Corps recreation sites around the country, visit http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/.

About recreation fees and passes

Boating is a popular activity at Corps lakes and most offer boat ramps for easy launching. There is a $3 fee to use selected boat ramps. Day use fees range from $1 to $4 per vehicle at selected Corps parks. Annual passes may be purchased for $30, and allow use of any Corps-operated day-use facility or lake nationwide for one year from the month of purchase. Passes may be purchased online at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/rec/daypass.asp.

The America the Beautiful pass is a national pass program that provides access to and use of federal recreation lands. This pass replaces the National Parks Pass, Golden Eagle, Golden Age and Golden Access passes. The cost for the pass is $80. Although the Corps does not issue the new passes, it honors the Interagency Senior and Interagency Access passes. Previously issued Golden Age or Access Passports are also still honored at Corps recreation sites. For more information about these passes or to purchase one, please visit http://www.recreation.gov.

State and federal agencies in Washington and Oregon now offer a dual-state day-use recreation pass. This recreation pass may be purchased for $100. It is honored for day-use at all USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sites. The pass also provides access to all Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use fee sites; it also covers launch and sewer fees at selected Washington State Parks. For more information about this pass or to purchase one, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/passespermits/worp.shtml.

Visitors may use the National Recreation Reservation Service to make reservations at Corps and National Forest Service campgrounds. Four of the Corps-managed campgrounds in Oregon are included in the NRRS inventory; Pine Meadows at Cottage Grove Lake and Schwarz at Dorena Lake are located in the Willamette Valley, and LePage and Plymouth parks are located upriver of the John Day Dam. Reservations can be made by calling toll-free (877) 444-6777, or online at http://www.recreation.gov. A limited number of sites are available at each campground and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.