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Building Strong® at The Dalles Lock and Dam

The Dalles Lock and DamThe Dalles Lock and Dam is 192 miles upriver from the mouth of the Columbia River and two miles east of the city of The Dalles, Ore.

Construction of The Dalles Lock and Dam started in 1952; the project was completed in 1957 at a cost of $299 million. Since its construction, the dam has generated more than 9.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and passed up to 10 million tons of river cargo annually. The authorized primary project purposes are navigation and power generation.

The project consists of a concrete structure with a navigation lock, spillway, gated powerhouse and fish passage facilities. Various recreational facilities are provided along Lake Celilo, the 24-mile-long impoundment behind the dam.

 

For information about the December 2016-March 2017 extended navigation lock outage at the Corps' Columbia and Snake rivers, visit the FY17 lock outage web page.

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The Dalles images

The Dalles Dam and fish ladder
Caption
Image of the dam, with the fish ladder in the foreground.
  • The Dalles Dam and fish ladder
  • Free Family Fishing Day at The Dalles
  • Eagles roost in Westrick Park near The Dalles Dam in winter.
  • Volunteers at The Dalles assist with tree planting and removal of invasive plant species for National Public Lands Day 2011.
  • Volunteers at The Dalles assist with tree planting and removal of invasive plant species for National Public Lands Day 2011.
  • National Public Lands Day 2011 at The Dalles Dam.

The Dalles navigation

Lock length 650 ft 198 m
Lock width 86 ft 26 m
Max. lift 90 ft 27 m
Avg. transit time 30 min.  

The Dalles hydropower

Powerhouse length 2089 ft 638 m
Generators/total output 22 2100 mw

Operations: The Dalles

Collapse All Expand All
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Authorization
River and Harbor / Flood Control acts of 1950

Recreation at The Dalles: our flickr slideshow

The Dalles recreation

Collapse All Expand All
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Avery Park, Wash. (Corps-operated)

The Avery Park sign welcomes visitors to the site.Notice: The west portion of Avery Park is temporarily closed to vehicles and limited to day use only. 

No fees; 14-day use limit. First come, first serve availability. No reservations.

Amenities and activities:

  • Boat ramp (open to the public except during commercial treaty fishing seasons)
  • Camping (primitive)
  • Picnic area
  • Vault toilets
  • Windsurfing
  • Kiteboarding

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: Milepost 93 off Hwy. 14.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Celilo Park, Ore. (Corps-operated)
No fees; 14-day use limit. First-come, first-serve availability; no reservations.

Amenities & activities:
  • Restrooms
  • Boat ramp
  • Camping (primitive)
  • Historic site
  • Picnic area
  • Shore access to river
  • Windsurfing
  • Kiteboarding

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: From I-84, take exit 97.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Columbia Hills State Park, Horsethief, Wash. (operated by Washington State Parks)
Contact information: 509-767-1159
Directions: Milepost 85 off Washington State Rd. 4.
Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Heritage Landing State Park, Ore. (operated by Oregon Parks and Recreation)

Contact information: 541-739-2322

Directions: 17 miles east from The Dalles off I-84. From I-84, take the Celilo Park exit and continue east on Hwy. 30.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Hess Park, Wash. (Corps-operated)

No fees; day use only. 

Amenities and activities:

  • Pond
  • Vault toilets
  • Wildlife watching
  • Fishing
  • Picnic area

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: Take Hwy. 197 north, cross the Columbia River Bridge, go one mile and turn right. Sign visible.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Maryhill, Wash. (operated by Washington State Parks)

Contact information: 509-773-5007

Directions: From I-84, take exit 104, turn north on Hwy. 97, cross the bridge and turn right.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  North Shore (Corps-operated)

No fees; day use, overlook and river access only.

Amenities and activities:

  • Boat launch with courtesy dock
  • Scenic overlook
  • Vault toilets
  • Fishing
  • Geocaching

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: From Hwy. 197 north, cross the Columbia River bridge and turn right.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Patterson Park, Ore. (Corps-operated)

Call to inquire about special event permits for this location.

Amenities and activities:

  • Bathrooms 
  • Gazebo 
  • Picnic area
  • Pond 

Contact information: 541-506-7857 or 541-296-9778

Directions: This park is only accessible via special event permit. 

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Rufus Landing, Ore. (Corps-operated)

The Rufus Landing Recreation Area sign welcomes visitors to Lake CeliloNo fees; 14-day use limit. First come, first serve availability. No reservations.

Amenities and activities:

  • Camping (primitive)
  • Shore access to the river
  • Vault toilets
  • Geocaching
  • Windsurfing
  • Kiteboarding
  • Fishing

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: From I-84, take exit 109 at Rufus. Go north towards river and left at intersection. 

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Seufert Park, Ore. (Corps-operated)

Day-use only; available year-round from dawn to dusk.  No bathrooms or water are available if the Visitors Center is closed.

Amenities and activities:

  • Covered picnic area
  • Historice rose garden
  • Scenic views of Mt. Hood
  • Access to The Dalles Riverfront Trail

Contact information: 541-506-7857 or 541-296-9778

Directions: On I-84, take exit 87; also at the junction of Hwy. 197 and I-84.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  Spearfish, Wash. (Corps-operated)

The Spearfish Park sign welcomes visitorsNo fees; day-use only. 

Amenities and activities:

  • Boat ramp (small; provides access to Spearfish Lake only)
  • Hiking trail
  • Trout fishing
  • Vault toilets
  • Geocaching

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: From Hwy. 197 north, cross the Columbia River Bridge, go one mile and turn right. Sign visible.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  The Dalles Dam Visitor Center, Ore. (Corps-operated)

The Dalles Dam Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday, between May 1 and Memorial Day weekend. After Memorial Day, the center begins daily operations, seven days a week through Labor Day weekend. Labor Day through the end of September, weekend only operations resume. No fees are charged at this location. Call to inquire about tour availability.

Amenities and activities:
  • Restrooms
  • Children's activities
  • Exhibits
  • Fish viewing
  • Picnic shelter
  • Drinking fountain
  • Rose garden
  • Scenic views of Mt. Hood

Contact information: 541-506-7857 or 541-296-9778

Directions: From I-84, take exit 87 and go east on Brett Clodfelter Way, at the junction of Hwy. 197 and I-84.

Click here to expand contentClick here to collapse content  The Wall, Wash. (Corps-operated)

No fees. Amenities and activities:

  • Fishing
  • Portable bathroom facilities (provided seasonally)
  • Shore access to river
  • Windsurfing 
  • Kiteboarding

Contact information: 541-506-7857

Directions: From I-84, take exit 104, turn north on Hwy. 97, cross the bridge and turn right.  Continue heading east until paved road becomes gravel.

The Dalles map

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