PORTLAND DISTRICT

This is a chinook and coho salmon hatchery. Display ponds also offer a relaxing place to feed large rainbow trout and view adult white sturgeon measuring more than six feet long. There is a gift shop open during summer months. Interpretive displays are inside and out, including a viewing area to watch fall spawning activities. Outside-accessible restrooms are available here.

Directions: Take I-84 to exit 40 (approximately 4 miles west of Cascade Locks, Ore.) At the flag pole intersection, bear left. Follow the road around to the large parking lot on the left. There is lots of room for RV parking here.

For more about the Bonneville Fish Hatchery, go to http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/visitors/bonneville_hatchery.asp

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided tours of Powerhouse 1 offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. from June to September.  Between October and May please call the visitor center to check on tour availability. The tour schedule is subject to change.

In addition to views of migrating fish moving through underwater fishways, there is a five-level facility with an observation deck, air conditioned interior with exhibits, restrooms, a large theater and all-glass exterior walls which allow a panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge. A short walk leads to a viewing area inside Powerhouse 1.

Contact information: 541-374-8820

Directions: The Bradford Island Visitor Center is located at exit 40, I-84, four miles west of Cascade Locks, Ore. At the flag pole intersection, bear right. Follow the signs for approximately one mile along park roads.

Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located just below the fish ladders, this site affords spectacular spillway views and the surrounding Columbia River Gorge, including views of osprey in the summer and bald eagles in the winter. Cottonwood trees provide shade on hot days or cover from the rain. Fishing is accessible along the shore and from the parking areas. 

Directions:  From Portland, Ore.,take I-84 east to exit 40 for Bonneville Dam. From Vancouver, Wash., go east on Hwy. 14, cross the river at Bridge of the Gods, then travel west on I-84 to exit 40 for Bonneville Dam. Once on Bonneville property, go to the flag pole intersection and bear right, cross the navigation lock and the first powerhouse, then turn left at the sign for Bradford Island Recreation Area.

The historic Columbia River Highway Trail is the nation's first scenic highway, constructed between 1913 and 1922. This trail has reserved areas for pedestrian and bicycle use only, such as the section between Tanner Creek, Eagle Creek and Cascade Locks. Learn more about this trail by visiting the Oregon State Parks, the Oregon Department of Transportation and the U.S. Forest Service websites.

Directions: Take exit 40 from I-84 (the Bonneville Dam exit) and turn south off the exit. At the T-intersection, turn left (east) uphill to the paved parking lot.

Fort Cascades, built in 1855, is one of several forts built to protect the portage around the Cascade Rapids. The site has a 1.5 mile interpretive trail where visitors may learn about the history of the site which was used by Native American Tribes, the Army in the 1850s, travelers on the Oregon Trail and the early fishing industry. Visitors also enjoy the trail for exercise, wildlife watching, and scenic views. There is little elevation change and most of the trail is shady, lush and green. Help preserve this unique area and also protect yourself, children, and pets from poison oak by staying on the established trail and keeping your pet on a leash. Spectacular views of the Columbia River and Bonneville Dam can be seen from here. Click here for our Fort Cascades trail brochure.

Directions: From Portland, Ore.: Take I-84 east to exit 44 for the Bridge of the Gods, cross the river and turn left. Go to the Bonneville Dam entrance on left. From Vancouver, Wash.: Take Hwy. 14 east to Milepost 37. Turn right into the Bonneville Dam entrance. Once on Bonneville property, turn right at the first stop sign, then an immediate left into the Fort Cascades Historical Site parking lot. The Bonneville Dam entrance is approximately a half-mile east of North Bonneville, Wash. and seven miles west of Stevenson, Wash.

Park rangers at Bonneville Lock and Dam maintain eight geocaches. Beginner and advanced geocachers will enjoy the hunt with five traditional caches and three multi-caches. Five caches are on the Oregon side and three are on the Washington side. Our geocaches are "interpretive," which means they are educational. "Green Power" is about hydropower, "Take Me to Lunch" is about sea lions. "BIH" is about Bradford Island history. "Bonneville Landmark Cache" is about Bonneville Dam’s history. "FCRPS: More Power to You" is about the Northwestern hydropower system. "Go with the Flow" is about the Juvenile Fish Bypass System. "Ducks Float" is about water safety. Lastly, "Hamilton or Strawberry Island?" is about Lewis and Clark's travels here. Rangers and volunteers are available to help!  Click here for more geocache listings.

There are also several privately-owned caches (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?lat=45.642333&lng=-121.946267) at or near Bonneville Dam. While Bonneville Dam doesn't require permits for caches, other Portland District project locations might. In all cases, it's recommended you contact the project or public lands manager before placing any caches. Caches hidden in sensitive areas or pose a security/safety risk will be removed. For more information about hiding or finding geocaches, you can visit www.geocaching.com or www.opencaching.com.

Open daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fishing is available below the Fort Cascades historic trail and continuing west to the tip of the island. The access road ends at a gravel parking lot and the trailhead for the Hamilton Island trail. The Hamilton Island boat ramp allows access to the river for motorized and non-motorized vessels. There is no fee to use the boat ramp.

Directions: Take Hwy. 14 east to Milepost 37. Turn left onto the dam access road, about a half-mile from North Bonneville and seven miles from Stevenson, Wash. At the stop sign, turn right and go about a mile, then turn left toward the river. Go through the parking lot--the boat ramp is at far end.

Open daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors can watch the navigation lock in operation when commercial or recreational boats are traveling up- or downstream. The visitor center offers exhibits and videos explaining the value to Oregon and Washington economy of river commerce.

Directions: Take I-84 to exit 40, approximately four miles west of Cascade Locks, Ore. At the flag pole intersection, bear right. Follow the signs for the visitor center for about a mile along park roads. Information for vessels on locking through is here.

This site provides spectacular views of the river, surrounding gorge, and wildlife viewing. Open shoreline is available for fishing with access to CXT restrooms and some areas of shade or protections from the elements.

Directions:  From Portland, Ore.: Take I-84 east to exit 44 for the Bridge of the Gods, cross the river and turn left. Travel to Bonneville Dam entrance on left. From Washington: Take Hwy. 14 east to Milepost 37. Once on Bonneville property, follow the signs to the visitor center. Parking for the fishing area is located before the secured entrance station. The Bonneville Dam entrance is approximately a half-mile east of North Bonneville, Wash. and seven miles west of Stevenson, Wash.

Open daily 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. This area's large picnic shelter accommodates up to 100 people, and has horseshoe pits, a playground and open grassy areas for outdoor recreation such as ball and disc games. Visitors enjoy this area's bird-watching and scenic views of the Columbia Gorge.

Directions: From Portland, Ore.: Take I-84 east and take exit 40 to Bonneville Dam. From Vancouver, Wash.: Take Hwy. 14 east and cross the river at Bridge of the Gods, then travel west on I-84 and take exit 40 to Bonneville Dam. Once on Bonneville property, travel to the flag pole intersection and bear right. Cross the navigation lock and then turn left at the sign for Robins Island.

In addition to fishing, this site provides great wildlife viewing of salmon spawning in the fall and several species of birds throughout the year. Two trails lead down from the parking lot for access to the fishing area. There are flush toilets available near the parking area.

Directions: From Portland, Ore.: Take I-84 east to exit 40 for Bonneville Dam. From Vancouver, Wash.: On Hwy. 14, go east and cross the river at Bridge of the Gods, then travel west on I-84 and take exit 40 to Bonneville Dam. Once on Bonneville property, travel to the flag pole intersection and bear left. Continue past the Bonneville Fish Hatchery parking lots to the end of the road, where the Tanner Creek parking lot is located.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This complex offers an easily accessible view of the powerhouse. Generators can be viewed from an area 85 feet above the powerhouse floor. Guided tours of Powerhouse 2 are offered at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily from June to September. Between October and May please call the visitor center to check on tour availability. The tour schedule is subject to change. Inside the fish-viewing building and adjacent Visitor Orientation building are exhibits on the history of fish in the area and how a modern hydropower plant works.

Contact information: 509-427-4281

Directions: From the Vancouver, Wash. area, take Hwy. 14 east to Milepost 39 (approximately six miles west of Stevenson, Wash.) Turn south on Dam Access Rd. by the large Bonneville Lock and Dam entrance sign. Turn left at the stop sign and continue along the road one mile to the entrance gate. The Visitor Center Building is the glass building at the end of the powerhouse.