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The following Bonneville Lock & Dam areas will close for the holiday season Dec. 24, 2022, through Jan. 1, 2023:
Bradford Island Visitor Center (OR) | Bradford Island Recreation Area (OR) |Robins Island Recreation Area (OR) | Washington Shore Visitor Center (WA)
All other areas will remain open. For more info, contact the Bradford Island Visitor Center: 541-374-8820

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Contact The Dalles Lock and Dam:

Ranger station: 541-506-8475

Visitor Center: 541-296-9778

Email us about The Dalles Lock & Dam

Contact the Lock Operators

Lock   Phone   VHF-FM
Bonneville   541-374-8323   WUJ 33
The Dalles   541-506-8212   WUJ 34
John Day   541-298-9712   WUJ 35
 

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Recreation resources

The Dalles Lock & Dam

The Dalles Lock and Dam

Built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Dalles Lock and Dam is one of the ten largest hydropower dams in the United States. Since its completion in 1957, it has provided the Pacific Northwest with a reliable water source for hydropower, navigation, recreation, fish passage, irrigation, and flood mitigation. The dam is 192 miles upriver from the mouth of the Columbia River and two miles east of the city of The Dalles, Ore.

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 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.

Hydropower at The Dalles

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

Navigation at The Dalles

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 Dam Visitor Center

At The Dalles Dam Visitor Center, you can explore a variety of interactive displays, watch a short film on the benefits and impacts of the dam, get a sneak peak of fish migrating up the fish ladder, or browse the Discover Your Northwest bookstore.

The Dalles Lock & Dam Visitor Center is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through September. 

Nearby Patterson and Seufert parks offer a perfect location to picnic and enjoy the scenic views of Mount Hood. Or walk the eastern end of The Dalles Riverfront trail and wander through the historic Seufert Rose Garden, where there are more than 90 varieties of roses.

To reach The Dalles Dam Visitor Center from I-84, take exit 87 and go east on Brett Clodfelter Way, located at the junction of Hwy. 197 and I-84. Address: 3545 Bret Clodfelter Way, The Dalles, OR 97058.

Map of The Dalles Dam and nearby amenities and facilities 

Outdoor Recreation

 

The Dalles Lock & Dam Visitor Center

The Dalles Lock & Dam Visitor Center is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through September.  A team of rangers and volunteers staff are available to answer questions and share information about the significance of this icon of the Pacific Northwest.

 

Outdoor recreation around The Dalles Lock & Dam

Seufert Park (The Dalles, OR)
Amenities: covered picnic area, historic rose garden, scenic views of Mt. Hood, access to The Dalles Riverfront Trail
Notice: Park is open dawn to dusk, year round. No bathrooms or water are available if the Visitors Center is closed.

Patterson Park (The Dalles, OR)
Amenities: gazebo, picnic area, bathrooms
Notice: Patterson park is only accessible via special event permit. Call the Ranger Station at 541-506-8475 for more information.

Celilo Park (The Dalles, OR)
Amenities: life jacket loaner station, boat ramp, restrooms, picnic area, historic site

Rufus Landing (OR)
Amenities: vault toilets, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing, geocaching
Directions: From I-84, take exit 109 at Rufus. Go north towards river and left at intersection.

Hess Park (Lyle, WA)
Popular activities: fishing, wildlife viewing
Amenities: vault toilets, picnic area, pond

North Shore (WA)
Popular activities: fishing, geocaching
Amenities: boat launch, vault toilets, picnic area, scenic overlook
Directions: From Hwy. 197 north, cross the Columbia River bridge and turn right

Spearfish (WA)
Popular activities: fishing, hiking, geocaching
Amenities: boat ramp to Spearfish Lake, vault toilets

The Wall (WA)
Popular activities: windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing
Amenities: portable bathrooms (seasonal), shore access to river
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.

Avery Park (Lyle, WA)
Amenities: boat ramp (open to the public outside of commercial treaty fishing season), picnic area, vault toilets
Notice: The west portion of Avery Park is temporarily closed to vehicles and limited to day use only.

There are no reservations for primitive campsites. All primitive campsites are first-come, first-serve. Camping limited to 7 days within a 30-consecutive day period.  Camping permitted April 1 - October 31 at the following locations only:

  • Avery Park (no public use during Commercial Treaty Fishing Season)
  • Celilo Park
  • Rufus Landing

Map of recreation around The Dalles Lock & Dam

PARTNER OPERATED
Columbia Hills State Park (Horsethief, WA)is operated by Washington State Parks. For information, call 509-767-1159. Life jacket loaner station on-site; first come, first served.

Heritage Landing State Park (OR)is operated by Oregon Parks and Recreation. For information, call 541-739-2322.

Maryhill State Park (WA)is operated by Washington State Parks. For information, call 509-773-5007. Life jacket loaner station on-site; first come, first served.