Bonneville Dam and Bonneville Fish Hatchery Tour

Duration: 9 am - 5 pm | Cost: $35

Take a ride through the majestic Columbia River Gorge to visit the impressive Bonneville Dam and the Bonneville Fish Hatchery.  Bonneville Dam, completed in 1938, is the first of the major hydroelectric power systems on the river, and significant effort has been expended over the years to alleviate passage barrier effects on anadromous fishes. The dam trip will entail a guided tour observing the dam facilities, including the navigation locks, with presentations charting the fascinating history of the site. A highlight is the fish observation room, where salmon, lamprey, and introduced American shad can be observed up close as they migrate upstream. During the tour period, fall Chinook and coho salmon are likely to be running.  After a box lunch (included), we will visit the Bonneville Fish Hatchery run by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The hatchery specializes in spawning, egg incubation, and juvenile rearing for Chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout, and adult salmon should be present in the holding ponds. The trip back to Portland will travel along the Historic Columbia River Highway, constructed between 1913 and 1922 as the first planned scenic roadway in the US. We will cap the tour with a visit to Vista House for stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge.

Box lunch and transportation will be provided. Please bring rain gear, warm clothing, and comfortable shoes.