Bonneville Dam

Bonneville Dam is a fascinating place to visit for anyone traveling through the Columbia River Gorge. After passing through a security checkpoint visitors can drive out to Bradford Island and the dam.

Bonneville Dam was built in 1938 and was the first federal lock and dam on the Columbia and Snake rivers. The dam is an important hydroelectric power plant, generating enough electricity to power about 900,000 homes.

On Bradford Island you’ll find a visitor center. There is an elevator that you can take down to view the fish ladder, where you will likely get a glimpse of some of the Salmon making their way up the ladder.

Visitors can also take the short stroll to Powerhouse One where they can have a glimpse inside an active hydroelectric powerhouse.

Lastly, there are areas on Bradford and Robins Islands where visitors can get away from the dam and enjoy beautiful views of the Columbia River.