When visiting Oregon and the Columbia River Gorge, it is easy to spend all your time exploring the many waterfalls, like Multnomah Falls, but believe it or not, the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery is a can’t miss quick trip you will not regret.
The Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery is perfect for all ages, and offers a unique perspective on the nature that makes the Columbia River Gorge what it is today.
What is the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery?
The Bonneville Dam fish hatchery was originally constructed in 1909 to help the declining fish populations of the Columbia River basin. The hatchery saw expansion and remodels in 1957, 1974, and finally again in 1998 to aid in these efforts.
The Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery is known for its excellent egg and fingerling facilities which aid additional fish hatcheries in the area. The Bonneville hatchery raises chinook and coho salmon, as well as summer and winter steelhead fish.
The hatchery has many rearing ponds for the young fish, which visitors can see, and learn from. Additional ponds, full of larger fish are accessible for guests to feed the fish.
What Can I do at Bonneville Fish Hatchery?
While the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery is open year round, seven days a week, your experience will vary based on the time of year. The hatchery raises salmon in all life stages for the public to see, as well as sturgeon in some life stages.
During the late summer and fall, guests can witness the spawning operation of the returning salmon. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife workers help sort salmon and facilitate the spawning and hatching of new fish.
Guests can explore the grounds and the various holding ponds filled with fish of varying ages from fry to fingerlings, and even some adult fish. Audio displays located around the facility explain the life stages of the fish, and how the hatchery aids in expanding the populations.
Most of the holding ponds feature young frys, fingerlings, or smolts, while the larger ponds in the back feature large trout and steelhead for guests to interact with. For a more hands on experience, you will want to head to the back left of the facility towards the trout and sturgeon ponds.
The rainbow trout ponds feature trout raise in other local hatcheries for guests to enjoy and feed. Fish food dispensers are located next to the pond for guest use.
The machines take one quarter in exchange for a large handful of fish food. The money raised from these machines go towards the upkeep of the hatchery facility.
Next to the trout ponds are the sturgeon ponds. Here, you can see large sturgeon, some up to ten feet long. In addition to seeing these large fish from above, a specialty building allows guests to see the fish from below.
Inside the small structure, a large viewing window gives an underwater view of the fish. Signs and displays inside the building explain the prehistoric history of sturgeon and how they came to be.
For something else to do, head to the nearby Bonneville Dam visitors center and head to the bottom floor (level 1,) to see the fish ladder viewing area. The viewing area features a window into the fish ladder for guests.
Here, you can watch various fish use the fish ladder to bypass the dam. The most fish activity here occurs during the late summer, fall, and early winter.
I Don’t Like Fish, Will I Still Enjoy a Visit?
Visiting the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery does not need to be all about visiting the fish. The facility is scattered with picnic tables on beautifully landscaped grounds for guests to enjoy. Many people will bring a picnic lunch, and enjoy it by the river.
Or, spend some time walking the paths through the grounds. Especially during the summer months, bright flowers adorn the landscaping, and avian wildlife fly about. In fact, the Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery is a piece of the natural habitat for over 40 different bird species.
Besides enjoying nature, the hatchery offers many educational opportunities. The self guided tour leads you to signs full of info about the fish, the dam, the dam construction, and the natural habitat that is the Columbia River.
Is the Bonneville Fish Hatchery Open?
Yes! Even with COVID-19 restrictions, the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery is open, with a few modifications. The experience takes place mostly outside, and has remained open, even during the pandemic for guests to experience safely.
The hatchery is open seven days a week, from 7:30 am to dusk. Currently, the main visitors center and office are closed as a precaution. The gift shop is currently open.
For up-to-date COVID restrictions at the dam, click here.
How to Get to the Bonneville Dam Fish Hatchery
The best way to access the fish hatchery is from I-84. Simply take exit 40, and follow the signs to the fish hatchery, it is located directly off the exit. The fish hatchery is about 40 miles east of Portland, in Cascade Locks.
What To Know Before You Visit
- The hatchery facility is located almost entirely outside, so be sure to dress accordingly.
- There is no fee to visit the facility.
- Be sure to bring plenty of quarters to use to purchase fish food, there are no change machines.
- Do not place your hands in any of the fish ponds, you may harm the fish, and the larger fish have been known to bite.
- Parking in plentiful for cars and pickup trucks, but there is no RV parking.
- Dogs are allowed at the hatchery, but must remain on leash and be kept out of ponds.
- The entire hatchery is very ADA compliant except for the underwater sturgeon viewing area.
