Dalles Dam - Vancouver, Washington - Offers Fish Viewing Tours and Lots of Power

The Dalles Dam is one of eleven dams located along the Columbia River that the federal government built during the 1930s and the 1970s. It is a main stem river dam that operates as a system with no single dam standing on its own. Visitors of the dam can hop aboard an open-air train to view the Dalles Dam, which has been considered to be one of the longest dams located in the United States. The dam was also one of the largest hydroelectric projects undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Dalles Dam is used for navigation, flood control, and power production.

The Dalles is from the French, La Grand Dalle de la Columbia, meaning flagstone, which is a reference to the basaltic rocks lining the narrows of the gorge. The original Dalles Dam was completed in 1957 and the half-mile long powerhouse unit now produces close to two million kilowatts of power. Salmon are seen in the area and Native American fishing platforms can be viewed along both sides of the river. There was a time when there was no public access to the dam due in part to the Homeland Security directives. Campsites along the edge of the river and nearby dam were also available and prevalent, but rampant drug use and invasion of the homeless lead to a crackdown by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Tours are available when visiting the Dalles Dam. The brightly colored train allows visitors to view various parts of the dam and via closed circuit televisions allows onlookers to view live images of the fish. The fish ladder provides a great way to get up close and personal with the fish and their activities. Group tours and day tours are available. Tours provide information about the lifecycle of salmon and relevant information about the fish traveling in this vicinity. Reservations cannot be scheduled more than two weeks in advance. The tours are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities or mothers with young children in strollers. When touring the facility, comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended.

While visiting the Dalles Dam on vacation, the visitor center recommends looking around the area at nearby attractions. A nearby art gallery and sports stadium is not far away and various historic attractions like Fort Vancouver National Historic site is popular among visitors and locals alike. The city of Vancouver is the headquarters for Gifford Pinchot National Forest located near the dam. The Ulysses S. Grant house and museum and Covington House are also located nearby. The historic Covington House was constructed in 1845 and is one of the oldest houses in the state.

Weather at the dam can be somewhat unpredictable. Layered clothing is recommended. The average temperature in the summer season is 77 degrees, while the average high temperatures in the spring range from 50-60 degrees. Precipitation is common, and umbrellas are a necessity to your wardrobe, especially when touring the Dalles Dam.