From interpretive hiking trails, day-use picnic shelters, hatchery and powerhouse tours, a fullfledged educational visitor’s center and underwater fish viewing windows, to world-class salmon, sturgeon and shad fishing, wildlife viewing and access to the Pacific Crest Trail and the Historic Columbia River Highway, a visit to Bonneville will not disappoint.
Here’s a list of highlights for the trip: OREGON SIDE, I-84 exit 40 Bonneville Fish Hatchery: Operated by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, this hatchery raises Coho and Chinook salmon and offers outstanding public access to tour the well-maintained facilities, learn about the rearing process and interact with the fish first-hand. You’ll want a few quarters in your pocket for this stop, especially if you’ve got kids in tow; a quarter will get you a handful of fish food from one of several dispensers. Be sure to check out the sturgeon pond and underwater viewing window, where you can get a view of these impressive creatures.
The fish ladder at Bonneville Dam (opposite) offers a great view of migrating salmon—especially in the fall, when the Chinook run is at its peak. Nearby, the fish hatchery (above) provides access to the rearing ponds, where you can feed the fish with food from dispensers. Don’t miss the underwater viewing window at the sturgeon pond (left).
Tanner Creek: Just past the fish hatchery is the Tanner Creek recreational area. A short trail leads to the water from a marked parking area. If you’re into fishing, you probably know all about it. If you’re not, it’s well worth a quick visit, especially this time of year due to the entertaining flurry of activity as hordes of salmon spawn in the creek mouth or rest before heading upstream while fishermen, seals and birds work to capitalize on the bounty. Main visitor’s center: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the visitor’s center is a multi-story facility operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A highlight of the facility is on the bottom floor, where the underwater fish viewing windows give visitors a mesmerizing look inside the fish ladder. During the fall, when the Chinook run is at its peak, thousands of these massive fish pass up the dams every day, making it a spectacle not to be missed. The facility also features a fascinating array of historical exhibits, two theaters running educational
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413 Oak St • Hood River • 541.308.0770 • Open Mon-Fri 10-6, Sun 11-5 THE GORGE MAGAZINE : FALL 2015
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