Bonneville Dam Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Bonneville Dam. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Mt Hood Day Trip from Portland to Multnomah Falls and Hood River

• Full-Day Mt Hood Waterfall Tour with Lunch and Wine Included

• Multnomah Falls Waterfall Air Tour by Envi Adventures

• Multnomah Falls & Gorge Waterfalls Air Tour by Envi Adventures

• The Hood-Columbia Loop: Timberline, Orchards, and Waterfalls

Visiting the Bonneville Dam is totally free, including admission to the visitor centers and the fish viewing areas. However, there are plenty of guided tours you can take to get more out of your experience—and have more fun, too. Sightseeing day trips around the Mt. Hood area (many including waterfall stops) start at US$140 per person.

Yes, the Bonneville Dam is worth visiting. Beyond the fact that it's a feat of engineering, it's technically a national park site on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. Stop by for panoramic views of the river, watch fish migrating up the ladders, and—if you're curious to learn more—pop by the Oregon and Washington Shore visitor centers.

Per one customer who booked the Mt Hood Day Trip from Portland to Multnomah Falls and Hood River, "This was my second time taking the Portland to Mount Hood day trip, and it was just as wonderful as the first! If you have family visiting from out of town, this is hands-down the best way to experience the area. Even on my second trip, I saw new places and learned more about the region. The drivers are very knowledgeable and do a great job explaining the history and highlights along the way. The Pacific Northwest truly never gets old!"

No, you can’t tour the Bonneville Dam wall, as it is an active hydroelectric power plant. However, you can learn about the dam at three visitor centers, watch migrating species use the fish ladder in underwater viewing rooms, and, in summer, observe the dam’s navigation lock as boats travel upstream.

Yes, there are two locks at Bonneville Dam, the original lock built in 1938 and its modern replacement added in 1993. Now, only the newer Bonneville Lock is used to allow boats to head upstream along the Columbia River. Its visitor center is open during the summer months.

Bonneville Dam is the oldest dam on the Columbia River and was constructed from 1934 to 1937 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The dam has been recognized as a National Historic Landmark thanks to its architecture, engineering, and the way it provides river transportation and regional electricity.

Yes, you can visit Bonneville Dam on your own without a guide or tour, as admission to the site is free of charge. However, there are guided tours that combine a visit to Bonneville Dam with other attractions in the region, such as Multnomah Falls and Latourell Falls.

How long you spend at Bonneville Lock & Dam depends on your level of interest in its history, construction, and fish ladder. Most visitors generally spend between 1 and 3 hours touring Bonneville Dam, with many spending an hour at the visitor center and another at the fish hatchery.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Bonneville Dam. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Oregon:

• Oregon Coast

• Latourell Falls

• Columbia River Gorge

• Multnomah Falls

• Vista House

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Oregon.