Columbia River Gorge - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 519

The visitors center here has good exhibitions and theaters showing videos of the
dam's history. Downstairs, underwater windows allow visitors to watch salmon (and
lampreys!) swim by. From the roof you can clearly see the fish ladders , which allow mi-
grating fish to negotiate around the dams. There's another visitors center on the Washing-
ton side, where you can take powerhouse tours.
Sights & Activities
Bonneville Fish Hatchery HATCHERY
( 541-374-8393; 70543 NE Herman Loop; 7am-dusk) Next door to Bonneville
Dam, in pretty grounds with picnic tables, is this visitor-friendly facility. There are sever-
al ponds full of rainbow trout and massive sturgeon - including a 10-footer named Her-
man - along with an educational exhibit, gift shop and small cafe.
To reach the dam and fish hatchery, take exit 40 off I-84.
Eagle Creek Recreation Area PARK
The beautiful, 13.2-mile Eagle Creek Trail (day-use fee $5) is the gorge's most popular
hike; on summer weekends, get here early to snag a parking spot. Early gorge promoters
engineered this historic trail in 1910 to coincide with the opening of the Historic
Columbia River Hwy.
The trail passes a dozen waterfalls as it meanders up wooded slopes and sheer rock
walls through a narrow basalt canyon. Parts of the trail are perilously high and lack guard
rails, making them dangerous for children and dogs. These sections have metal aid ropes,
but even so those with vertigo issues should be extra careful.
From the trailhead it's 6 miles to Tunnel Falls , which crosses a dizzying bridge over a
150ft chasm before reaching a tunnel carved behind a waterfall. Stay overnight at 7.5
Mile Camp to turn a tiring day hike into an easy two-day trip. Punchbowl Falls (4 miles
round-trip) and High Bridge (6.4 miles round-trip) are turning points for shorter hikes.
The trail continues past Tunnel Falls for longer backcountry loops to viewpoints at
Wahtum Lake and Benson Plateau, accessible via connections with the Pacific Crest
Trail and Ruckel Creek Trail.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Across the Border