Visitor Resources

Whether for a day or a weekend, with so much to do and so much to see in the Columbia River Gorge, here are some links to help you get the most out of your experience

Visitor resources in the Columbia River Gorge are designed to help people explore safely while protecting a place that’s both heavily visited and highly sensitive. Much of the Gorge is managed as the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and the most useful “first stops” are official trip-planning sources: Forest Service pages for maps, rules, fees, and—most importantly—**current alerts** about trail closures, storm damage, fire restrictions, and other hazards that can change quickly.

On-the-ground, the Gorge has a mix of interpretive centers and visitor hubs that help you understand what you’re seeing (geology, floods, ecosystems, cultural history) and plan a route that matches your time and ability. A key example is the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum in The Dalles, described by official sources as an interpretive center for the Scenic Area. Another popular learning stop is Bonneville Lock & Dam, where visitor areas focus on hydropower, navigation, and fish passage, and where self-guided visitor experiences are available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Practically speaking, the biggest “resource” visitors use every day is clear guidance on access and fees. Some day-use areas require passes, and different agencies manage different sites—so it’s common to encounter Forest Service day-use fees in some places and state-park parking permits in others. The Forest Service lists local day passes and annual options for fee sites it operates, while Oregon State Parks offers day-use parking permits for parks that charge fees. The simplest approach is to check the managing agency for the specific trailhead/park you’re visiting, confirm what pass (if any) is required, and then check alerts the day you go for closures, restrictions, or safety updates.

VISITOR

Bonneville Lock & Dam Visitor Center
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
541-374-8820
nwp.usace.army.mil

Bonneville Lock & Dam Visitor Center
North Bonneville, WA 98648
509-427-4281
nwp.usace.army.mil

The Dalles Lock and Dam Visitor Center
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-296-9778
en.wikipedia.org

MISC

Columbia River Gorge Bed & Breakfast Association
PO Box 474
Parkdale, OR 97041
gorgelodging.com

Columbia Gorge Tourism Alliance
205 Oak Street #17
Hood River, OR 97031
503.360.3532
columbiagorgetourismalliance.org

Goldendale Observatory State Park State Park Interpretive Center
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-3141
parks.wa.gov

Gorge Guide
PO Box 918
Hood River, OR 97031
@gorge.guider
thegorgeguide.com

Hood River Vacation Rentals, LLC
504 Cascade Avenue, Suite 113
Hood River, OR 97031
877-260-2519
hrvacations.com

Mt. Hood Scenic Railroad
110 Railroad Avenue
Hood River, OR 97031
541-386-3556 or 800-TRAIN-61
mthoodrr.com

Multnomah Falls
53000 E Historic Columbia River Hwy
Bridal Veil, OR 97010
503-695-2376
multnomahfallslodge.com

Oregon State Parks
Salem, OR 97301
800-551-6949 (Info)
800-452-5687 (Reservations)
oregonstateparks.org

Oregon's Gorge State Parks Blog
Corbett, OR 97019
503-695-2261 (Portland to Cascade Locks)
541-374-8811 (Cascade Locks to Deschutes River)
columbiarivergorgeparks.wordpress.com

Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge
Marine Park Cascade Locks
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
541-374-8427
portlandspirit.com

Vista House at Crown Point State Park
PO Box 204
Corbett, OR 97019
541-695-2230
oregonstateparks.org

CHAMBERS

Hood River Chamber of Commerce
720 E Port Marina Drive
Hood River, OR 97031
800-366-3530
hoodriver.org

Skamania County Chamber of Commerce
167 NW 2nd St
Stevenson, WA 98648
800-989-9178
skamania.org

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce
404 West Second Street
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-296-2231
thedalleschamber.com

West Columbia Gorge Chamber of Commerce
226 West Historic Columbia River Highway
Troutdale, OR 97060
503-669-7473
westcolumbiagorgechamber.com

MUSEUMS

Cascade Locks Historical Museum
1 SW Portage Road
Cascade Locks, OR 97014
541-374-8535
cascadelocks.net

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
5000 Discovery Trail
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-296-8600
gorgediscovery.org

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center
990 SW Rock Creek Drive
Stevenson, WA 98648
509-427-8211
columbiagorge.org

Fort Dalles Museum
15th & Garrison
The Dalles, OR 97058
541-296-4547
fortdallesmuseum.org

Gorge Heritage Museum
202 E Humboldt
Bingen, WA 98605
509-493-3228
sites.google.com/site/gorgeheritage

Hood River Museum
Port Marina Park
Hood River, OR 97031
541-386-6772
www.facebook.com/HistoryMuseum.HR

Hutson Museum
4967 Baseline Drive
Mt Hood-Parkdale, OR 97041-9727
541-352-6808
oregonencyclopedia.org

Klickitat Historical Museum/Presby Mansion
127 W Broadway
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-4303
presbymuseum.com

Maryhill Museum of Art
35 Maryhill Museum Drive
Goldendale, WA 98620
509-773-3733
maryhillmuseum.org

Sherman County Historical Museum
Moro, OR 97039
541-565-3232
shermanmuseum.org

Skamania Museum
Stevenson, WA 98648
509-427-9435