Named for Army Captain Benjamin Bonneville, an early explorer who charted much of the Oregon Trail, the Bonneville Lock and Dam was built and is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the primary functions of electrical power generation and river navigation. Located in the Columbia River Gorge, the dam consists of several structures that span the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington.
The dam is open year round and, though it is not possible to cross the entire dam due to security reasons, visitors are welcome to visit the fish hatchery or catch a unique glimpse of the schools of salmon through the fish viewing windows. The best time to visit the dam is between April and September when the salmon are most abundant.
