With Horsethief Butte as the scenic backdrop, this lake is a relaxing spot for fishing & kayaking…read more Equipped with bathrooms & showers, a popular place for camping & RV sleepovers. Not naturally formed, flooded into existence by the Dalles Dam. Without a natural circulation of water, the summer creates toxic algae harmful to humans and fish. Warning signs are posted. A petroglyph trail is a highlight for all; in depth tour guide available by reservation. Boat launch access to the Columbia River.

Lovely piece of the Gorge. We've stopped by the lake portion and checked out the Petroglyphs before…read morewhile passing through, as well as briefly jumping onto a trail at the Butte. This weekend we got around to investing more time in the trails of Butte and it was pretty fun. The trails don't allow for a complete loop around the rock, as there's a block for restoration on the east side. But you can wander most of the way around the water side...up and around the rocks is really where's it at though. There are 3 access points to the top from the trails, and the bouldering up is loads of fun. Once atop you can roam all about and enjoy fabulous views from every angle. While the remainder of the trails at Butte are average, we found it pretty entertaining to climb around the rock portion. There's a decent amount of parking...Discover Pass required...as well at a vault toilet at the trailhead.

TLDR: Mostly great trail except it passes directly by the dump and has terrible signage…read more I had read somewhere that there was a 7.5 mile trail from Riverfront Park to The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. From Downtown The Dalles, I had an easy time finding the trail, and finding my way to Riverfront Park. According to the map, the dam is only an additional 2.5 miles east of the park. But, the unpaved section of trail about a mile past the park had a lot of glass and other debris in it, so I decided to turn around. Heading west of Riverfront Park, I had a hard time figuring out where to pick up the trail. There is little to no signage. I kept riding past the dump, thinking, "This can't be right," and turning around. Turns out that the trail is just past this. So, ride until it smells really, really bad. Ride until it smells like death, and then turn right when the road runs into the Google data center. This is where a small aux trail runs from the wide paved Industry trail to the real Riverfront trail. The section from Google to the Gorge Discovery Center is by far the best section of trail. If I only had an hour or two to do this trail and knew everything I know now, I would park at the Discovery Center, and ride from there. Between Google and the river, there is a mini bike park with tables for snacking and stretching, a water bottle refill station, and a bike repair station. There were a lot of older couples and children walking along the trail, so this is not necessarily a great trail for riding fast, but it is very pretty. The views of the volcanic bluffs and basalt deposits along the river are unique and distinct from the rest of the Gorge. Due to the recent fires, a lot of the trees and shrubs on the east side of the trail are currently missing. Even though that's obviously sad, it's resulted in amazing views of the river from the trail. The very last section of trail climbing up to the Discovery Center is a kind of brutal switchback. Coming back down the other way, I got hit by a strong gust of wind that I swear almost blew me straight into the river. I would be very cautious about riding with small children in this area. From the bike trail, you can see so many things that you can't see from the road. There are lots of little inlets full of moss and birds that you would never notice from the freeway. Overall a very pretty trail except for the ride by the dump.

Located in the Columbia River's edge, the Riverfront Trail in The Dalles offers expansive views of…read morethe Columbia River, the basalt cliffs along the Washington side, and The Dalles Bridge and powerful dam with lots of wildlife to see along the way! The ten mile trail goes from The Discovery Center to The Dalles Dam Visitor center winding along the southern bank of the Columbia River. The path is paved, which is why I like it, and it's about 10 feet wide. Plenty of room for those walking, biking, pushing strollers or walking with pets. There are often eagles soaring above, especially from November through January when migrating eagles stay here to feast on the fish and critters. If you go at dusk, there are 50+ nesting in the trees in front of the dam. During the summer, there are hundreds and hundreds of pelicans. They are fascinating to watch, their fishing skills just incredible. They stay together in their flock and when they are hunting, it's a sea of these big white birds diving in and out of the river. Winds can be fierce in this area, which means the current on the river is equally fierce so be aware! And careful. There are also deer in this area which means ticks so wear socks, long pants and stay in the trail. Make sure to check yourself and your dogs after walking especially if you are your pets wander through the grasses. Located off exit 85 on I-8, it's easy access while driving through this area or staying in The Dalles. It's part of Riverplace Park so there are shaded areas with picnic tables, public restrooms and plenty of parking.

Secluded lake park perfect for those who want a lake to themselves…read more Boat ramp available but the lake is not large enough for anything more than Jon boats. Plenty of well worn trails around the lake, some leading down to the banks to fish alongside. All trails are fairly easy for all ages. Views are serene. Ample parking, bathrooms available but bring your own wipes ;) *Warning* as there is no fresh water source to circulate, signage indicates extreme toxic levels especially during warm weather seasons. Safer to avoid during the summer.

Down a dirt road, past some industry sits this little lake(s). Certainly an unassuming park, it's…read moregot a bit to offer if you're ok with the not-so-pleasant constant odor wafting through the area (I assume from one of those businesses we passed on our way in). There are 2 "lakes" here, more pond-like I would say. Quite a bit of parking is available, with a vault toilet, boat ramp, life jackets, and a trail running the circumference of Spear Lake. We took that path, which is mostly single file width and easy for anyone. Lots of birds and ducks...as well as wind...with lovely views of ridges on both sides of the Columbia. There's a graveyard for an old car on the far side that Mother Nature is absorbing best she can. Would I go out of my way to visit again? No. But it's a decent place for a stroll if you live nearby or are passing through...as long as you can ignore the smell. Heads up, ticks are out here already this spring...we noticed one hitchhiker halfway around.

My father-in-law is an avid fisherman from Nevada who wanted to fish for walleye in the Columbia…read moreRiver, so we chartered a guide boat in Rufus (26 or so miles from The Dalles) for our adventure. First off, if you're staying in Rufus (pop: 210), be forewarned: there isn't much there. Two motels, one restaurant/bar, a gas station, an RV park and a few homes. But since your destination isn't likely to be the town itself, that hardly matters. Our guide, an affable old guy by the name of Touché (well, it's a nickname, but he insisted we call him that), met us for breakfast at the local restaurant-slash-lounge at 6 AM on a Saturday morning. I thought it was odd that we'd sit down and share a meal with a stranger, but he's a great guy - real easy to get along with - and since we were at his mercy for the next 8 hours, it served as a nice little icebreaker. During breakfast he'll go over details of the fishing trip, and you'll order lunch. Fly By Nite provides a sack lunch, and it's a generous one: a good-sized sandwich of your choice, side (chips/coleslaw/potato/macaroni salad), fresh fruit, and a cookie or slice of pie. The pie, I should point out, is to die for. After breakfast, you'll walk across the street to pick up licenses from the bait shop, then follow Touché the 1/2 mile or so to the boat launch area. You're on the water by 8 AM. The boat itself is comfortable and fully decked out. It's got a covered cabin with bench seats, and four additional swivel chairs where you do the actual fishing. All rods and reels are provided, as well as bait. If it's cold out, the boat is heated. We lucked out and had sunshine and warm temps. Touché is a great guide; he knows all the best places to catch fish, and is not afraid to abandon a spot if the fishing doesn't pan out. We made several trips up and down a good portion of the river, from the John Day Dam to the Dalles Dam. When bathroom breaks were needed, he pulled to the shore. Throughout the excursion he regaled us with stories, and shared tips on proper trolling and baiting techniques. At one point we stopped for lunch, and he pointed out some Native American drawings on a rocky hillside; these would have gone completely unnoticed if not for his expertise. 8 hours (and six fish - it was a slow day) later, we docked where we had started, then followed Touché to his shop in town, where he cleaned, filleted and vacuum-packed our fish for us. I highly recommend Fly By Nyte if you are in the mood for a fishing excursion. Whether you're a novice like me or a pro like my father-in-law, you're sure to have a good time!

We were on an ACL cruise at the end of April with a stop in Hood River and we signed up for the…read morekayaking excursion. Fantastic experience! Justin was very thorough with explanations of the surrounding environs and it seemed everything around. He pointed out different wildlife in the area and our group even saw a white bunny (in the wild). We also went looking with him for morel mushrooms on land (sadly, none found). The company provides most everything you need for a comfortable kayaking experience, (outer wear, life jacket, dry bag, two types of single kayaks, or double, paddles) included (refresher) instructions for paddling, and helpful tips, assistance and corrections throughout if needed. Even though it was a bit chilly (50s) windy and slightly misting, we stayed warm enough throughout. Would recommend waterproof shoes or watershoes (bring a change of shoes and socks for afterward). Just enjoy the scenery. Such a great way to spend an afternoon! Thank you, Justin for the amazing experience and contributing to our memorable 30 year anniversary!

We had a terrific kayak tour with Hood River SUP and Kayak. Our two guides were super, very helpful…read moreand encouraging with our novice paddling skills. The scenery is spectacular and it was the perfect way to end our first visit to the Columbia River Area. We would recommend this tour company highly.

Best Hotel in the Dalles, hands down. Every single thing looked and smelled brand new. The…read morecomplimentary breakfast was excellent. I spoke to Paula, the night manager. The owner is a perfectionist, and he has hired the best Hotel people in the town and pays them all very well. He has remodelled the entire place and seeks to run this 1950s motel like it was the best Hilton. I was pleasantly surprised, heck I was shocked, but seriously this place deserves its rating. Trust me!

This hotel is just off the beaten path in The Dalles, OR. I found it through online hotel services…read moreand it was a good price with decent reviews. I would say the same. I had a decent sized bed that was comfy, a nice sized room, a TV that worked well, and a terrific view of The Dalles Dam. They also had a band that evening with an outdoor bar set up on the patio area. A hearty breakfast was made n the lobby early the next morning and I appreciated that it was set up and ready to go when they said it would. Lots of choices for a freebie. The staff were all warm in greeting and conversation and the room and breakfast area were clean.

Keith was wonderful! He created an all day tour that fit our personal preferences. He was so…read morepatient as we reviewed our options and made changes. He was orompt. Kept us on schedule while allowing us the opportunity to take the interesting detours that he suggested. He has incredible knowledge of the area and shared it with us. All in all, a great experience..

Keith provided wonderful shuttle service for our wedding it was very smooth, everyone got there on…read moretime and everyone was able to get a ride back. We really appreciate the care and effort that went into making sure everyone was able to get a ride from the venue to our other destination. Really went above and beyond, highly recommend using this shuttle for a wedding.

Excellent rafting trip! This crew is superb. They are safe, knowledgeable, interesting and funny…read more This is a can't miss.

Are you in the Portland area? Or somewhere in Washington and you want an adventure? If so - don't…read morebe stupid!!! Schedule a river trip and enjoy some amazing rapids and beautiful scenery as you take a wild float down the Salmon river. Our guide was Victor and he was amazing. He nailed every rapids giving us the best adrenaline seeking advenruee we wanted. Our family vacation was complete because of this trip! A few things to know: - the water is cold, but they give you a wetsuit and it helps a ton! - you will paddle! and that makes it more fun - if you want a less adventurous trip - tell the guide and they can avoid big rapids. - usually i dont encourage my son to jump off of bridges but he did and it was awesome - they have a photographer situated at different spots on the river and you can buy the pics for an extra fee. It isnt that expensive and they do a great job! - tip your guide.