The Dalles Area is steeped in Oregon heritage and dramatic high desert landscape, a stark contrast to the nearby old growth forests. The east side of the Columbia River Gorge is known for breathtaking scenery, amazing fishing, and an abundance of cherries. This was a historic Native American trading area for more than 10,000 years and later became a final trading stop on the Oregon Trail.
Towns Near The Dalles | Points of Interest | Seasonal Favorites | Events
Located at the sun-drenched eastern entrance of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, just 75 miles east of Portland, The Dalles has 300 days of sun a year. It’s a wonderland for cyclists, hikers, river rafters, wildflower fanatics, anglers, art lovers, history buffs and wine aficionados. But have you heard of nearby Mosier or Dufur? Read further to get to know these towns.
Mosier is located on the Columbia River just 5 miles east of Hood River and an hour from Portland. This tiny town is a mecca for the East Gorge Food Trail. You can find cideries, cherry orchards, apricots, and wineries like Analemma Winery all within a short distance from each other. Located on the Historic Columbia River Highway, there is a great access here to scenic drives, bike rides, and hikes.
The farming community of Dufur is nestled in the foothills along the scenic Columbia River Gorge. The city was incorporated in 1893 and lies between Mt. Hood and the Deschutes River offering vistas of rolling hills covered with "Amber Waves of Grain" and breathtaking views of the mountain. The Historic Oregon Trail passes through Dufur on its way to Mt. Hood. Embrace history with a visit to the Balch Hotel.
Learn about the Tribal and pioneer histories of this area at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. The eye-catching museum tells the story of the Gorge’s natural and cultural histories through vivid, interactive displays - from the Ice Age through the Lewis & Clark Expedition and beyond. Don’t miss the daily Raptor Interpretive Program for an up-close encounter with the birds of prey of the Gorge.
Looking for more museum time? Check out the National Neon Sign Museum, the Fort Dalles Museum, or the Maryhill Museum of Art.
Located in the former Sunshine Flour Mill, this tasting room for Quenett Winery is like none other in Oregon. The Sunshine Biscuit Company once owned this property and the wheat milled here was used to make America’s favorite cracker, the Cheez-It. With much of the milling machinery still intact and the concrete grain silos looming overhead, this is the Gorge’s most distinctive wine tasting room. Sunshine Mill is owned by The Dalles residents James & Molli Martin, who also started and own Copa di Vino. Don’t miss traveling back in time with Sunshine Mill’s drive-up movie nights during summer.
This classic independent book and stationery store in downtown The Dalles has a great claim to fame: It’s the oldest bookstore in Oregon and this side of the Mississippi. Klindt’s was first opened in 1870 by German immigrant Inwer Nickelsen. It has since had one location change (due to a fire in 1891) and two owners, but has never closed its doors. Klindt's Booksellers remains a thriving community hub and has an amazing selection of books and eye-catching gift items. Don't miss their Pacific Northwest section!
The Dalles Dam is one of the largest hydropower dams in the US. Visit The Dalles Dam Visitor Center to learn about the dam and view the fish ladder. Speaking of fish, the eastern end of the Gorge is an angler’s paradise. The area stretching from The Dalles Dam upstream to the John Day Dam, known as The Dalles Pool, is home to the Pacific Northwest’s best walleye fishery. It is also a great location to spot bald eagles which roost at the Dalles Dam each winter.
The Tom McCall Nature Preserve offers a great family-friendly hike with spectacular views from the edge of the bluff high above the Columbia. Home to 15 wildflowers found nowhere else and to over 800 species overall the Rowena Plateau is a wildflower wonderland in the spring, when balsamroot, lupine, and many other native plants paint the Gorge.
Don't miss the view of the famed "Rowena Loops" from the lookout point at the parking lot where you can see the dramatic u-shaped bend in the highway. As you travel down to The Dalles you will take a step back in time and experience traveling on the original highway of the Columbia Gorge, known as the Columbia Historic Hwy 30.
