The visitor center at Chief Joseph Dam is open on weekends in May. Visitors can ride the electric cart to the visitor center at the top of the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public tours of the powerhouse are offered at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The visitor center hours will expand to daily operation from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Tour size is limited to 10 people so arrive early to assure your spot. Please bring a government –issued photo ID for all adults in your party. With advance notice, tours can be provided in Spanish and additional group tours may be arranged. In addition to powerhouse tours, park rangers are available to schedule nature walks and other environmental programs.
Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Chief Joseph Dam is the nation’s second leading producer of hydropower. Ranger-led tours take you inside a generator where you can feel the hum of $1 million worth of electricity being generated in less than a day. You’ll travel through the powerhouse galleries and feel the power of water rushing through a scroll case.
The dam is located near Bridgeport on the Columbia River. From Highway 17, turn east onto Pearl Hill Road on the south side of the Columbia River Bridge. Take your first left on Foster Creek Road and continue on to the security station to check in for tours. For more information, call (509) 686-3542 or 686-3545.
© Copyright 2006 by North Cascades Broadcasting, Inc
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