Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum is the official interpretive center and history museum of the Columbia River Gorge, located on 54 acres (22 ha) in The Dalles, Oregon.
A museum, 3 mi northwest of Dallesport
The Dalles is the nearest base
The Dalles is 5 miles southeast, with 18 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Portland
Portland is about 70 miles west (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 64–80°. When to go ↓
Established in 1997
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center dates from 1997. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Dallesport. Green months are the mild ones.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum is the official interpretive center and history museum of the Columbia River Gorge, located on 54 acres (22 ha) in The Dalles, Oregon. Opened in 1997, the 48,200-square-foot (4,480 m2) center features exhibits about the area's geology, Ice Age prehistory, Native American culture and basketry, exploration by Lewis and Clark and others on the Oregon Trail, settlement, transportation and natural history. The Wasco County Historical Museum is a 17,200 square-foot exhibit wing which tells the history of the people of Wasco County, Oregon.
The center also offers live raptor programs, a research library, meeting rooms, auditorium, gift shop and cafe. The site includes a wheelchair-accessible paved interpretive trail with vistas of the Columbia River Gorge and the Klickitat Hills.
- Type
- Museum
- Established
- 1997
Where to stay near Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are The Dalles (18) and Hood River (28).
The Dalles
The closest town with somewhere to stay.
15,745 people
5 mi southeast of Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Columbia Gorge Discovery Center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dalles | 5 mi southeast | 5 min | 18 8 hotels · 3 motels · 4 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 RV parks | 15,745 | $361K | C− |
| Hood River | 16 mi west | 25 min | 28 15 hotels · 2 motels · 7 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 hostel | 8,315 | $684K | C |
| Lyle | 4 mi northwest | 5 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 campground | 218 | $410K | — |
| White Salmon | 14 mi west | 20 min | 4 2 hotels · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 2,655 | $615K | — |
| Mosier | 9 mi west | 15 min | 2 2 inns & B&Bs | 472 | $334K | — |
| Bingen | 13 mi west | 20 min | 3 2 hotels · 1 inn or B&B | 952 | $443K | — |
| Dallesport | 3 mi southeast | 5 min | 1 1 RV park | 1,603 | $378K | — |
| Klickitat | 12 mi north | 15 min | 2 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins | 501 | $169K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
Other well-known places within 62 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw60 mi MountainMount St. Helens
Big draw30 mi MountainMount Hood
44 mi WaterfallMultnomah Falls
40 mi MountainMount Adams
128 mi Canyon & gorgeColumbia River Gorge
35 mi DamBonneville Dam
62 mi LakeSpirit Lake
217 mi MuseumMaryhill Museum of ArtPhoto credits
Mount St. Helens: U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain · Mount Hood: Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory., Public domain · Multnomah Falls: John Fowler from Placitas, NM, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Mount Adams: USGS Photo by R. Iverson, USGS/CVO, Public domain · Columbia River Gorge: Hux, Public domain · Bonneville Dam: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain · Spirit Lake: Matt Logan, Public domain · Maryhill Museum of Art: Cacophony, CC BY 3.0
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Visiting Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
What town is Columbia Gorge Discovery Center near?
Dallesport, WA, about 3 miles southeast.
When is the best time to visit Columbia Gorge Discovery Center?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 64–80°.
How far is Columbia Gorge Discovery Center from Portland?
About 70 miles west of Portland, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Columbia Gorge Discovery Center?
Portland (PDX), about 67 miles away.
Where should I stay near Columbia Gorge Discovery Center?
The Dalles (5 mi, 18 places to stay), Hood River (16 mi, 28 places to stay) and White Salmon (14 mi, 4 places to stay).
Tips from people in Dallesport
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Dallesport’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.