The Dalles
Around The Dalles
Photo: Sam Beebe · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Oregon · 26k people
The Dalles
“Cherry City”
River town with a pioneer heart
Columbia River blueBing cherry redOrchard green
Welcome to The Dalles, where the Columbia River meets the high desert. You'll find a friendly community that loves the outdoors, fresh fruit, and a good story. Come hang out by the river and watch the windsurfers.
Clubs for The Dalles
No clubs for The Dalles yet.
The room
One room for everyone around The Dalles. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around The Dalles. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Columbia River Gorge Dramatic river canyon carved by the Columbia
- The Dalles Dam Hydroelectric dam with a visitor center
- Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Regional history and natural history museum
- Fort Dalles Museum Pioneer-era military post museum
- Riverfront Park Scenic park along the Columbia River
- Historic Downtown Old storefronts and murals
- Outdoors Hike the Mosier Plateau
- Outdoors Fish for salmon on the Columbia
- With kids Visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
- With kids Picnic at Riverfront Park
- Evenings Catch a show at the Granada Theatre
- Evenings Enjoy live music at local bars
- Locals love Riverfront parks
- Locals love Orchard stands
Through the year
- Cherry Festival April/May Celebrates the region's cherry harvest
- Wasco County Fair July County fair with livestock, rides, and exhibits
- Dufur Threshing Bee August Harvest festival with antique machinery and farm demos
- The Dalles Riverfest Summer Riverfront celebration with music and food
- First Friday Art Walk First Friday each month Monthly downtown art stroll
The Dalles has a semi-arid climate with hot, dry summers and cool, foggy winters. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out, with mild temperatures and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “The Dalls”
- Local pronunciation of The Dalles
- “The Gorge”
- The Columbia River Gorge
- “U-pick”
- Self-pick fruit farm
- “High desert”
- The arid region east of the Cascades
Getaways
- Hood River Windsurfing, fruit stands, and breweries
- Portland City life, food carts, and culture
- Yakima Wine tasting and sunshine
- Hermiston Famous watermelons and farm country
Local flavour
Rooting for Portland Trail Blazers (NBA), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Portland Timbers (MLS)
Eat and drink
- Bing cherries The Dalles is historically the center of Bing cherry cultivation
- Columbia River salmon Fresh salmon from the river is a local staple
- Huckleberry pie Wild huckleberries are a Pacific Northwest favorite
Where people go
- Columbia River Gorge The dramatic river canyon that shapes the landscape
- Historic downtown Preserved 19th-century buildings and murals
- Orchard country Rolling hills of cherry and apple orchards
- Riverfront Parks and paths along the Columbia River
Heritage and traditions
Locals are proud of their deep-rooted pioneer and Native American heritage, the dramatic Columbia River Gorge that shapes their daily life, and a tight-knit community that thrives on outdoor adventure and agricultural traditions.
This time of year in The Dalles
- Salmon runs Fall Fall is prime time for salmon fishing on the Columbia, a local tradition.
Say it like a local: “up the Gorge” — Heading east, upriver toward the interior.
Festivals
- The Dalles Celtic Festival March A March celebration of Scottish and Irish heritage with live music, Highland games, and dancing.
- Celilo Falls Salmon Festival September Held in September, honoring the traditional Native American salmon fishing culture with food, crafts, and storytelling.
- The Dalles Holiday Lighted Parade December A December tradition with festive floats and lights winding through historic downtown.
- Independence Day Celebration July July 4th fireworks and family activities at Riverfront Park.
Landmarks with a story
- Celilo Falls (submerged) Once a major Native American fishing and trading ground, now underwater due to The Dalles Dam.
- Wasco County Courthouse Built in 1882, this still-operating courthouse is a proud landmark in the historic district.
- St. Peter's Landmark A historic Catholic church from 1897, known for its striking architecture and community role.
- The Dalles Carnegie Library A 1910 Carnegie library that now houses the local historical society and museum.
- The Dalles Historic District Dozens of late-1800s buildings line the streets, reflecting the town's pioneer and railroad heritage.
- Horsethief Lake Petroglyphs Ancient rock carvings on the Washington side, accessible by a short hike, sacred to local tribes.
Food traditions
- Native American salmon bakes Salmon roasted over open fires, a tradition from the Celilo Falls fishing culture, still practiced at community events.
- Huckleberry picking and preserving Families head to the mountains in late summer to pick huckleberries for jams, pies, and syrups.
- Cherry pie baking contests A staple at the Cherry Festival, where locals compete for the best pie made from local Bing cherries.
- Smoking salmon Using alder or cedar planks, a Pacific Northwest method passed down through generations.
- Dutch oven cooking At the Dufur Threshing Bee, volunteers cook stews and cobblers in cast iron Dutch ovens over coals.
Music and arts
- Native American basket weaving The Wasco and Wishram tribes are renowned for their intricate, watertight baskets.
- Drumming and singing Traditional music remains central to local tribal ceremonies and powwows.
- Gorge music scene Small venues and bars host local bands, from folk to rock, often with a river view.
- First Friday Art Walk A monthly downtown tradition where galleries open late and artists mingle with the crowd.
A little history
- 1805-1806 Lewis and Clark camped at The Dalles in 1805 and 1806
- Pre-1800s Celilo Falls was a thriving Native American fishing and trade hub for thousands of years
- 1840s-1850s The Dalles became a major stop on the Oregon Trail, with pioneers resting and resupplying
- 1882 The railroad arrived, connecting The Dalles to the national network and boosting trade
- 1957 The Dalles Dam was completed, flooding Celilo Falls and transforming the river
Rivalries
- The Dalles vs Hood River High school football and basketball rivalry
- Dufur vs South Wasco County Small-school rivalry in the region
- Game day Windsurfing and kiteboarding competitions
- Game day High school football games
- Outdoors Kiteboarding on the Columbia
- Outdoors Hiking the Mosier Plateau
- With kids Visiting the petroglyphs at Horsethief Lake
- With kids Attending the Celtic Festival
Locals speak with a general Pacific Northwest accent, but the most distinctive feature is the pronunciation of 'Dalles' — it rhymes with 'pals' and is often shortened to 'The Dalles' or just 'The Dalles'. You'll hear 'the Gorge' used constantly to refer to the Columbia River Gorge, and windsurfers talk about 'the Gorge wind' as a point of pride.
Only here
- The Dalles is the self-proclaimed 'end of the Oregon Trail' for many pioneers, with a monument marking the spot.
- The Sam Hill Memorial Bridge is a distinctive steel arch bridge that locals proudly point out.
- The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center houses one of the largest collections of Columbia River Gorge history and wildlife.
- The Dalles Dam has a fish ladder where you can watch salmon migrate — a unique sight.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Dalles' to rhyme with 'pals' — it's a French-derived word, but locals say it simply.
- Expect wind, especially in summer; it's the reason windsurfers flock here, so embrace it.
- Get to know the river: it's the heart of the community, from fishing to recreation.
- Try huckleberry pie at a local café — it's a regional obsession.
- Take a drive on the Historic Columbia River Highway for stunning views and waterfalls.
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Nearby
Every areaHood RiverOregonWhere the wind meets the orchard.GoldendaleWashingtonWhere the river meets the wide-open skyPortlandOregonWhere the river meets the mountain, and the coffee never stops.YakimaWashingtonWhere the valley grows its bestLongviewWashingtonWhere the river meets the forest.HermistonOregonBig skies, warm hearts, and the spirit of the West.SalemOregonWhere the valley blooms and the capitol stands tallEllensburgWashingtonCowboy spirit, mountain soul.
The Dalles, OR. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.