winchester dam

This is a real neat quick stop just off I-5 it will only take a few minutes and is worth it, sometimes there are no fish but when you catch them running it is fantastic, This time nothing was running but we did see lizards on the steps on the way down and a big blue crane flew over the dam. Simply beautiful. Also the view of the Winchester bridge is beautiful well worth the couple minutes it takes to drop in. Do beware that there are lots of stairs .At the bottom of the stairs is a fish viewing window very cool.

This Historic place was built in the 1890's and is worth a short stop off exit 129 on the I-5 when traveling thru Oregon. It's easy to miss coming from the north as there is just a "fish viewing" sign on the left with a small parking lot (but room for RV's and big rigs) in view. It isn't until you cross the river that you realize you've missed it !!There are many steep stairs down to access the areas to see the ladders and the underground viewing area, And there is the climb back up and no bathrooms. (but there is one around the corner at the Dam Lounge!)At the end of July, there were only a handful of small (steelhead said a local visitor) trying to climb the ladder. They said it is spectacular in May and in the fall (?) when at it's peak.However, If you are going near Portland and the I-5 & I-84 area, do visit the Bonneville Fish Ladder there. It is awesome.

What a great surprise! We came here in late May and the salmon were running. Tons of then viewable at the viewing area of the fish later. Great views of the dam from up above. Got to see a herring as well. Very steep stairs to and from the viewing area that could be a challenge for the elderly or the young, but worth it. Check the ODFW website to make sure the salmon are running in order to get the best experience. Still worth a stop either way. My kids and I loved it!

This dam has increased the beauty of the area. The fish ladder is state of the art. The new access and parking area is first rate.

Less than a mile off I-5, enjoy dry underwater fish viewing at the Winchester Dam. The fish counting windows on the fish ladder's upper ponds are open to the public year-round. The ladder is on the north side of the river, a short walk down from the paved parking lot. Unless you stand out in a river, you and the kids will never get this close to salmon, trout, suckers, pacific lamprey and northern pike minnow.http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/winchester_dam.asp

A rather unspectacular dam. It does give you a relatively close look at the fish but the larger dams, like Bonneville, provide still better views. I agree that ospreys could add to the experience. And the point made that the fish aren't always there is important. It is a place for a quick stop with easy on and off.

This is a hit-or-miss activity. When the salmon are running, its a really cool site. I've even seen ospreys working the area just below the dam, and they have a big nest in the trestle bridge nearby. Downside is that when the salmon are not running, it smells like a urinal in the viewing area, presumably because hooligans are using it as one.

What can I say. It's a dam. Pretty river, but certainly not a destination. The fish ladder which is part of it is very interesting, but lots of stairs to get there.

Road construction right now so no accessible till probably September. Always a favorite with my kids when they were young....loved to view the fish up close in the fish viewing area

The north end of the dan has parking and stairs leading down to a fish ladder. Youy can watch the salmon make their way up the river, very cool stuff.

This isn't a destination per say. But it's a nice little stop if you're traveling through the area and need a break. There are no bathrooms here, but it's a great place to take a break. Cross the bridge into Winchester and there are a few pretty good places to eat and take a bathroom break.

Brand new viewing area - done very well. Beautiful setting -- beautiful river.

This is a cool little place on the North Umpqua River where you can see an underwater view of the fish on their way upstream as they go through the "fish ladder," not a ladder as we might think of it but a series of water-filled chambers that are successively higher that allow fish to get past dams or other river obstacles. The viewing area is kind of like a cave and creatively designed. There is a chart that shows the peak viewing seasons for the different species, and a display of the different species native to the river. It's most interesting when there are fish coming through of course, and if it's not the right season you might not see anything but water so it's a good idea to check when the kind of fish you'd like to see would be likely to pass there. Also from the fish viewing area you have a nice view of the lovely Winchester Bridge, and from the parking area there is a nice view of both the bridge and the North Umpqua River. Free, open year round. Free parking. Not wheelchair accessible: it's a bit of a walk down to the viewing area and there is stairway also. Located on Hwy 99 just south of Exit 129 on I-5. From I-5 northbound take Winchester/Wilbur exit 129, turn right (south) on Hwy 99 about 1/4 mile: parking area is on the left (east) side of the highway just before the Winchester Bridge. From I-5 south, take Exit 129, turn left (east) onto Del Rio Road then right (south) on Hwy 99 about 1/4 mile: parking area is on the left (east) side of the highway just before the Winchester Bridge.More info about the Winchester Dam and fish data courtesy of the Oregon State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife at: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/fish/fish_counts/winchester_dam.asp