Wild Splendor: Hood River Restoration Tour
We're kicking off our 2023 Wild Splendor tour series with a rare chance to access the site of the former Powerdale Dam on the Hood River, where our restoration work has been under way for ten years.
Each fall, Columbia Land Trust has come together with our friends and supporters to celebrate the year’s conservation successes. We are excited to officially open registration for the first round of 2023’s Wild Splendor tour offerings, taking place this October in Hood River!
Join us for a guided walking tour of the site of the former Powerdale Dam, which was operated by PacificCorp until its decommissioning and removal in 2010. Columbia Land Trust took over stewardship of the Powerdale Corridor in 2013 and is excited to show the success of our restoration efforts at this ten-year mark. This site does not have public access, so don’t miss this rare opportunity to see this stretch of the Hood River! Where buildings and hydropower machinery once stood, you’ll get to see the return of young ponderosas, alders, and cottonwoods along the riverbanks. Enjoy the fall colors of this riparian forest while learning about the local ecology and history of this dynamic site in the heart of Hood River.
To join, please register for either date using the links below by Friday, September 22nd, 2023.
What to expect:
- We may ask guests to carpool for a brief drive down to the Powerdale site because we have to limit the number of vehicles using the private access road.
- We will walk for about 2 miles on a trail that is gravelly but mostly flat, though we may briefly veer off trail into some rockier and more uneven patches to get a closer look at the river. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring walking sticks as needed to support mobility.
- This trail is in full exposure, so please dress appropriately for exposure to sun, wind, or rain, depending on the forecast.
- Though some of these may be going dormant as fall temperatures drop, we will be walking through territory that is home to ticks, rattlesnakes, and poison oak. You can avoid or reduce exposure by wearing long pants and long sleeves and tucking in clothing layers.
- This stretch of the Powerdale Corridor does not have a restroom or running water, so please plan and pack water accordingly.
Stay tuned for our other Wild Splendor tours this year! We plan to open registration for sandhill crane viewings in late September and chum salmon spawning tours in late October. Tour dates and registration information will be announced via email.
Please email events@columbialandtrust.org with any questions, and to let us know if you become unable to attend a tour for which you are registered.
Thank you to our 2023 Wild Splendor sponsors!
Sustaining Sponsor
Hahn and Associates, Inc.
