Columbia River
The Pacific Northwest's largest river loops north then south through British Columbia, sweeps across eastern Washington past Wenatchee and the Tri-Cities, then forms the Oregon–Washington line through the Columbia Gorge, Portland and Vancouver to the Pacific.
Course of the river, simplified. Map data from Natural Earth (public domain).
Weather at the Columbia River (National Weather Service) ↗
River facts
| Length | 1,243 miles |
|---|---|
| Source | Columbia Lake, Rocky Mountain Trench, British Columbia |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean west of Astoria, Oregon |
| States | Oregon, Washington |
Grand Coulee, Chief Joseph, Priest Rapids, John Day, The Dalles and Bonneville are among its 14 main-stem dams.
Boat ramps, launches and bait shops
Detailed ramp, bait shop and lock-and-dam listings for the Columbia River are coming soon. Until then, these searches open Google Maps along the river:
- Boat ramps on the Columbia River in Oregon ↗ · Bait shops near the Columbia River in Oregon ↗
- Boat ramps on the Columbia River in Washington ↗ · Bait shops near the Columbia River in Washington ↗
Fishing regulations
Check the state agency for river-specific rules, seasons and limits before you fish:
- Oregon: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗
- Washington: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife ↗
Lakes on or near the Columbia River
Lakes in our guide on or near this river:
Lake RooseveltWALake Umatilla (John Day Reservoir)WALake Wallula (McNary Pool)WALake EntiatWALake PaterosWARufus Woods LakeWA
Facts from Columbia River (Wikipedia) ↗