If you’re looking to purchase fresh fish along the Columbia River, Indian-caught salmon can be purchased at The Dalles in the Lone Pine sales area. Nearby, visitors can also see the remains of an Indian Shaker Church, other weathered buildings and fishing platforms along the river near the Shilo Inn.

The Dalles is located within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and has a unique history and heritage that dates back to over 10,000 years. Populated by numerous Native American tribes, The Dalles was a gathering place for natives to peacefully trade, fish and socialize.

Lewis and Clark camped in The Dalles in both 1805 and 1806 with their expeditions paving the way for the overland Oregon Trail in 1843. At this location, Oregon Trail emigrants made the fateful decision of whether to take the treacherous Columbia River or the mountainous Barlow Road on the last and most daunting leg of their trek to the rich farmlands of the Willamette Valley.

In the early 1800s, fur traders, boatmen and missionaries migrated into the area. Settlers came next, and built the neighborhoods and business districts of The Dalles. Once one of the largest population centers in the Pacific Northwest, the area continues to be the economic hub for the Mid-Columbia region.

Near the Lone Pine sales area, is the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. The Center tells the story of the Gorge’s Indian tribes, Lewis and Clark and other explorers, and early settlers at the end of the Oregon Trail. It also features photographs and a film of the Celilo Falls fishery. To reach the Discovery Center, take exit 82, turn right onto Highway 30 for 1.5 miles, and then right onto Discovery Drive to the Center.

For more information about buying fresh Indian-caught salmon in season, visit the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) website at www.critfc.org.

The CRITFC mission is to ensure a unified voice in the overall management of the fishery resources, and as managers, to protect reserved treaty rights through the exercise of the inherent sovereign powers of the tribes. The organization includes the Yakama, Umatilla, Warm Springs, and Nez Perce tribes.

To reach the Lone Pine sales area, take I-84 to exit 87. Look for signs indicating salmon sales.

• In most years, the public can purchase fresh premium chinook and steelhead from mid-June through early October
• Best availability is 10 a.m. to dusk (dependent upon supply and weather). Days, times and locations may vary with vendors
• Each fisher is independent; prices are set by fishers. Most sales are cash only
• Most sales locations are easy drive-up

For more information about purchasing fish from tribal fishers in the Columbia River Gorge, please view the video below: