In 2021, tours are not being offered at Grand Coulee Dam for pandemic-related reasons, although the the dam’s Visitor Center is open and staffed 9-5 daily offering illuminating exhibits. A park below the Visitor Center offers a way of appreciating the size of the nearly mile-wide dam and the power of the river it regulates. And a nightly Laser Light Show seasonally offers more history told in a giant way on the face of the dam.
Normally, the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and public tours are offered from Memorial Day until the end of October. Those interested in the tour should call the visitor center at (509) 633-9265 beforehand to ensure that tours are being given that day, as maintenance on the dam can disrupt tour times.
Normally, from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, tours are given daily, every hour on the hour, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., eight tours a day in total.
After Labor Day until the end of October, tours are given daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.
From the Visitor Center, visitors will ride a shuttle bus to the pumping plant where they will view the gigantic pumps that lift water from Lake Roosevelt to be delivered throughout the Columbia Basin Irrigation Project.
Visitors will then ride the shuttle bus across the top of Grand Coulee Dam for spectacular views of Lake Roosevelt and the Columbia River as it winds through the town of Coulee Dam.
The tours take about 50 minutes.
For more information, call (509) 633-9265.
The Visitor Center is open daily from 9 to 5, except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and January 1.
Please note that for security reasons, no bags of any kind are allowed on tours. This includes diaper bags and camera cases. (Cameras are OK).
Planning to visit and tour in mid July 2021. R u definitely giving tours and what is the cost for seniors? Thank you!
Hi Linda. The USBR tells us they will open at some point with their Visitor Center. I do not know whether or when tours will be available, but we’re hoping that’s part of the planning too. I’m betting mid July will see everything open, but that’s only a guess.
Public tours are not offered in the 2021 season; However, the visitor center is open daily from 9am to 5pm. It would be great if you could update this website with the correct information and make it clear tours are not available. Thank you!
Thanks, Sydney, for pointing that out. The information is correct elsewhere and in our current print version. And I have corrected this post.
Will tours be given in 2022?
Hi Cecily. We have the same question of USBR right now and await a reply. I’ll update when we get that.
I have a friend who i would like to bring How far does the tour walk
It takes about an hour. Much of that is standing, but also includes riding in a van and an elevator.
Can we take a walking tour across the dam?
You cannot walk across the dam, but on the guided tour using vans, they stop at the top and let you out for the experience, photos, etc.