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Goldendale, Washington
Goldendale is a city of 3,483 people in Klickitat County, Washington.
Why visit Goldendale
Townapedia lists 4 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 20 places to eat and 3 places to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Goldendale Free Public Library, Goldendale Observatory and Observatory Hill State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; December lows average 24°F, and about 27 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Goldendale
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Goldendale
Goldendale is a city in and the county seat of Klickitat County, Washington, United States, near the Columbia River Gorge. As of the 2020 census, Goldendale had a population of 3,453. It is situated in a primarily agricultural area and is also near Goldendale Observatory State Park. The valley in which Goldendale is located offers views of the Cascade Mountains to the west and the Simcoe Mountains to the north.
From the Wikipedia article Goldendale, Washington (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks4
Goldendale Free Public Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic building in Goldendale, Washington, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Observatory Hill State Park
Park · 1.3 mi
State Park and natural area with hiking trails and, of course, the observatory
1602 Observatory Drive, Goldendale
Andress Family Wildlife Nature Preservation Area
Hiking and trails · 0.8 mi
Local nature preserve owned and operated by the Andress family. No public access.
Ekone Park
Park · 0.5 mi
Local public park in Goldendale, WA where the local farmer's market is held in the summer; this park features soccer fields, baseball...
Goldendale Veteran's Memorial Park
Park
Local park in Goldendale, WA honoring veterans who lost their lives in world war 2. This park features a basketball court, tennis court...
Little Klickitat River Park
Park · 0.7 mi
Local park in Goldendale WA with pathways following the Little Klickitat River; also features a public use disc golf course.
Restaurants and cafes20
8 more on the map.
Where to stay3
History
In 1859 the town was given its name by the early homesteader John Golden, a Pennsylvania-born farmer who settled with his wife from Oregon. His daughter's home at Columbus Street and Collins Street remains standing in downtown Goldendale. The town was designated as the county seat of Klickitat County in 1878. Goldendale was officially incorporated on November 14, 1879. Much of the young town, including the county courthouse, was destroyed in a devastating fire on May 13, 1888.
On June 9, 1918, William Wallace Campbell, director of the Lick Observatory, and astronomer Heber Curtis journeyed to Goldendale to view a total solar eclipse. The purpose of the observation was to photograph the Sun's corona and the apparent distorted placement of stars due to the Sun's gravitational pull on those star's rays while passing by the Sun. Lacking proper equipment and instead only using multiple cameras Campbell and Curtis were unable to confirm stars' deflection. However, by November 1919, their efforts would be vindicated by British astronomers and Einstein's Theory of Relativity was confirmed. Goldendale was also under the path of totality for another total eclipse on February 26, 1979, which drew thousands of visitors to the Goldendale Observatory.
In 2008 Goldendale hosted the International Gravity Sports Association's 'Festival of Speed,' on a segment of the historic Maryhill highway.
From the History section of Goldendale, Washington on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship7
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Latter Day Saints · 0.8 mi
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Goldendale Support Service Center
School · 0.4 mi
820 S. Schuster St., Goldendale
Washington Connections Academy Goldendale
School · 0.5 mi
604 E. Brooks Street, Goldendale
Healthcare3
Map of Goldendale
62 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38°F | 24°F | 2.8 in | 10.2 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 25°F | 1.8 in | 3.5 in |
| Mar | 52°F | 29°F | 1.6 in | 0.6 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 33°F | 1.1 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 69°F | 39°F | 1.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 45°F | 0.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 50°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 49°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 42°F | 0.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 34°F | 1.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 28°F | 2.4 in | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 3.2 in | 9.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Goldendale Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Klickitat County has had 20 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-04-07: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2025-07-19: Burdoin Fire (Fire)
- 2024-04-28: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-07-23: Newell Road Fire (Fire)
- 2022-03-29: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-04-08: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Columbia Gorge Regional Airport (DLS) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 22 miles away.
- Dallesport 21 mi southwest, about 34 min by car
- The Dalles 22 mi southwest, about 35 min by car
- Chenoweth 24 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
- Hood River 35 mi west, about 56 min by car
- Odell 37 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Carson 49 mi west, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Sunnyside 52 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Grandview 53 mi northeast, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Boardman 54 mi east, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Yakima 55 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Goldendale WA aerial, Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0
- Goldendale Free Public Library - Goldendale Washington, Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Newell House - Goldendale Washington, Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Main Street in Goldendale, WA (3481041248), bmaryman from Seattle, CC BY 2.0
- Other side of this garage in Goldendale, WA. has mural about astronomy (10755154214), Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0
- Goldendale Observatory State Park - Washington, Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Golden Telescope, Cole Quinn, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS025-E-19112 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS025-E-19113 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
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