STOEL RIVES LLP
                                 ---------------
                                    ATTORNEYS
 
                            Standard Insurance Center
                         900 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 2600
                           Portland, Oregon 97204-1268

                            Telephone (503) 224-3380
                               Fax (503) 220-2480
                               TDD (503) 221-1045

                                February 12, 1999



Board of Directors
Golden Northwest Aluminum, Inc.
3313 West Second Street
The Dalles, OR 97058


     We have acted as counsel for Golden Northwest Aluminum, Inc. (the
"Company") in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, covering an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 of 12%
First Morgage Notes due 2006 of the Company (the "First Mortgage Notes") being
offered for exchange by the Company. We have reviewed the corporate action of
the Company in connection with this matter and have examined the documents,
corporate records and other instruments we deemed necessary for the purpose of
this opinion.

     Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

     (i) The Company is a corporation existing under the laws of the State of
     Oregon; and

     (ii) The First Mortgage Notes have been duly authorized.

     We consent to the use of our name in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus filed as a part thereof and to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                              Very truly yours,



                              STOEL RIVES LLP