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