Columbia County, Oregon





Clatskanie area

Gnat Creek Trail: Campground, hatchery, and streamside trail that winds through relatively undisturbed forest. Gnat Creek Overview
– Introducing kids to “herping” at Gnat Creek

Scout Lake: A sometimes-stocked lake tucked back into the forest with primitive camping. Scout Lake Overview

Jones Beach: An extended beach with kiteboarding and fishing opportunities. Jones Beach Overview

Beaver Falls: Short, steep hike down to an impressive falls. Beaver Falls Overview
– Waterfall page: Beaver Falls
Rainier area

Hudson-Parcher County Park: A campground in forest with creek. Hudson-Parcher Park Overview

Fox Creek Trail: A nature trail around a reclaimed city creek. Fox Creek Trail Overview

Rainier Riverfront Park: City park bordering a reclaimed city creek. Rainier Riverfront Park Overview
– What happened to Laurel Beach Park?

Dibblee Beach County Park: A riverside beach park for fishing and picnics. Dibblee Beach Park Overview

Prescott Beach County Park: A large riverside park with fishing and birdwatching opportunities. Prescott Beach Park Overview
– Birdwatching at Carr Slough and Prescott Beach

Trojan Park: Series of lakes in a manicured park with birdwatching opportunities. Trojan Park Overview
– 4-H outing to Trojan Park and Welter Cemetery

Jack Falls and Little Jack Falls: Old highway connects two waterfalls. Jack Falls and Little Jack Falls Overview
– Old Highway 30 and Little Jack Falls
– Waterfall page: Jack Falls
– Waterfall page: Little Jack Falls
St. Helens area

Trestle Beach: Public beach on the Columbia River, accessed by a short trail. Trestle Beach Overview

Dalton Lake Nature Preserve: A bike trail through urban forest which connects to a path around a beaver lake. Dalton Lake Overview
– Dalton Lake nostalgia

Columbia Botanical Gardens: A short nature trail through a patch of forest in the middle of town. Columbia Botanical Gardens Overview

Liberty Hill Camas Bluff: A privately owned bluff holding the largest remaining camas flower meadow in Columbia County. Friends of Liberty Hill Camas Bluff
– Stepping foot on Liberty Hill
– What makes Liberty Hill special

Sand Island Marine Park: A man-made island in the Columbia River with a marina and campground. Sand Island Marine Park Overview

Nob Hill Nature Park: A short nature trail that preserves some oak woodland. Nob Hill Overview
– Fall Walk at Nob Hill Nature Park

McCormick Park: A pleasingly wild city park with a creek and walking trail. McCormick Park Overview.
– Walking local on cold and rainy days
Interior Columbia County

St. Helens Tree Farm and Salmonberry Reservoir: A quiet lake in forested hills with logging roads to hike. St. Helens Tree Farm Overview
– Morning stroll around Salmonberry Reservoir
– New possibilities for Salmonberry Lake

Camp Wilkerson: Large campground in the forest with miles of hiking trails. Camp Wilkerson Overview

Scaponia Park: Developed campground on the East Fork Nehalem River just off of the CZ Trail. Scaponia Park Overview

CZ Trail – Nehalem Divide to Wilark Trailhead: The remote segment of Columbia County’s longest trail. CZ Trail: Nehalem Divide to Wilark Trailhead Overview
– Nehalem Divide on the CZ Trail

Big Eddy Park: Developed campground on the Nehalem River just off of Highway 47. Big Eddy Park Overview

Gunners Lakes: A trio of lakes in a backwoods area of southern Columbia County. Gunners Lakes Overview
Vernonia area

Vernonia Lake City Park: City park with large lake and walking trail. Vernonia Lake City Park Overview

CZ Trail – Holce Trailhead to Wilark Trailhead: Less trafficked section of Crown Z through quiet hill forest. CZ Trail: Holce Trailhead to Wilark Trailhead Overview
– The final stretch of the CZ Trail

Anderson Park: City park and campground with stream and river access. Connected to Banks-Vernonia State Trail. Anderson Park Overview

Nehalem River Park and Campground: City park and campground with river access. Nehalem River Park Overview

Banks-Vernonia State Trail: Columbia County’s other big trail, south along Highway 47 from Vernonia. Banks-Vernonia Trail Overview
– Long hike with Sophia on Banks-Vernonia

Four County Point Trail: A short trail that marks the point where four counties meet. Four County Point Trail Overview
– A pleasant little trail in the corner of the county
Scappoose area

Scappoose Bay Marine Park: Public marina with a nature trail, campground, and boating. Scappoose Bay Marine Park Overview

CZ Trail – Trtek Trailhead to Chapman Landing: The east end of Crown Z, includes marshes with birdwatching. CZ Trail: Chapman Landing Overview
– Trtek Trailhead to Chapman Landing
– Wildlife of the CZ Trail – Scappoose Bottoms

Santosh Wildlife Area: A lake with some birding. Santosh Wildlife Area Overview
– Birding at Santosh Wildlife Area and Honeyman Road

CZ Trail – Pisgah Trailhead to Ruley Trailhead: Columbia County’s longest trail parallels a creek. CZ Trail: Pisgah Trailhead to Ruley Trailhead Overview
– Family hike from Ruley Trailhead
– Cool geology along Crown Zellerbach Trail
– Bonnie Falls – the waterfall
Sauvie Island

Sauvie Island Westside Unit: An array of waterways with trails, birdwatching and fishing. Sauvie Island Westside Unit Overview
– Walking Sauvie Island’s Westside

Oak Island Nature Trail: A nature trail on Sauvie Island with many birdwatching opportunities. Oak Island Nature Trail Overview

Willow Bar Islands Trail: A short riverside trail on Sauvie Island. Willow Bar Islands Trail Overview
– Winter stroll at Sauvie Island

Warrior Point Trail: A longer trail on the northern tip of Sauvie Island that ends at a lighthouse. Warrior Point Trail Overview
– Winter stroll at Sauvie Island
return to Wild Columbia home page
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