Notable hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing spots


Columbia County, Oregon

Columbia County Hiking, Camping, and Wildlife Viewing Map

Clatskanie area

gnat creek trail barrier falls clatskanie oregon

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 clatskanie oregon columbia county

Scout Lake: A sometimes-stocked lake tucked back into the forest with primitive camping. Scout Lake Overview
– Scout Lake: Clatskanie’s secret getaway

Jones Beach clatskanie fishing columbia river county northwest oregon

Jones Beach: An extended beach with kiteboarding and fishing opportunities. Jones Beach Overview
– Beaches of Columbia County

beaver creek falls rainier oregon

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

Rainier area

Hudson-Parcher County Park campsite campground Rainier Oregon Columbia County

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

fox creek trail rainier oregon columbia county

Fox Creek Trail: A nature trail around a reclaimed city creek. Fox Creek Trail Overview
– An oral history of the resurrection of Fox Creek

Rainier Riverfront Park Columbia County city Rainier Oregon

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

Dibblee Beach County Park Dibblees Columbia Northwest Oregon

Dibblee Beach County Park: A riverside beach park for fishing and picnics. Dibblee Beach Park Overview
– Beaches of Columbia County

Prescott Beach County Park Columbia River Rainier columbia county

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

trojan park nuclear power plant great blue heron rainier oregon

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

St. Helens area

trestle beach st. helens oregon

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

dalton lake nature preserve st. helens columbia city bike trail oregon

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
– Updates at Dalton Lake
– It’s all for the salmon – Dalton Lake’s new bridge

columbia nature trail columbia botanical gardens st. helens oregon

Columbia Botanical Gardens: A short nature trail through a patch of forest in the middle of town. Columbia Botanical Gardens Overview
– Children’s herping outing was a big success

liberty hill camas bluff columbia county oregon

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
– Liberty Hill’s camas and the impacts of mining

sand island marine park campground st. helens oregon columbia river

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 st. helens oregon columbia county

Nob Hill Nature Park: A short nature trail that preserves some oak woodland. Nob Hill Overview
– Fall Walk at Nob Hill Nature Park
– Nob Hill work party on November 5
– Nob Hill volunteer work party on April 6

mccormick park mcnulty creek st. helens oregon

McCormick Park: A pleasingly wild city park with a creek and walking trail. McCormick Park Overview.
– Walking local on cold and rainy days
– Upcoming events at McCormick Park and Nob Hill

Interior Columbia County

Salmonberry Reservoir St. Helens Tree Farm Columbia County Oregon

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 columbia county oregon

Camp Wilkerson: Large campground in the forest with miles of hiking trails. Camp Wilkerson Overview
– Camp Wilkerson’s quiet forests

Scaponia park scapppoose vernonia highway cz trail columbia county oregon

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

cz trail crown zellerbach vernonia pittsburg oregon wilark trailhead

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
– The Old Tunnel through Nehalem Divide

big eddy park vernonia nehalem river columbia county oregon

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

gunners lakes scappoose vernonia columbia county

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

Vernonia area

Vernonia Lake Columbia County Oregon

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

Holce Trailhead to Wilark Trailhead CZ Trail Crown Zellerbach Trail

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 campsite

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

Banks-Vernonia Trail forest columbia county oregon

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
– “First Day Hikes” on the Banks-Vernonia Trail

Four County Point Trail northwest oregon

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 marina marine park oregon

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

crown z cz trail scappoose chapman landing oregon

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
– New Trtek Trailhead now has two trails

eagle scout bench vista park property city of scappoose columbia county bella road oregon

Vista Property: Small undeveloped city-owned property off of NW Bella Vista Drive in Scappoose. Vista property overview
– Scappoose’s forest park (Vista property)

Matt D'Agrosa at Santosh Wildlife Area CalPortland Scappoose Columbia County

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

cz trail crown z nehalem divide trailhead to wilark vernonia pittsburgh oregon

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
– Family hike from Pisgah Trailhead

Sauvie Island

Sauvie Island Mt. St. Helens Bald Eagle Wildlife Area Westside Unit Columbia County Oregon

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 hike Sauvie Island Columbia County

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

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