Discover Camas: Nature, Trails and History

When planning a trip to Camas, you can focus on trails, wildlife watching or the city’s history. Heritage Park is on Lacamas Lake; the Heritage Park Trail there is a 6.9-mile loop along the lake. Other trails differ in length, surface and notable features. There are also fishing opportunities, bird-watching areas and historical landmarks. If you’re looking for a hotel in Camas, you can first decide which interests you want to shape your stay; that focus can then help structure your trip planning.

Trails by the lake and river, and trails with a historical connection

The Heritage Park Trail is a 6.9-mile loop along Lacamas Lake. It is suitable for all skill levels and open year-round. Check local notices before your visit. On the eastern edge of Camas is the Washougal River Greenway Trail: it is 2.2 miles long, also suitable for all skill levels and open year-round. Its steel-and-wood pedestrian bridge crosses the Washougal River, with clear views upstream and downstream. The two trails can therefore be distinguished by clear features: a loop by the lake on one hand, and a river crossing by bridge on the other.

The Mill Ditch Trail is about 2.6 miles long, mostly flat and unpaved. It can be accessed from major roads such as NE Dallas and NE Garfield. In addition to its approximate length, its incline and surface are features you can consider when choosing a trail. The ditch along the trail was dug by hand in 1884 by 125 Chinese laborers over about five months. The year, workforce and duration give the site a specific labor history; the manual work also helps explain how the ditch was created. In length, this trail is closer to the 2.2-mile Greenway Trail than to the 6.9-mile loop along Lacamas Lake.

Wildlife watching and seasonal highlights

At Lacamas Regional Park, Round Lake offers fishing for bass, bluegill and perch. There are also areas for bird-watching. The forests in the park’s higher-elevation areas are home to deer, raccoons, beavers, coyotes, ospreys and bald eagles, among other wildlife. This brings together different nature-focused interests: fishing at Round Lake, bird-watching and the wildlife of the higher-elevation forests. The park also offers photography opportunities, especially when the Camas lilies bloom around mid-April. This bloom adds a seasonal highlight alongside wildlife watching and may be relevant when choosing when to travel.

Theater and city walk

The Liberty Theatre was originally called the Granada Theatre and was built in 1927. The Downtown Camas Historic Walking Tour begins at the corner of 4th and Adams, next to the wooden “Downtown Camas” sign. For the theater, the former name and year of construction are the main details; for the city walk, the starting point is clearly specified. Those interested in Camas history can choose between a historic building and a city walk with a named starting point.

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