Skamania: Hiking, Water and Culture

Beacon Rock is the core of an extinct volcano. Its summit trail is 4,500 feet long; allow 45 minutes to an hour for the round trip. Skamania County also offers hiking trails with varied scenery and distances—from the Pacific Crest Trail section near Trout Creek to the route to Falls Creek Falls.

Hiking Trails and Landscapes

The Pacific Crest Trail stretches 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, passing through California, Oregon and Washington. In Skamania County, day hikes are one way to explore the route. The Gillette Lake trail offers easy day hikes on the PCT. Trout Creek is a four-mile round-trip section of the Pacific Crest Trail. There, the trail runs along forested ridges between the Columbia River and Wind River Valley.

The destinations also vary: the trail to Falls Creek Falls passes through old-growth forest in Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Gold trout are stocked in Gillette Lake. One practical detail to note about the Dog Mountain Trailhead: no water is available there. During the busy season, a free weekend shuttle connects the Skamania County Fairgrounds parking lot in Stevenson with the trailhead. Check the current seasonal schedule before setting out.

Water Activities and Scenic Drives

The Stevenson Boat Launch has a free boat ramp and access for jet skiing, fishing, sailing and kayaking. Pebble Beach offers a swimming area with a view; you can launch kayaks or boards there. East Point is considered a popular spot for kiteboarding. Suitable wind conditions occur there more often than at other spots in the Columbia River Gorge—a useful distinction if kiteboarding is part of your plans.

State Route 14 follows the Columbia River throughout Skamania County; its stretch through the county is 47 miles long. Highway 14 is also known there as the Lewis and Clark Scenic Byway. Scenic drives through Skamania County pass cliffs above the Columbia River and mountain roads lined with evergreens. Seasonal highlights include wildflowers, fall colors and snow-covered mountain views.

Culture and Regional History

The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum explores the history of Skamania County and the Columbia River Gorge. One exhibit focuses on the history of the Cascade Chinook. Another cultural landmark is Lawetlat'la (Mount St. Helens), located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Skamania and Cowlitz counties. The mountain is directly connected to the traditional beliefs of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Yakama Nation concerning the origins, cultural history and nature of the world.

The Carson National Fish Hatchery also offers practical visitor information: it is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and welcomes visitor groups of any size. The outdoor ponds are accessible to visitors at any time. As hours are subject to seasonal changes, check them before setting out. The annual Northwest “Free-gate” fair features daily livestock and horse shows, 4-H activities, food, exhibits, competitions, demonstrations, a parade, a logger carnival, a market sale and fireworks.

Discover more destinations: North Bonneville, Stevenson, Grant County, Lincoln County, Franklin County, Lewis, Kitsap, Kittitas County.

Go to the main travel overview: Washington.