Skaminia County borders the Columbia River to the south and reaches north into the Mount St. Helens Nation Volanic Monument. Some of the accessible trails that are physically located within the northern part of the county are covered elsewhere such as the trails on the Lewis River south of Mt. St. Helens and the trails on the east side of the volcano, south of Randle. [See Map]

Once you are done exploring the trails on the gorge, head north into the mountains and check out the trails in the Wind River area. Take a car tour or camp and fish in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The forest includes the Indian Heaven Wilderness - 20,600 acres of broad, rolling country, straddling the crest of the Cascade Range with subalpine meadows and 175 small lakes. Originally known to the Indians as "Sahalee Tyee," the area has been and is culturally important to Native Americans. "Indian Heaven" offers visitors wildlife and panoramic views, as well as wildflowers and huckleberries, in season. If you visit in In late August or early September, there's huckleberry picking at numerous places throughout the Gifford Pinchot National Forest north of Carson.

Another recommended activity is to visit the Carson Mineral Hot Springs Resort. The rustic resort is an old hotel that was finished in 1901 and the cabins & bathhouse were added in 1923. It's like stepping back into the 1930s. Bathhouse visitors are ushered into separate male and female soaking rooms, each lined with several old, claw-foot tubs. The $12 hot mineral bath includes a 20-minute soak followed by a warm body wrap (drinking a glass of springs water is recommended) and shower. In addition to the cabins, there is a restaurant and adjacent 18-hole golf course. The resort, (800) 607-3678, is just north of the Columbia River Gorge. Follow SR 14 east to the Carson turnoff, head north into town and take a right on Hot Springs Avenue. It is wheelchair accessible and the staff is more than willing to help you. If you need help getting in an out of the tubs, however, you should probably bring someone with you so you don't have to wait for the attendant.

Lacamas Park Trails - Camas

Directions:
HWY-14 East to 6th avenue Camas Business Loop Exit (about 7 miles from I-205). Yellow flashing light at exit. Follow 6th avenue to NE Garfield Street. Turn left onto Garfield up hill to NE Everett Street. Turn right onto Everett and follow about 1 1/2 miles. On right hand side there will be a park and a parking lot. There are rail map signs in parking area.

Features:
The park contains a 6-mile network of scenic hiking trails. The trails offer exellent opportunities to watch for birds and rock formations, which are located in the potholes, near the falls. The trail is wide and you have the option of either following it around Lacamas Lake, on a flat path through the woods (the accessible part) or up and beyond, following the river. Beautiful scenery all around with lakes, trees, and waterfalls. Lots of tall pines and wildflowers in late spring. In mid-April the Camas Lilies are in bloom.

Other:
There are restrooms, picnic tables, play center, and shelter. Round Lake, located within the park is a fisher's paradise, with a nice mixture of Trout, bass, perch, bluegill; some channel catfish and pumpkinseed sunfish. (Fishing access has designated parking. North from Camas on SR-500 1 mile; turn west on Ledbetter Road for 1 mile). Non-motorized boating only.

Look for more trail opportunities in the future. Both Camas and Washougal have been active in acquiring open space lands in the Washougal River Greenway.

Sams Walker Day Use Site - Trail # 4402

Directions:
Highway 14 - Turn south at milepost 32.83 onto the west entrance road to Skamania Landing near the town of Skamania. Turn left on the west end of Skamania Landing Road- this road is a loop - don't take the east end. Follow the road over the railway track; the parking lot is 0.3 mile on the right.

Features:
This is a two-mile trail with two loops through oak and conifer forests and meadows. Part of Columbia George National Scenic Area, this wheelchair-accessible site provides river access, magnificent views of the Oregon side of the gorge, and interpretive signs. The variety of habitats-ranging from seasonal wetlands to forests of Oregon oak, ash, and black cottonwood-provide for an abundance of wildlife. Blacktail deer, black bear, coyote, ruffed grouse, red-tailed hawk, and woodpecker all thrive in this environment. [map]

Other:
Accessible restrooms.

St. Cloud Trail

Directions:
To reach the trail, travel west of Stevenson on Highway 14 for about 14 miles. Travel three miles west of Skamania Landing and the Skamania General Store, then turn south 0.1 miles past milepost 30 off Highway 14.

Features:
The level, universal access footpath is about a mile long, meandering through a 50-year-old apple orchard. A pleasant spot for picnics (5 areas) with access to the Columbia River and a view of Multnomah Falls across the gorge.

Fort Cascades Trail

Directions:
Near Bonneville Dam off the Dam Access Road.

Features:
This interpretive trail is It is a easy one-and-a-half mile loop along flat ground. The trail includes several sights of important events that happened during early settlement of this area. The guide brochure numbers and explains each sight in the order the visitor comes to them, offering a "hands-on" historical experience. The Fort Cascades Trail area was a focal point for commerce beginning with the American Indians and continuing through explorers, fur traders, settlers, railroad workers and fishermen. The trail brochure tells the story of this National Historic Site. The Fort Cascades Trail Guide is available at the Dam visitor center and the Skamania County Chamber of Commerce in Stevenson. If you pass through Stevenson visit the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum.Offers free, self-guiding tours of the massive hydroelectric facility on the Columbia River.U.S. Army Corps of Engineer park rangers and guides are on-site providing interpretive activities throughout each day. The Fish Viewing Building contains underwater windows and regional history displays that cover such topics as early history, development of the fishing industry and fish life cycles.

Hemlock Lake Recreation Area (USDA FS)

Directions:
From SR 14, drive N from Carson along the Wind River Hwy (FS 30). Turn left on FS 43. Continue 1 mi to Wind River Ranger Station. Lake is located adjacent to the ranger station.

Features:
Pond setting with fishing pier and 0.25 mi trail. All facilities are accessible here.

Whistle Punk Trail

Directions:
From SR 14 travel north for 9 miles on Wind River Hwy. Turn left onto Hemlock Road and go 1 1/4 miles to FS Road #43 (just past the Ranger Station). Turn right on FS Road 43 and go 1/2 mile to FS Road 417. Turn right on FS Road 417. Take a left at the T-intersection (stop sign). Road runs alongside the Nursery fields. Go about 1/4 mile to the parking lot.

Features:
This 1.5 mile trail is a barrier-free interpretive trail that tells the story of forest management from a historical perspective. Signs and a brochure guide visitors along the trail, which runs along an old railroad grade (dating back to 1913) and past features associated with railroad logging by the Wind River Logging Company. The trail also goes past a wetland area and into an old-growth forest. The final leg of the trail takes visitors through an old Wind River Nursery field. The trail surface is crushed compacted gravel, 48 inches wide with turnouts and resting benches. There are 2 accessible vault-type toilets.

Sunset Campground Trail

Directions:
Part of the Wind River Ranger District, but accessed on SR 503, 1 mi S of Amboy, take County Rd 16 (Worthington Rd) past Yacolt for 2 mi to County Rd 12 (Sunset Falls Rd). Take County Rd 12 for 7 mi to campground. (See Cowlitz section for other trails in this area. The roads and recreational opportunities wind between these two counties.)

Features:
In a river setting, there is a .25 mi accessible trail at the campground.

Other:
Accessible restrooms. Water is handpump with 5% grade.

More Campgrounds

Beaver Campground. Wind River Ranger District. From SR 14, drive N from Carson for 13 mi along the Wind River Hwy. Shady river setting with large grassy field for day use Accessible camping and restrooms

Paradise Creek Campground. Wind River Ranger District. From SR 14, drive N from Carson for 20 mi along the Wind River Highway. Lush cedar and Douglas fir grove. Accessible restrooms, partially accessible camping.

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Pending Evaluation. Plans are in progress to construct a "Gateway to the Columbia River Gorge" facility on Steigerwald Lake NWR. This facility proposes to provide visitors with interpretive information about the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and provide visitor facilities on the refuge. The proposed facilities include an interpretive center with a kiosk, observation platform with viewing scopes and an interpretive trail following Gibbons Creek to the Columbia River and onto the Columbia River dike trail. Until these facilities are constructed, Steigerwald Lake NWR remains closed to the public. The public is allowed to view refuge wildlife while using the 2-mile Columbia River dike trail which starts at Steamboat Landing on the Port of Camas/Washougal property or from State Highway 14.

Symbols

	An agency or a trip evaluation has rated all or part of the trail as wheelchair accessible.
	There is some terrain greater than a 5% grade. A wheelchair user may require assistance on portions of this trail. Suitable for power mobility devices.
	No Dogs are allowed on the trail.