Author Archives: Jim

Gee Creek Trail

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The Gee Creek Trail is a 3/4 mile path connecting from Pioneer St to Heron Dr. through Abrams Park.  Heron Dr to the park is paved, but in two spots follows what appear to be private driveways, including a stretch passing right next to a house and out buildings now owned by the city.  From the park to Pioneer St is dirt.

  • Gee Creek Trail from Pioneer St.
  • Gee Creek in Abrams Park
  • A number of great informational displays have been posted along the Gee Creek Trail in Abrams Park.
  • Gee Creek Trail from Heron Drive

Ellen Davis Trail

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Four parking spaces in the parking lot off NE Ross St are reserved for users of the Ellen Davis Trail.  This trail goes two direction, though the east trail is not obvious from the parking lot. To the west the trail is a short (0.7 mile) connector to the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail.   The trail is partially paved and partially dirt, with a stretch of grass pavers on the hill.  Note that there are numerous side paths off this trail which lead to campsites where people are living in tents.

To go east on the trail, from the parking lot, follow NE Ross St. up the hill to the east. After NE 15th Ave, there will be a gravel path along the side of Ross St. This is the Ellen Davis Trail. This gravel path continues along Ross St, crosses as Ross becomes 54th St, then turns north on 22nd Ave. At the end of 22nd Ave it becomes a true trail up and over the hill, then skirting BPA to reach St. James Rd, passing through a nice forested area.

  • Ellen Davis Trail.
  • Ellen Davis Trail.
  • Bridge over Burnt Bridge Creek on the Ellen Davis Trail.
  • Dedicated parking for the Ellen Davis Trail.
  • Ellen Davis Trail switchbacks up from NE 22nd Ave.
  • Ellen Davis Trail
  • Ellen Davis Trail at NE 59th St.
  • Ellen Davis Trail access at NE 59th St has NO PARKING.
  • Ellen Davis Trail at NE St. James Rd.

Pioneer Canyon

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Ridgefield has grown rapidly for the last several years.  Many of the new developments have included multi-use trails that can make for good walks.  The Pioneer Canyon neighborhood has several paved paths that weave between residences and the wetland area.  Most, but not all, of the trails show up on Google Maps.  If you live in the neighborhood, you could start out your front door and find a good loop along several of the trails.  If you drive or ride to the neighborhood, there are many points to start into the trails.

  • Pioneer Canyon Trail near N Pioneer Canyon Dr.
  • Pioneer Canyon Trail near N Horns Corner Dr
  • Pioneer Canyon Trail near N 3rd Circle.
  • Pioneer Canyon Trail near 40th Ave.
  • Pioneer Canyon Trail near 40th Ave.
  • Pioneer Canyon Trail near N Pioneer Canyon Dr.

Tarbell Trail

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Tarbell is a 20 mile loop trail which connects to numerous other trails and logging roads for a wide variety of hiking, biking and horse riding options.  Some of the trails are very easy walks (such as the lower stretch of the Tarbell Trail near Rock Creek Camp) while others are very rough, steep and challenging.  I suggest that you carefully study the maps at trailforks.com before trying these trails for the first time.

Washougal Waterfront Park & Parkers Landing

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Three parks create an area for a shoreline walk.  Parkers Landing Historical Park includes displays about the history of the site, including works of the Chinook people.  Next to that is the Marine Park with memorials to Washougal soldiers lost in foreign wars.  You can then walk east to the Washougal Waterfront Park which includes a wide concrete walking path.  there are side trails from the walking path for a yet to be developed nature trail along the river.  Plans are also in the works to build a .64 mile multi-use path from the east end of the park to connect with Steamboat Landing Park which will then provide a completed trail connection to Captain William Clark Park and to Steigerwald Lake Wildlife Refuge.

There are three parking lots that can be used for these parks.  1) At the west end, park in the Port of Camas-Washougal Parking lot at S A St and S 1st St;  2) Park at the Washougal Waterfront Park on S 2nd St; or 3) continue east on Frontage Rd and park in the lot at the east end of the Waterfront Park.

  • Historical Park at Parkers Landing
  • Memorial Park at Parkers Landing
  • Walk the dock at Washougal Waterfront Park
  • Washougal Waterfront Park
  • The Port Waterfront Parks area closely connected.
  • Trails in the vicinity. Future plans will connect these trails.
  • Columbia River shoreline at Washougal Waterfront Park
  • Walking path at Washougal Waterfront Park
  • Future plans for a connecting trail to parallel Highway 14 near the Washougal Waterfront Park

La Center Bottoms and Sternwheeler Park

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La Center sits on the East Fork Lewis River.  The wide bottom lands of the river runs several miles and large areas of the land along the river are in public ownership.  This allows for many miles of trails to explore, though it is not all connected.

At La Center, the trail along the East Fork Lewis River that starts at Sternwheeler Park takes you just short of a mile up river.  Side trails allow you to explore Brazee Creek and to walk along the north side of the bottom lands.

On the south side of the river, you can explore trails in the west La Center bottom lands.  During the right season, this is a good area to observe more waterfowl, including a large flock of swans who winter there.  While the trail to the west is clear for less than half a mile, it does open interesting areas to explore.

  • Sternwheeler Park
  • Sternwheeler Park
  • Trail to East Fork Lewis River wetlands.
  • Trail to East Fork Lewis River wetlands.
  • East Fork Lewis River wetlands.

 

Fallen Leaf Lake Park

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Fallen Leaf Lake is just south of Lacamas Lake, west of Round Lake.  The park has a beach area and large shelter available for reservation for events.  The trails here connect to several others connecting to nearby neighborhoods.  The TrailForks App has this area well mapped.

There are a few spaces for parking at the park entrance.  An alternative is to park on NE 23rd Ave and walk around the Fallen Leaf Softball Field to reach the park trails.

LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park

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The LeRoy Haagen Memorial Community Park includes a few trails that loop around the fields and through the wooded area.  The parking lot at the end of LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive has plenty of parking, but the park can also be entered from NE 130th Ave, NE 129th Ave, NE 11th St or three places along NE 9th St.  Walking the outermost loop of the park trails takes you just shy of 1 mile.

Be aware that while there are many trails to explore in the wooded area, last time I was there I saw two camps where someone had their tent set up in the densest areas.