Washougal River Greenway Loop Hike
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Start point: Baz Riverfront Park Trailhead
- End point: Yale and 2nd Trailhead
- Hike Type: Loop or In and Out
- Distance: 2.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 70 feet
- High Point: 50 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Seasons: All year
- Family Friendly: Yes
- Backpackable: No
- Crowded: Yes
Contents |
Hike Description
This paved trail, boardwalk, and footbridge over the Washougal River was dedicated in Summer, 2010. The cottonwood trees blaze yellow in the fall and any time of the year is good for birdwatching. If you use city streets, the less developed section on the north bank of the Washougal River is accessible on the recommended loop although you can also do an in and out of about two miles using just the south bank trail.
From the parking area at little Baz Riverfront Park, walk back to the map and sign for the Washougal River Greenway. Head down a sloped universal trail and switchback in a cottonwood, ash and willow swale. Take a wide boardwalk across a swath of reed canary-grass and swing left to the impressive new footbridge over the Washougal River. While on the bridge, look up the river for great blue herons and flocks of waterfowl. The top of Mount Hood is also visible. Downstream, the Georgia-Pacific Camas Mill stacks billow steam into the sky. Wind down from the bridge to the south bank of the river and pass a pond which was the site of a gravel pit for mining river rock. Loop away from the river under cottonwoods and pass around a second flooded gravel pit. Head up to a grassy expanse under powerlines where a picnic table invites under two large, spreading oaks. As a diversion, you can walk up the grassy slope towards the railroad. You can find Goot Park to your left. Otherwise, reach the gravel Yale and 2nd Trailhead parking lot. If you are not doing the loop option, turn back here and retrace your steps.
To do the loop, walk along 2nd Avenue for four blocks until you reach 3rd Avenue. Turn left here and cross the Washougal River on the road bridge. Get views upstream of Woodburn Hill, a Boring volcano. Once you are across the bridge, look down to your left for a use trail through the blackberries that reaches the cobbled shore of the river. Essentially you will be walking along an overflow channel of the river until you reach the boat ramp road coming down from the large Washougal River Greenway Trailhead. You can walk up to the oak-lined parking area from here and resume the trail, or continue long the river flanked by large cottonwoods until you are under the powerline corridor. Then, find a track through the blackberries that will take you up to join a gravel trail running east-west under the powerlines. This trail enters a deciduous woodland of cottonwood, oak, and cherry. Reach a junction with a map of the north side trails. Go left on a spur to the river and then return to head up to 3rd Avenue. Walk west along 3rd for about 1/10th of a mile and take 3rd Loop which circles behind riverfront homes. It’s about 1/5th of a mile around the loop road to Baz Riverfront Park.
Maps
Fees, Regulations, etc.
- Park hours 7:00 a.m. to dusk.
- Dogs are permitted on leash.
- Trails may be closed at times of high water.
Trip Reports
- Search Trip Reports for Washougal River Greenway Loop Hike
Related Discussions / Q&A
- Search Trail Q&A for Washougal River Greenway Loop Hike
Guidebooks that cover this hike
- Urban Trails: Vancouver by Craig Romano
- Wild in the City: Exploring the Intertwine edited by Michael C. Houck and M.J. Cody
More Links
- Washougal River Greenway (Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation)
- “Washougal Greenway greeted” (The Columbian)
- Rollin' On The Washougal River (The Intertwine)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)