My guidebooks offer explorations of the neighborhoods, trails, scenic backroads, museums, downtowns & parks of the Columbia River Gorge and Portland, Oregon.

Jul 28, 2016

1 Gorge: Washougal, WA adventures by land, water and plate + SUPing on Lacamas Lake

Want some fresh gorge excitement? Read on if, like me, you love to avoid crowds and find tucked away gems — both urban and wild. Also showcased: new and thriving businesses that help make the gorge an ever-expanding corridor of kickass adventures. Places featured are from my 2016 book, Columbia Gorge Getaways.

In the book’s first multiday tour — Washougal — one adventure leads you out onto Lacamas Lake. It’s in Camas, a former company town that lies shoulder to shoulder with Washougal on Washington’s side of the gorge.

Lacamas Lake is a natural lake made bigger in 1883 by a dam that raised the water level. Portland’s Henry Pittock needed a third paper mill to produce print for his newspaper, the *Oregonian*. His “La Camas Colony Company” built the dam and used water power to run a saw mill and pulp mill. It also platted out 60 blocks for a town to house workers at the mill, then called the Columbia River Paper Company. The lake is drained each October by its owners, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, to repair the dam and other structures. The mill now makes paper towels and tissues.

Rent paddle boards at Sweetwater SUP Rentals. They’ll put the boards in the water for you and set you up to paddle the 2.4-mile-long lake. Don’t miss paddling over to Round Lake which, depending on water levels, may require you to lay on your board to slide under a bridge. The reward: a roadless lake fringed with green and chirping with wildlife.

In the big lake, islands to explore, blackberries to eat, bald eagles to gaze at, and yellow water lilies — once a staple food of Native Americans — to glide past are part of a mellow adventure.

A few ropes hanging off stout Douglas fir branches invite you to be like Huck. Bring a waterproof bag for a camera, water, and maybe a sun hat so you can stop paddling a bit, lie on your board, and have a mid-lake moment of ahhh.

Sweetwater is owned by Rene Carroll and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law Lydia Stuart. Rene tells how the business got started:

“Lydia was helping me with a city-sponsored SUP race, and it became clear to us that there was a need for SUP rentals — they’re were none anywhere in Clark County.”

That was two years ago. As a lifelong Camas-Washougalite, Rene’s well connected. Her marketing and PR business, Rene Carroll Consulting, works with the city, the school district, and the Columbia River Gorge Visitors Association. She’s all about making the gorge a better place for residents and visitors.

Working with Friends of the Columbia Gorge, one goal of gorge towns is a gorgewide trail network, so you can walk the length of the gorge on urban paths and wilderness trails to wineries, brew pubs, historic downtowns and inns.

As more trails are built, gorge towns are offering more services and adventures for visitors. In Camas, Rene and Lydia got a watercraft concession from the City of Camas for Lacamas Lake Regional Park and sent their first paddler gliding off in August 2014.

Business is great. “ SUPing is the fastest growing water sport in the world,” Rene says. (And if you’re wondering, it’s pronounced “supping”, not S-U-P-ing.) “We were lucky enough to tap into an emerging market.”

With 10 SUPs and 8 single or tandem kayaks, it’s best to call ahead — 360–609–1212 — for a reservation. On a mellow July Wednesday, by 1 p.m. the line for boards was growing.

After your lake paddle, do what I and a couple of 14-year-olds did on a hot July day: head for the Washougal River.

On the Washougal: Lots of deep pools= good launching spots. This dad followed his four boys into the river. They jumped straight, but the old guy hotdogged it spectacularly. (As a mom, I have to add: don’t jump until you know what’s down there; conditions change in rivers as often as day turns to night.) This spot is near the Washougal Hatchery on Washougal River Road. If you’re wondering where to stop on the Washougal to play, look for pullouts along that road. A Discover Pass is required at all sites.

Dougan Falls, at the end of the pavement on Washougal River Road. Yes, there are restrooms.

After you’ve had a few adventures, and especially if it’s hot, head to the Puffin Cafe, floating on the water at the Port of Camas-Washougal. Boats like shiny colorful candies drift by, filled with people showing lots of skin. Afterwards, check out the riverfront: the Port area is changing fast: the old Hambleton sawmill site is being turned into Washougal Waterfront Park and Trail; it will connect eventually with other riverfront trails in town. West of the Puffin Cafe is a small park that marks the first European settlement here at Parkersville.