In Camas, you can plan a trip on foot around different trail profiles and local history: Heritage Park is on Lacamas Lake, the Washougal River Greenway Trail crosses a river, and the Mill Ditch Trail has a specific historical connection. Nature watching and a historical walking tour offer additional distinct points of interest. As you plan your trip, consider whether a waterside landscape, wildlife, a particular trail length, or local history should shape your stay.
At Lacamas Lake: the Heritage Park Trail
The Heritage Park Trail is a 6.9-mile loop trail on Lacamas Lake. If you’re looking for a loop, its length and lakeside location can serve as specific planning points. The trail is suitable for all skill levels and is accessible year-round; check local notices before your visit.
Nature watching at Lacamas Regional Park
Lacamas Regional Park has areas for birdwatching. The forests in the higher-elevation part of the park are home to deer, raccoons, beavers, coyotes, ospreys, and bald eagles, among other wildlife. At Round Lake, the park offers fishing for bass, bluegill, and perch. Birdwatching and fishing are therefore available as different activities. The park also offers opportunities for photography, especially when the Camas lilies bloom around mid-April.
Comparing trails: river bridge and trail surface
The Washougal River Greenway Trail is on the eastern edge of Camas and is 2.2 miles long. Its steel-and-wood pedestrian bridge lets hikers cross the Washougal River with clear views upstream and downstream. Both the Heritage Park Trail and the Washougal River Greenway Trail are suitable for all skill levels and are accessible year-round; check local notices about the Heritage Park Trail before your visit.
The Mill Ditch Trail is about 2.6 miles long, mostly flat, and unpaved. It can be accessed from major roads such as NE Dallas and NE Garfield. By length, the Greenway is the shortest of the three trails at 2.2 miles, the Mill Ditch Trail is in the middle at about 2.6 miles, and the Heritage Park Trail is the longest at 6.9 miles. In addition to their lengths, the trails differ in their described features: a lakeside loop, a river crossing, or a mostly flat, unpaved surface.
Local history and a historical walking tour
The ditch along the Mill Ditch Trail was dug by hand in 1884 by 125 Chinese laborers over about five months. The year, duration, number of workers, and method of construction give the ditch’s origins a specific connection to local labor history.
The Liberty Theatre was originally called the Granada Theatre and was built in 1927. The Downtown Camas Historic Walking Tour starts at the corner of 4th and Adams, next to the wooden “Downtown Camas” sign. This provides a specific starting point for the tour.
Discover more destinations: La Center, Ridgefield, Battle Ground, Salmon Creek, Washougal, Vancouver.
For the overview of the wider travel area: Clark.
