Columbia River Gorge ©Jason Hummel Photography
camas and washougal - Gateway to the columbia River Gorge
Content and photos provided by Downtown Camas Association and City of Washougal unless noted.
The communities of Camas and Washougal offer an abundance of small-town charm and scenic natural beauty to explore. Located at the western entrance to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, visitors enjoy shopping, dining, hiking, art, water sports, breweries, history and more. Relax and enjoy a day or weekend away from the hustle and bustle of busy life in this historic, quaint region. Explore charming tree-lined streets filled with locally owned boutiques, delicious restaurants and pubs and engaging public art.
Camas
Downtown Camas, situated just west of the scenic Columbia River Gorge, offers a charming historic setting where visitors can slow down and enjoy a pleasant afternoon stroll, a romantic evening, a family outing, or a mini vacation at the historic Camas Hotel. Lovely tree-lined streets with old fashioned streetlamps entice visitors to explore well curated shops, cafes, pubs and lively cocktail bars. The historic Liberty Theatre is a highlight as is the public art you can discover all through town. Nearby wilderness trails, rivers and lakes add to the ambiance, creating a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation.
Be on the lookout for the many bronze bird sculptures located throughout downtown. The Downtown Camas Hidden Bronze Bird Tour includes 14 life-sized sculptures of birds native to the Pacific Northwest.
Every Wednesday, from June through September, the Camas Farmers Market offers a bounty of local produce and products. Live music, activities for kids and food vendors can be found at the farmers market!
First Friday of each month is extra special in downtown Camas. Visitors enjoy themed activities, after-hours shopping, art in the open air and a joyful sense of community.
Washougal
Whether you’re looking for a basecamp to explore the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area or seeking out some small-town charm with a fascinating origin, it is easy to see why visitors keep discovering Washougal. Incorporated in 1908, it was the site of some of the very earliest American settlers and pioneers in the Washington Territory, including Lewis and Clark. Beautifully bordered by the Columbia and Washougal Rivers, the area provides year-round recreation including kayaking, fishing, and swimming.
Downtown Washougal's Reflection Plaza plays host to many community events all year long. Set along Main Street in Washougal, it is close to the Washougal Town Square, Pendleton Woolen Mills Outlet Store, and the Two Rivers Heritage Museum. In and around downtown, discover the nearly 50 installations of public art, ranging from whimsical to historic with the Public Art Walking Tour.
To access the Columbia River, a pedestrian tunnel conveniently allows visitors to move safely from downtown Washougal to the shoreline for fishing or sunset walks on the newly completed Waterfront Trail. Visitors can continue east on the levee trail to Captain William Clark Park and Cottonwood Beach. Whichever direction you take, the scenery along any portion of the waterfront is simply breathtaking!
New in Washougal
Ashwood Taps & Trucks is a new Pacific Northwest inspired tap house & food cart pod open to all ages (and pets) in the heart of Washougal that features favorite local beers, ciders, wine & kombucha options to quench your adult thirst. With expansive indoor and outdoor spaces, Ashwood is very family and pet friendly and offers a range of food choices provided by local food trucks to compliment your beverage of choice.
Trap Door Brewing was established in 2015 with the goal of producing high-quality award-winning beer and they just opened a second location in downtown Washougal. Visit the vibrant, family friendly taproom, order food from the modern pub menu and sip on some of the most exciting beers in the NW.
Hartwood Park Disc Golf Course is a brand new, professionally designed 9-hole disc golf course that was just completed along 40 acres of scenic public property in the Campen Creek Corridor. Disc golf is a growing sport where players complete a hole by throwing a disc from a tee pad or area toward a target, throwing again from where the previous throw landed, until the target is reached.