Click image to enlarge
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Skamania Island, Washington, as seen from the Cape Horn overlook.
Image taken October 27, 2004.
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Skamania Island ...
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Skamania Island, Washington, is a cottonwood-covered island 1.5 miles long and lies in the middle of the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 136. Prindle, Washington lies a mile and one-half east of Skamania Island. The island is managed by the U.S. Forest Service (Gifford Pinchot).
A nice view of Skamania Island can be had from the Cape Horn overlook off of Washington State Highway 14. On the Oregon side, the island can be seen from Dalton Point.
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Click image to enlarge
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Columbia River looking upstream from Cape Horn, Washington.
Skamania Island and Beacon Rock are in the distance.
Image taken April 22, 2006.
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Early Skamania Island ...
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In 1805 Lewis and Clark passed through the area of today's Skamania Island but make no mention of it. Their route map [Map#79, Moulton, Vol.1] shows no island.
In 1841 Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, called an island "Long Island", located in the vicinity of today's Skamania Island.
"Castle" is Beacon Rock. However, this web author is not sure which of today's locations is "Observatory Point".
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"... Here the channel is the whole width of the river; as it approaches Long Island it turns towards the south shore. Long Island lies close to the north shore, is composed of sand, with a very few bushes growing on it. Between it and the shore there is a narrow passage for barges and boats, which may be used to avoid the strength of the current when ascending the river. Seven miles above Long Island is the head of navigation, near what was named Castle, at Observatory Point, on the north shore. ..."
The U.S. Board of Geographic Names made "Skamania Island" the official name in 1985.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 2, 1805 ...
Examined the rapid below us [from their camp at Fort Rains, looking at the Cascade Rapids] more pertcelarly the danger appearing too great to Hazzard our Canoes loaded, dispatched all the men who could not Swim with loads to the end of the portage below, I also walked to the end of the portage with the carriers where I delayed untill everry articles was brought over and canoes arrived Safe. here we brackfast and took a Meridn. altitude 59° 45' 45" about the time we were Setting out 7 Squars came over loaded with Dried fish, and bear grass neetly bundled up, Soon after 4 Indian men came down over the rapid in a large canoe.
passed a rapid at 2 miles & 1 at 4 miles opposite the lower point of a high Island on the Lard Side [Bradford Island], and a little below 4 Houses on the Stard. Bank, a Small Creek on the Lard Side [Tanner Creek] opposit Straw berry Island [Hamilton Island], which heads below the last rapid, opposit the lower point of this Island [Hamilton Island] passed three Islands covered with tall timber [today there are two, Ives and Pierce] opposit the Beatin rock [Beacon Rock]
Those Islands are nearest the Starboard Side, imediately below on the Stard. Side passed a village of nine houses [Skamania and Skamania Landing], which is Situated between 2 Small Creeks [Woodward Creek and Duncan Creek], and are of the Same construction of those above; here the river widens to near a mile, and the bottoms are more extensive and thickly timbered, as also the high mountains on each Side, with Pine, Spruce pine, Cotton wood, a Species of ash, and alder. at 17 miles passed a rock near the middle of the river [Phoca Rock], about 100 feet high and 80 feet Diamuter,
proceed on down a Smoth gentle Stream of about 2 miles wide, in which the tide has its effect as high as the Beaten rock [Beacon Rock] or the Last rapids at Strawberry Island [Hamilton Island],- Saw great numbers of waterfowl of Different kinds, Such as Swan, Geese, white & grey brants, ducks of various kinds, Guls, & Pleaver [today just below Beacon Rock is Franz National Wildlife Refuge]. ...
we encamped under a high projecting rock on the Lard. Side [Rooster Rock], here the mountains leave the river on each Side
[the massive basalt cliff of Crown Point is on the south side],
which from the great Shute to this place is high and rugid [Columbia River Gorge]; thickly Covered with timber principalley of the Pine Species. The bottoms below appear extensive and thickly Covered with wood. river here about 2½ miles wide. Seven Indians in a Canoe on their way down to trade with the nativs below, encamp with us, those we left at the portage passed us this evening and proceeded on down The ebb tide rose here about 9 Inches, the flood tide must rise here much higher- we made 29 miles to day from the Great Shute [Cascade Locks]-
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