Lewis and Clark's Columbia River
Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Lacamas Creek, Lacamas Lake, and Round Lake, Washington"
Includes ... Lacamas Creek ... Lacamas Lake ... Round Lake ... Fallen Leaf Lake ... Mill Pond ... Lacamas Park ... Camas, Washington ... Potholes Falls ... "The Potholes" ... National Register of Historic Places ...
Image, 2009, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Autumn, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken October 16, 2009.


Lacamas area ...
The "Lacamas area" lies at the northern edge of Camas, Washington, and includes such features as Lacamas Creek, Lacamas Lake, Round Lake, Mill Pond, Fallen Leaf Lake (Dead Lake), Potholes Falls, and the "Camas Lily Fields". The area features boating, birding, and hiking the many trails. Lacamas Regional Park (Lacamas Park), Heritage Park, and Fallen Leaf Lake Park are popular picnic places. This area is located north of Columbia River Mile (RM) 120.

Lacamas Creek Drainage ...
The Lacamas Creek drainage rises in Larch Mountain, Washington, and flows southwest and then southeast before widening into Lacamas Lake. Lacamas Lake's outlet flows under the highway before widening into Round Lake. From Round Lake the waters split, with some water entering Mill Pond to the west and other water flowing over the "Upper Dam" into Lacamas Creek. Lacamas Creek continues in a southern direction before merging into the Camas Slough at the mouth of the Washougal River. At the Mill Pond junction, waters from Round Lake flow into Mill Pond and head south where they split, with some water going over the "Lower Dam" and back into Lacamas Creek, and other water flowing into a man-made channel for use by the Camas papermill.

Lacamas Creek ...
The Lacamas Creek rises in Larch Mountain, Washington, and flows 21 miles before merging into the Camas Slough near Camas, Washington. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names made the name "Lacamas Creek" official in 1937.

Image, 2007, Lacamas Creek, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Creek, Washington. View from moving car on highway. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Lacamas Creek, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Creek from dam at Round Lake, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Creek, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Creek from dam at Round Lake, Washington. Image taken November 3, 2008.


Views ...

Image, 2007, My Corps of Discovery group, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		My "Corps of Discovery" members at Round Lake - Genna (pointer), Riley (vizsla) and Gene. Round Lake is in the background. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2009, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Fishing, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken April 29, 2009.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Photographer, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken November 3, 2008.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Path at Round Lake, Washington. Image taken October 3, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Squirrel, Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken September 30, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken October 24, 2008.
Image, 2009, Frog, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Frog, Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken October 1, 2009.
Image, 2009, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Monkeyflower, Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken April 14, 2009.
Image, 2010, Lacamas Lake area, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Trillium, Lacamas Lake area, Camas, Washington. Image taken March 16, 2010.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		"Shaggy Mane", Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken November 6, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		"Questionable Stropharia", Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken November 6, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		"Artic Skipper", Heritage Park, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken June 4, 2008.


Lacamas Lake, etc.

  • Camas Fields ...
  • Fallen Leaf Lake (Dead Lake) ...
  • Heritage Park ...
  • Lacamas Lake ...
  • Lacamas Lake Regional Park ...
  • Pittock (Lakeside, Leadbetter) House ...
  • Round Lake (Reservoir) ...
  • Round Lake Dam and Spillway ...
  • Mill Pond ...
  • Pothole Falls ("The Potholes") ...


Camas Fields ...
Spring brings out the Camas flowers around Lacamas Lake and Round Lake, just north of Camas, Washington.
[More]

Image, 2007, Approaching Camas fields, Camas, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Approaching the camas fields, Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2010, Lacamas Camas Fields, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Camas Fields, Washington. Image taken April 21, 2010.
Image, 2007, Camas, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Camas field. Gene, Genna, and Riley. View from east of Lacamas Lake and Round Lake, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Camas, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Camas fields near Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Camas, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Camas fields near Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Camas fields, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Basalt, Camas fields near Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Camas, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Camas flower, Camas fields near Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Camas, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Trail through Camas fields near Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2010, Lacamas Camas Fields, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Rosy Plectritis and Camas Lilies, Lacamas Camas Fields, Washington. Image taken April 21, 2010.


Fallen Leaf Lake (Dead Lake) ...
Fallen Leaf Lake is part of the 119-acre Fallen Leaf Lake Park and Natural Area. According to a Clark County Parks brochure (2014), the property was purchased between 1999 and 2011. The park is managed by the City of Camas and features a shelter, picnic tables, large open lawn, volleyball court, and unpaved trails. The 15-acre Fallen Leaf Lake is located south of Lacamas Lake and west of Round Lake. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names "official" name for this lake is "Dead Lake", which appears on topographic maps. Local residents are trying to change the name to "Fallen Leaf Lake".

Image, 2018, Fallen Leaf Lake, Camas, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Fallen Leaf Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken January 10, 2018.
Image, 2018, Fallen Leaf Lake, Camas, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Fallen Leaf Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken January 10, 2018.
Image, 2018, Fallen Leaf Lake, Camas, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Fallen Leaf Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken January 10, 2018.


Heritage Park ...
Camas's Heritage Park is a 5.5-acre developed park at Lacamas Lake and is located next to the Lacamas Lake Lodge (old Moose Lodge). The park has a two-lane boat launch, floating dock, boat and vehicle parking, picnic tables, open grass area, walking path, and restroom facilities. According to the Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce (2016):

"Lacamas Heritage Trail along Lacamas Lake is a long continuous nature corridor that receives considerable use. Paved and unpaved trails in Lacamas Park and Lacamas Creek Park provide a good outdoor experience that is easily accessible to the public.

Image, 2017, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Scenic view from Heritage Park, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken May 3, 2017.
Image, 2017, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Boat launch, Heritage Park, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken May 3, 2017.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Trail, Heritage Park, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken July 2, 2008.


Lacamas Lake ...
Lacamas Lake is a narrow 3-mile-long lake located east of Vancouver, Washington, and one mile north of Camas, Washington. Round Lake joins Lacamas Lake on its southeast side. Lacamas Lake was formed by building two dams along Lacamas Creek at Round Lake. Lacamas Lake is used as a fresh-water supply for the Crown-Zellerback pulp and papermills at Camas.

Image, 2018, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. View looking northwest. Image taken June 11, 2018.
Image, 2007, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken June 24, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Fishing, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken June 24, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Winter, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken December 17, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Holly berries, Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken October 28, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		"Osprey", Heritage Park, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken June 12, 2008.
Image, 2008, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Greater Yellow-legs, Lacamas Lake, Washington. Image taken October 29, 2008.


Lacamas Lake Regional Park ...
The 312-acre Lacamas Lake Regional Park surrounds Round Lake, and features a picnic shelter, barbecue grills, picnic tables, a playground, and 6 miles of scenic hiking trails. This park is popular in the spring when the Camas is in bloom.

Image, 2012, Lacamas Park Map, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Map, Lacamas Park, Camas, Washington. Image taken February 5, 2012.
Image, 2010, Lacamas Park, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Varied Thrush, Lacamas Park, Camas, Washington. Image taken January 6, 2010.


Pittock (Lakeside, Leadbetter) House ...
The Queen Anne style Pittock House, also known as the "Lakehouse" or the "Leadbetter House", was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1979 (Architecture/Engineering #79003148).

"The Pittock-Leadbetter House, a particularly fine example of the Queen Anne style in a rural setting, is associated with two interrelated families prominent in regional Oregon-Washington history. ... Henry L. Pittock, patriarch of the family, had the house on La Camas Lake built for his son and daughter-in-law, Frederick and Bertha Leadbetter Pittock, at the time of their marriage in 1902. By this time Pittock enterprises [The Oregonian, Crown-Zellerbach, and the Oregon Bank] were well established on both sides of the Columbia River ... The sumptuous farmhouse, always known as "Lakeside", was commissioned by Henry, who chose to ignore his daughter-in-law's preference for a house in the Colonial style."


Source:    U.S. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, #79003148.


Image, 2018, Pittock House, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Pittock (Lakeside, Leadbetter) House, Lacamas Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken June 11, 2018.


Round Lake (Reservoir) ...
Round Lake is a 32-acre lake southeast of Lacamas Lake, and separated from Lacamas Lake by a narrow mile-long strip of land. According to Robert Hitchman in Place Names of Washington (1985, Washington State Historical Society), early pioneers called the lake "round", presumably because it wasn't square.

Image, 2007, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Round Lake, Camas, Washington, near dam. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Round Lake, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Autumn, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken October 28, 2008.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Autumn, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken November 3, 2008.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Path, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken October 3, 2008.
Image, 2007, Round Lake, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Path at Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2009, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Autumn, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken October 16, 2009.
Image, 2007, Round Lake, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Trail at Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2012, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Monster bird track, Round Lake, Washington. Dinosaur perhaps ??? Image taken February 2, 2012.
Image, 2010, Lacamas Camas Fields, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Mallards, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken May 12, 2010.
Image, 2009, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Great Blue Heron, Round Lake, Washington. Image taken October 16, 2009.


Round Lake Dam and Spillway ...
(to come

Image, 2007, Round Lake at Mill Pond, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Bridge, Round Lake at Mill Pond, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2010, Round Lake Dam, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Dam, Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken October 22, 2010.
Image, 2007, Round Lake Dam, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Dam, spillway, Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.
Image, 2007, Round Lake Dam, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Dam walkway, Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.


Mill Pond ...
Mill Pond is the "slough" located west of Round Lake. Water from Round Lake enters Mill Pond near the Round Lake Dam (Lacamas Creek's "Upper Dam") and it exits Mill Pond at Mill Pond's southern end, where it flows over the "Lower Dam" and back into Lacamas Creek, or flows south through a man-made channel to the Camas paper mill.

Image, 2012, Lacamas Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Tufted Duck, male, Mill Pond at Round Lake, Camas, Washington. Image taken February 2, 2012.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Wood Ducks, Mill Pond from Round Lake trail, Washington. Image taken September 18, 2008.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Mill Pond from Round Lake trail, Washington. Image taken October 3, 2008.
Image, 2008, Round Lake, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Area around the Mill Pond, from Round Lake trail, Washington. Image taken October 3, 2008.


Pothole Falls ("The Potholes") ...
Pothole Falls is one of two falls on Lacamas Creek before the creek reaches the Columbia River. Lower Falls (30 feet high and 75 feet wide) is the second. According to "Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest" website (2007):

"... Pothole Falls, or The Potholes, depending on which sign you confront, is the first of two modest waterfalls along Lacamas Creek as it flows from Lacamas and Round Lakes to the Washougal River. Round Lake is formed by a small dam on the creek, immediately below which the creek begins pounding through a sandstone gorge with all sorts of potholes in the streambed. About 300 feet downstream of the dam lies the falls, a 50 foot wide, 15 foot tall plunge. The falls are so named because of the various potholes which punctuate the ledge, funneling the water this way and that – particularly in the warmer seasons. Unfortunately, trees block views of the falls from most perspectives along the rim of the gorge. There is one clear view amid a field a short distance downstream, particularly scenic in the spring when copious swaths of wildflowers bloom amid the grassy knoll. ..."

Image, 2007, Pothole Falls, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Looking back at Pothole Falls, Lacamas Creek, Camas, Washington. Image taken April 28, 2007.


From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, ...
 



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*River Miles [RM] are approximate, in statute miles, and were determined from USGS topo maps, obtained from NOAA nautical charts, or obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website, 2003

Sources:
  • City of Camas, 2017, "Fallen Leaf Lake Park and Natural Area";
  • Hitchman, R., 1985, Place Names of Washington, Washington Historical Society;
  • U.S. Geologic Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database, 2007;
  • Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest website, 2007;


All Lewis and Clark quotations from Gary Moulton editions of the Lewis and Clark Journals, University of Nebraska Press, all attempts have been made to type the quotations exactly as in the Moulton editions, however typing errors introduced by this web author cannot be ruled out; location interpretation from variety of sources, including this website author.
/Regions/Places/lacamas_lake.html
June 2017