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Washougal River, Washougal, Washington.
View from Washougal River Road looking downstream.
Image taken November 21, 2004.
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Washougal River ...
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The Washougal River lies downstream of the Washington communities of Camas and Washougal and joins the Columbia River at River Mile (RM) 121, with its mouth hidden behind Lady Island. Camas and Washougal are located on the floodplain of the the Washougal River.
Before the introduction of railways crossing the river, the mouth of the Washougal River was an important steamboat stop called Parker's Landing. Another landing, Steamboat Landing, lies a few miles upstream, and Fishers Landing lies downstream.
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Washougal River Drainage Basin ...
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According to the Clark County Shoreline Inventory & Characterization Report (Washington Department of Ecology, 2010), the 33-mile-long Washougal River heads in Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Skamania County and flows southwest through Skamania County and Clark County, joining the Columbia River at the community of Camas. The basin drains 212 square miles. Major tributaries include Lacamas Creek, the Little Washougal River, Canyon Creek, West Fork (North Fork) Washougal River, Dougan Creek, and Cougar Creek. Lacamas Creek joins the Washougal River about 0.5 miles upstream of the confluence with the Columbia River and the Little Washougal River joins the mainstem Washougal River at about River Mile (RM) 5.6.
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Lewis and Clark and the Washougal River ...
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Captain Clark's journal entry for November 3, 1805, refers to the Washougal River as "a Large Creek". Clark was writing about the Sandy River, on the Oregon side of the Columbia, at the time.
The "Small prarie" is today's Cottonwood Beach, a spot Lewis and Clark spent six days on their return in 1806.
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"... on the Opposit Side of the Columbia a <large Creek> falls in above this Creek on the Same Side is a Small prarie. extensive low country on each Side thickly timbered. ..."
[Clark, November 3, 1805]
During the winter months the "Creek" acquired the name of "Seal River", after the
Harbor seals which were plentiful near its mouth. Captain Clark's summation during the winter of 1805-6,
uses "Seal River", as does the route map [Moulton, vol.1, map #79]. The draft map [map#88] uses "Sea Calf River".
On the return journey Lewis and Clark's journal entries refer to the Washougal River as "Seal River".
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"... Seal river discharges itself on the N. side. it is about 80 yards wide, and at present discharges a large body of water. the water is very clear. the banks are low and near the Columbia overflow and form several large ponds. the natives inform us that it is of no great extent and heads in the mountains just above us. at the distance of one mile from the entrance of this stream it forks, the two branches being nearly of the same size. they are both obstructed with falls and innumerable rappids, insomuch that it cannot be navigated. as we could not learn any name of the natives for this stream we called it Seal river from the great abundance of those animals which we saw about it's entrance. ..."
[Lewis, March 31, 1806]
The two branches of the Washougal River are the Little Washougal (left branch) and the main stem Washougal River (right branch).
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Early History ...
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In 1805 and 1806 Lewis and Clark call the river "Seal River" (see above).
According to the Washington State Historical Society, the name Washougal first
appeared in 1811 when three young explorers from Astoria made a trip upriver to the Cascades and camped at the Washougal River. One of them, Alexander Ross, wrote in his journal that they had passed Johnston's Island and stayed the night at "Washougally Camp". "Washougal" was an Indian word believed to mean small rocks or gravel.
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"... During this day, we passed the Namowit Village, Bellevue Point, Johnson's Island, and stayed for the night as Wasough-ally Camp, near Quicksand River, which enters the Columbia on the left.
..."
[Alexander Ross, July 24, 1811]
In 1841, Charles Wilkes, of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, used the name "Evarts Bay" for the mouth of the Washougal River.
"Frost Island" is today's Lady Island.
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"... To the north of the east end of Frost Island is Evert's Bay, nearly circular, a mile in diameter ..."
[Wilkes, 1841]
In 1843, J.C. Fremont, of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, used "Tea Prairie" for the lowlands of the Camas/Washougal to Steigerwald area, and he showed a river entering the Columbia just behind an unnamed island. In his text he mentions "Tea Prairie river", presumably the Washougal River.
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"... As we advanced, the hills on both sides grew constantly lower; on the right, retreating from the shore, and forming a somewhat extensive bottom of intermingled prairie and wooded land. In the course of a few hours, and opposite to small stream coming in from the north, called the Tea Prairie river ..."
[Fremont, November 7, 1843]
The 1857 made by James Tilton, "Map of that part of Washington Territory lying west of the Cascade Mounts.: to accompany the report of Surveyor General", has the Washougal River labeled "Washookal Cr.", while a simliar 1861 map (also by James Tilton) has it labeled "Washookal R.". The 1865 "Map of public surveys in the Territory of Washington to accompany report of Surveyor General" (no creator given) has "Washougal R.".
Another interpretation for the name "Washougal" is that it is an Anglicized version of the native word for "rushing water."
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Early Maps ...
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HISTORICAL Map, 1856 cadastral survey (tax survey) map show parts of Lady Island and Washougal.
Cadastral Map for T1N R3E, 1856.
Original map courtesy U.S. Bureau of Land Managament, 2016.
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Along the Washougal River
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- RM 0.0 ... Washougal River at Mouth ...
- RM 0.5 ... BNSF Railroad Bridge 24.8 ...
- RM 3.0 ... Washougal River at Washougal River Road ...
- RM 3.5 ... Washougal River at Hathaway Park ...
- RM 5.6 ... Little Washougal River ...
- RM 12.0 ... Washougal River at Public Fishing ...
- RM 13.0 ... Schoolhouse Creek ...
- RM 13.1 ... Sasquatch ...
- RM 13.5 ... Washougal River at Canyon Creek Road ...
- RM 13.5 ... Washougal River Mercantile ...
- RM 14.5 ... West Fork (North Fork) Washougal River ...
- RM 20.0 ... Washougal State Salmon Hatchery ...
- RM 21.7 ... Dougan Falls ...
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RM 0.0 ... Washougal River at Mouth ...
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Mouth of the Washougal River as seen from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken May 1, 2005.
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RM 0.5 ... Washougal River Railroad Bridge 24.8 ...
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Washougal River as seen from Washington State Highway 14.
Image taken May 1, 2005.
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Looking east, BNSF Railroad Bridge 24.8, Washougal River.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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BNSF Railroad Bridge 24.8, Washougal River.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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BNSF Railroad Bridge 24.8, Washougal River.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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BNSF Railroad Bridge 24.8, Washougal River.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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BNSF Railroad Bridge 24.8, Washougal River.
Image taken October 3, 2015.
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RM 3.0 ... Washougal River at Washougal River Road ...
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Washougal River from Washougal River Road, looking upstream.
Image taken November 21, 2004.
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Washougal River from Washougal River Road bridge, looking downstream.
Image taken November 21, 2004.
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Washougal River at Washougal River Road, Washougal, Washington.
View downstream.
Image taken September 26, 2018.
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RM 3.5 ... Washougal River at Hathaway Park ...
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Washougal River at Hathaway Park, looking downstream, Washougal, Washington.
Image taken September 8, 2016.
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Washougal River at Hathaway Park, looking upstream, Washougal, Washington.
Image taken September 8, 2016.
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Washougal River as seen from Hathaway Park, looking downstream.
Image taken January 25, 2012.
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Washougal River as seen from Hathaway Park, looking upstream.
Image taken January 25, 2012.
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RM 5.6 ... Little Washougal River ...
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According to the Clark County Shoreline Inventory & Characterization Report (Washington Department of Ecology, 2010), the Little Washougal River basin covers 24.5 square miles with headwaters originating in the forested foothills of the Cascade Range. The river flows for 10 miles over moderately steep terrain and enters the mainstem Washougal River at RM 5.6. Major tributaries are the East Fork Little Washougal and Boulder Creek.
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Little Washougal River, looking downstream, Washougal, Washington.
Image taken September 8, 2016.
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Little Washougal River, looking downstream, Washougal, Washington.
Image taken September 8, 2016.
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RM 12.0 ... Washougal River at Public Fishing ...
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Washougal River, view downstream, as seen from Public Fishing location.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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Washougal River, view upstream, as seen from Public Fishing location.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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RM 13.0 ... Schoolhouse Creek ...
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Schoolhouse Creek Restoration:
"In January 2001, the Salmon Recovery Funding Board (SRFB) awared Washington Trout funding for the Schoolhouse Creek Restoration Project, to re-establish natural processes on a tributary to Southwest Washington's Washougal River.
Washington Trout has been working closely with the Clark-Skamania Flyfishers and the Camas-Washougal Wildlife League to develop the project, which will restore historical access to, enhance, and protect 23.6 acres of Schoolhouse Creek, a spring fed wetland-complex tributary to the Washougal River.
The Schoolhouse Creek watershed is the only remaining large, high quality wetland-tributary ecosystem left in the anadromous reach of the main stem Washougal River. The restored wetland complex will provide critical off-channel spawning, rearing and over-wintering habitat, and summer high water-temperature refuge, for coho, resident and sea-run cutthroat trout, and ESA-listed steelhead.
WT will enhance the existing spring-fed wetland by installing Large Woody Debris and planting riparian vegetation, and recover rearing and spawning habitat by restoring and reconnecting some ditched tributaries, and re-watering ponds connected to the existing wetland-complex. Project funding includes acquisition money to buy the project site, ensuring the permanent protection and maintenance of these critical habitats."
Source:
Wild Fish Conservancy Northwest website, 2015.
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Green Heron at Schoolhouse Creek Pond, Skamania County, Washington.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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RM 13.1 ... Sasquatch, Washougal River Road ...
Two Sasquatch were spotted on the north side of Washougal River Road, less than 1/2 mile west of the Canyon Creek Bridge.
[More]
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Sasquatch, Washougal River Road, Skamania County, Washington.
Image taken May 7, 2016.
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Sasquatch No.2, Washougal River Road, Skamania County, Washington.
Image taken May 7, 2016.
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RM 13.5 ... Washougal River at Canyon Creek Road ...
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Canyon Creek heads behind Archer Mountain and flows southwest and then northwest to merge with the Washougal River at Washougal River Mile (RM) 13.5. The Washougal River Mercantile is on the northeast corner of the junction of the Washougal River Road and Canyon Creek Road, the Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School and Canyon Creek Middle School lie approximately 1/8 mile west, and Prindle Park lies at Canyon Creek Mile 0.8.
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Washougal River from Canyon Creek Road bridge, looking downstream.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School and Canyon Creek Middle School.
The schools lie approximately 1/8 mile west of the junction of Washougal River Road and Canyon Creek Road.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School and Canyon Creek Middle School.
The schools lie approximately 1/8 mile west of the junction of Washougal River Road and Canyon Creek Road.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Sign, Prindle Park, Canyon Creek Road, Skamania County, Washington.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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RM 13.5 ... Washougal River Mercantile ...
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According to the "Camas-Washougal Post-Record", July 6, 2015:
- "... Chris Fuller [one of the owners] said the original name of the business was Washougal River Mercatile. When Ted and Carrol [parents] purchased the store in 1977, it was called Riverside Grocery and Cafe Inc. "After mom and dad had removed the cafe in the early 80s, they left the corporate name the same and changed the business back to Washougal River Mercantile," Chris said. Near the front door is a sign commemorating the mercantile's 20th anniversay in 1977 ..."
[Dawn Feldhaus, "Washougal River Mercantile: A community gathering place", IN: "Camas-Washougal Post-Record", July 6, 2015]
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Washougal River Mercantile, at the junction of Washougal River Road and Canyon Creek Road, Skamania County, Washington.
Image taken August 26, 2015.
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RM 14.5 ... West Fork (North Fork) Washougal River ...
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Often seen as "North Fork Washougal River", the U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists this stream as "West Fork Washougal River". The name appears as "West Fork" on the 1911 Mount Hood U.S. Topographic Map. The West Fork Washougal River merges into the Washougal River at River Mile 14.5.
The Washington State Fish and Wildlife's Skamania Hatchery is located approximately one mile upstream of the mouth of the West Fork Washougal River. The hatchery was built in 1956.
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"The Skamania Hatchery was constructed in 1956 on the West Fork Washougal River in order to propagate summer-run steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In 1959, due to low numbers of Washougal summer run steelhead returning, summer steelhead from the Klickitat River were transferred for spawning. In 1963 the two stocks were mixed, resulting in what is now Skamania summer steelhead. The summer steelhead are used as parent stock for runs created at other hatcheries throughout the state.
Since 1986, only hatchery-origin broodstock have been used for propagation, identified by a clipped adipose fin. Natural-run fish are released back to the West Fork Washougal upstream of the fish ladder. Approximately 60,000 Skamania-origin hatchery winter steelhead smolts and 60,000 hatchery summer steelhead smolts are released annually into the Washougal River."
Source:
North Fork Washougal Weir and Adult Handling Facility, Washington State Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application, 2015.
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[More Skamania Hatchery]
[More Columbia River Hatcheries]
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West Fork Washougal River at Skamania Hatchery.
View from Skamania Hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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West Fork Washougal River at Skamania Hatchery.
View from Skamania Hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Skamania Hatchery, West Fork Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife steelhead hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Skamania Hatchery, West Fork Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife steelhead hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Skamania Hatchery, West Fork Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife steelhead hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Fingerlings, Skamania Hatchery, West Fork Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife steelhead hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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RM 20.0 ... Washougal State Salmon Hatchery ...
The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife's Washougal Hatchery was completed in 1958 for Coho. It is located on the mainstem Washougal River at River Mile (RM) 20.
[More Columbia River Hatcheries]
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Washougal River at Washougal Hatchery, looking upstream.
View from Washougal River Road bridge at the Washougal Hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Washougal Fish Hatchery, Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Washougal Fish Hatchery, Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Washougal Fish Hatchery, Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Transport truck, Washougal Fish Hatchery, Washougal River, Washington.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon hatchery.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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RM 21.7 ... Dougan Falls ...
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According to the "Northwest Waterfall Survey" database (2016), Dougan Falls is over 100 feet wide and drops 19 feet into a deep pool which is "ideal for swimming".
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Washougal River at Dougan Falls, looking upstream.
View from Washougal River Road bridge at Dougan Falls.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Dougan Falls, Washougal River, Washington.
View from Washougal River Road bridge at Dougan Falls.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Washougal River at Dougan Falls, looking downstream.
View from Washougal River Road bridge at Dougan Falls.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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Recreation sign at Dougan Falls, Washougal River, Washington.
Image taken August 3, 2016.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, November 3, 1805 ...
Clark, March 31, 1806 ...
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