Washington State Parks

Park overview:

Fort Columbia State Park is a 593 acre day-use historical park located at the Chinook Point National Historic Landmark and along 6,400 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. Within the park are original U.S. Army Coastal Artillery fort buildings and batteries, active from 1896 to 1947. This area was also home to the Chinook Indian Nation and their famed Chief Comcomly, and explored by Robert Gray and the Lewis and Clark expedition.


Want to support Washington State Parks? Get involved by joining a friends' group. For more information, visit the Friends' Group web page.

Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Winter: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Vacation houses are available for rent year round.

Current alerts:

Agency information:

Don't move firewood: Please protect the Pacific Northwest from invasive species by obtaining or purchasing your firewood at or near your camping destination (within 50 miles). Firewood can carry insects and diseases that threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by buying and burning your firewood locally. For more information, visit online at www.dontmovefirewood.org or the Washington Invasive Species Council website.

Campsite Information:

There is no camping at this park, but vacation houses are available for overnight stays.

Driving Directions

Located two miles west of the Astoria Bridge on Hwy. 101 in Chinook, Wash. in Pacific County.


From Seattle:
Take I-5 south, then SR 8 west, then U.S. Hwy. 101 south. Park is two miles west of the Astoria Bridge in the town of Chinook.

From Portland:
Take I-5 north, then SR 4 west, then SR 401. Park is two miles west of the Astoria Bridge on U.S. Hwy. 101 in the town of Chinook.

Park Maps

List of all downloadable Washington State Park PDF maps.

Park Features

Fort Columbia is one of the few intact coastal defense sites in the U.S. and features historic fort buildings and batteries. The park provides beautiful views of the Columbia River estuary. An interpretive center, observation station, historic officer’s house and five miles of hiking trails through mature forest are additional features of this park. Wildlife viewing and picnicking are also popular activities. Two of the historic buildings are available for vacation rental.

History

As one of the few intact coastal defense sites in the U.S., Fort Columbia has the most intact collection of historic buildings of all Washington state parks. Fort Columbia was built from 1896 to 1904 as one of the harbor defenses of the Columbia River and constructed on the Chinook Point promontory because of the unobstructed view of the Columbia River. It was off this point that Robert Gray anchored and named the river for his ship, "Columbia Rediviva." Nearby the point was the Chinook Indian Nation village of Nose-to-ilse, and later the station camp for the Lewis and Clark expedition bivouacked on the point during the Corps of Discovery exploration.

For the duration of three wars, Fort Columbia was fully manned and operational. Declared a surplus at the end of World War II, the fort transferred to the custody of the state of Washington in 1950 and was then designated as a state park. Twelve historic wood-frame buildings and four coastal defense batteries still stand on the premises.

Interpretive opportunities

The park offers a self-guided interpretive historic walk with information on various fort features and site history. Interpretive panels near the gun batteries include historic photos and blueprints.

Interpretive center: Focuses on Fort Columbia's history, including the topics of: early exploration, fur trade and westward settlement.

July and August hours:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday - Thursday
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays - Saturday

September hours:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday - Monday

Commanding Officer’s Historic House: Filled with era-appropriate furnishings, the Commanding Officer’s Historic House provides interpretation on the history related to the former house occupants.

July and August hours:
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday - Monday

Services/Supplies

	Available in the area
	• Auto repair • Camping • Diesel • Fishing/hunting • Gasoline • Gifts • Golf • Groceries • Hardware • Horse rental • Hospital • Marine supplies • Overnight Accommodations • Pay phone • Postal service • Propane • Recreational equipment • White gas • Wood

Most services are available within a few miles of the park or in Astoria or Long Beach.

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
• 5 mi. Hiking Trails		• Bird Watching • Interpretive Activities • Museum • Wildlife Viewing

Events

Find other events at Washington State Parks

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park has 25 unsheltered picnic tables, available first come, first served.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Bears • Chipmunks • Coyotes • Deer or Elk • Rabbits • Raccoons • Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Doves or Pigeons • Eagles • Gulls • Hawks • Herons • Hummingbirds • Ospreys • Owls • Woodpeckers • Wrens	• Sea Birds • Salmon • Sturgeon

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
		• Douglas Fir • Hemlock • Spruce • Alder • Maple • Daisy • Foxglove • Rhododendron • Rose • Ferns • Moss or Lichens

Park photo gallery