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Park overview:

Spring Creek Hatchery State Park is located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, in southeast Skamania County, along the Columbia River. Spring Creek Hatchery is a premier windsurfing and kiteboarding site in the Columbia Gorge with views of Mount Hood from the shore. The park sits at the entrance to the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery which offers tours of the facility and other interpretive opportunities for visitors.



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Park hours/updates:

Summer: 6 a.m. to dusk April to September.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk October to March.

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.

Park Features

Spring Creek Hatchery State Park is one of the premier windsurfing and kiteboarding sites in the Columbia Gorge. A majority of visitors coming to the park do so for this type of recreation. The park also offers other traditional outdoor activities, including picnicking and fishing. When financial support is available, the park has played host to professional windsurfing competitions in the summer.

History

The Spring Creek site was historically used by Native Americans for fishing. Although explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark may not have stopped at the particular park site, they did pass through the area while traveling along the river.

At one point, a homestead existed on part of the park property. The site and most of the surrounding area were later owned by the former Broughton Lumber Company. The Broughton mill was established by 1901, primarily as a planing mill which planed rough cut boards. The rough cut boards were cut from raw timber at another mill in Willard, Wash., and then transported by flume to the Broughton mill. Broughton established the first fish hatchery at the approximate site of the current hatchery in 1901. The surrounding area, including the state park, was used by Broughton as a recreation area. At one time the site included a boat ramp.

The fish hatchery was reconstructed in the 1940s following the construction of Bonneville Dam. The Corps of Engineers acquired the hatchery and neighboring property to the west, including the park land, in the 1960s. The hatchery was remodeled and the paved road was installed.

When windsurfing became the prominent recreation activity at the park, management was given to Washington State Parks.

Interpretive opportunities

Interpretive programs and self-guided tours are available at the adjacent Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and on select weekends during spawning seasons.

In addition to touring the hatchery, visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing at the park. Wildlife that frequent the site include bald eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, flickers, beavers, and many other small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Three species of endangered salmon are known to be present in this area of the Columbia River, an area designated as critical habitat. These include the Snake River sockeye salmon, Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and the Snake River fall Chinook salmon. Two species of steelhead that are proposed for listing as endangered also are present, including the upper Columbia River steelhead and Snake River steelhead. Many fish attempt to spawn at the waters of the National Fish Hatchery, just east of the park.

Services/Supplies

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

Activities

Trails	Water Activities	Other
	• Fishing (freshwater) • Personal Watercraft (freshwater)	• Bird Watching • Interpretive Activities • Sailboarding • Wildlife Viewing
A recreational license is required for fishing and shellfish harvesting at Washington state parks. For regulations, fishing season information or to purchase a recreational license, visit the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website.

Events

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Boating Features

Spring Creek Hatchery is one of the premier windsurfing and kiteboarding sites in the Columbia Gorge.

Picnic and Day-use Facilities

The park offers approximately 200 parking spaces, primitive picnicking and six unsheltered picnic tables. There is no potable water or garbage service at the park. Visitors must pack out what they pack in.

Wildlife

Mammals	Birds	Fish & Sea Life
• Squirrels	• Crows or Ravens • Ducks • Eagles • Geese • Gulls • Hawks • Jays • Ospreys • Woodpeckers	• Salmon

Environmental Features

Physical Features		Plant Life
The basalt cliffs on each side of the Columbia River were carved out by the Ice Age floods.		• Ponderosa Pine • Alder • Maple • Oak • Berries • Ferns • Moss or Lichens • Poison Oak • Poison Ivy

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