Park overview:
Battle Ground Lake State Park is a camping park with 280 acres of beautiful, forested land in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The lake itself is of volcanic origin and is considered to be a smaller version of Crater Lake in Oregon.
Campsite Information:
The park has 25 standard campsites, six hookups sites, four cabins, 15 primitive sites that require campers to hike .25 to .5 mile from the parking lot, one RV dump station, two restrooms and four showers. Maximum site length is 35 feet (may have limited availability). To reserve a campsite, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Group Accommodations:
Group camp has four adirondack (three-sided) shelters that each sleep eight people. The camp offers a covered cooking and meeting area, a group fire ring, room for 32 people in tents and two vault toilets. Due to a small, unlevel parking area, RVs are not allowed in this camp. There is a minimum group size of 25 people. For year-round reservations, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
A horse camp is available by reservation. Occupancy is four families. Horse camp includes four two-stall corrals or eight small corrals, one vault toilet, two fire rings and four picnic tables. There is a minimum group size of 10. To reserve the horse camp, call (888) 226-7688 or (888) CAMPOUT
Camping Fees:
Please note that the following
general fee information is not customized for each individual park, so not
all fees will apply to
all parks (for example, primitive campsite and dump station fees listed apply only to parks that have primitive campsites and dump stations).
2010 FeesAn additional $2 per night is added to the basic camping fees listed below at this high-use park. Basic camping fees are:
Standard campsite, $19.
Full utility campsite, $26.
Partial utility campsite, $25.
Primitive campsite and water trail camping, $12
An additional $3 fee (standard) or $5 fee (utility) may be charged for select premium campsites at some parks.
Maximum eight people per campsite.
Second vehicle: $10 per night is charged for a second vehicle unless it is towed by a recreational vehicle. Extra vehicles must be parked in designated campsite or extra vehicle parking spaces.
Dump stations (if available): Year-round dump station fees are $5 per use. If you are camping, this fee is included in your campsite fee.
More about park hoursCheck-in time is 2:30 p.m., and check-out time is 1 p.m.
Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Engine-driven electric generators may be operated only between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Length of stay: You may stay up to ten consecutive days in any one park during the summer; the stay limit is extended to 20 days between Oct. 1 and March 31.
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Park hours/updates:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year round for camping and day use.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Park Winter Schedule
| Campground Closes |
| Campground Reopens |
| Day-Use Closes |
| Day-Use Reopens |
| Watercraft Launch Closes |
| Watercraft Launch Reopens | |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
| Open |
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Winter Schedule for all Washington State Parks
Driving Directions
Located 21 miles northeast of Vancouver, Wash., on the state's western side in Clark County.
Park address:
18002 N.E. 249th St.
Battle Ground, WA 98604
From I-5 northbound or southbound:
Take exit #11 and drive east to Battle Ground. On the east end of town, turn left on N.E. Grace Ave. (just in front of a Foodliner Grocery). Follow the signs to the
park, approximately three miles from the city of Battle Ground.
Park Maps
To view campsites and facilities reservable at this park, visit the
reservation system and campsite maps.
Battle Ground Lake downloadable pdf map #1
List of all downloadable Washington State Park
maps.
Park Features
This park offers five miles of horse trails and a primitive equestrian camping area. The spring-fed lake is stocked with trout and is a favorite of anglers. The lake is said to be a "miniature version" of Oregon's Crater Lake.
History
This area was named for a battle that settlers at Fort Vancouver expected to happen in 1855 between U.S. Army soldiers and some Klickitat Indians. The battle never occurred.
Captain Strong, the post commander, allowed some Indians to leave the fort on the promise that they would return after burying their chief, who had been accidently killed. Most fort residents believed a battle would ensue to get the Indians to return, and therefore dubbed the spot "Strong's Battle Ground." The Indians, true to their word, returned peacefully, but the name took hold. Later the area was simply referred to as "Battle Ground."
Interpretive opportunities
An interpretive program is offered every Saturday from mid-June through Labor Day. This evening program includes night sky interpretation with a telescope, slide shows and guest speakers. There is a self-guided nature trail in the park.
Services/Supplies
| Available in the park | Available in the area |
• Camping
• Park store
• Pay phone
• 4 Horse stables
• Fire wood
| • Auto repair
• Camping
• Diesel
• Fishing/hunting
• Gasoline
• Gifts
• Golf
• Groceries
• Hardware
• 4 Horse stables
• Pay phone
• Postal service
• Propane
• Recreational equipment
• White gas
• Wood
• Swimming
|
The park store is a privately operated concession. It offers burgers, fries, ice, firewood, fishing supplies, soft drinks and candy. The store has game horseshoes available for rent and is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
Activities
| Trails | Water Activities | Other |
• 10 mi. Hiking Trails
• 5 mi. Bike Trails
• 5 mi. Horse Trails
| • Boating (freshwater, non-motorized)
• 1 boat ramp (freshwater)
• 60 feet of dock (freshwater)
• Fishing (freshwater)
• Swimming (freshwater)
• Diving
| • 1 Badminton area
• 1 Baseball Field
• Bird Watching
• 1 Fire Circle
• 2 Horseshoe pits
• Interpretive Activities
• Mountain Biking
• 1 Softball Field
• 1 Volleyball Field
• Wildlife Viewing
|
Swim Area Restriction: Children under the age of four are not allowed in the swim area.
The sports field has room for soccer but no goal posts. There are movable poles for badminton or volleyball. Groups provide net and ball or shuttlecock.
The park does not have designated bike trails. Mountain bikers may use horse trails as long as they yield to horse riders. |
Events
Full list of
events at Washington State Parks
Picnic and Day-use Facilities
Two kitchen shelters without electricity are available first-come, first-served year-round. Each accommodates about 20 people. There are 70 unsheltered picnic tables. The day-use restroom is ADA-compliant.
One kitchen shelter with electricity is reservable. The facility accommodates 20 to 150 people. Fees vary, based on size of the group. To reserve, call (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Wildlife
| Mammals | Birds | Fish & Sea Life |
• Chipmunks
• Coyotes
• Deer or Elk
• Foxes
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels
| • Crows or Ravens
• Ducks
• Geese
• Hawks
• Herons
• Jays
• Ospreys
• Owls
• Woodpeckers
| • Bass
• Catfish
• Trout
|
Environmental Features
| Physical Features | | Plant Life | |
The park is largely evergreen forest with trails around the lake. Annual average rainfall is 35 inches. The lake's origin is volcanic, and is believed to have been formed as a "Maar" volcano. This type of volcano is the result of hot lava or magma pushing up near the surface of the earth and then coming into contact with underground water. This is thought to have resulted in a large steam explosion, leaving a crater that later formed a lake.
| | • Cedar
• Douglas Fir
• Hemlock
• Alder
• Apple
• Cherry
• Maple
• Oak
• Daisy
• Lupines
• Berries
• Ferns
• Moss or Lichens
• Thistle
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Park photo gallery
