Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach - Washougal, Washington



Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach - Columbia River

 

A mild January day, sunbreaks and no rain for a change. This is the Washington side of the Columbia River at Washougal. Along the top of a dike, is the 3.1-mile Captain William Clark Park Trail with jutting-out metal observation platforms, benches and informational signage.

The west end of the trail begins at a pedestrian tunnel that leads to the city. Inside are seven carved basalt panels decorated with petroglyphs in the style of the native Columbia Gorge tribes. The east end of the trail is the Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge. Along the way are Steamboat Landing, interpretive canoes, and Captain William Clark Park. The scenery looking north, is not so nice, with industry and sewage treatment.

But looking south .... A jungle of bare cottonwood branches, robins call alarm, littler birds flitter by, as a nearby hawk watches. The sun breaks through momentarily, sparkling ripples in the river, and lighting up an emerald green pasture at the top of a hill way across in Oregon. A few ducks bob in the water and a few big birds (could they be Bald Eagles?) soar above.



Oregon across the Columbia River from Washougal, Washington



Washougal means 'rushing waters' because there used to be some here before the Army Corp of Engineers changed all that. Washougal was busy in 1792. Boston fur trader Captain Robert Gray 'discovered' the mouth of the Columbia River in May. In October George Vancouver sent young Lieutenant William Broughton upriver to investigate. It is believed he came as far as Washougal. It is here that he named Mt. Hood and Point Vancouver.



Monday, March 31, 1806, Captain William Clark camped at Cottonwood Beach for 6 days. The Corp of Discovery had discovered the Pacific Ocean, overwintered near Astoria, and were on their way home. The Chinook people said food was scarce east of the Cascades, so the Corp camped here, killing big game, drying meat, and sewing it into leather sacks.



A tunnel leading to Washougal city from the river has these carvings, inspired by images created over the eons by Indians of the Columbia Plateau.