Schafer State Park - Satsop River

Schafer State Park is off the beaten path on the Satsop River south of the Olympic Mountains. The peaceful setting offers camping, fishing, picnicking and hiking. The Satsop in summer is calm enough to wade and float. The 2 miles of hiking are easy and right next to camp. Picnic areas include some small open spaces, shelters, tables, volleyball, horseshoe pits, and amphitheater. The campground sites are a bit crowded with limited privacy between sites. There are 41 campsites, 9 with water and electric, 27 standard, 1 primitive site, 4 walk-in sites, and 1 group site.

Schafer State Park was created in memory of John and Anna Schafer, who had settled in the area in 1872. Their sons, Peter, Hubert, and Albert, formed the Schafer Bros. Logging Company, which, at its height, was one of the largest lumber and logging companies in the Pacific Northwest. In 1924, Schafer Bros. Logging Company donated the park to the State of Washington. It was the first such donation by a company from the lumber industry. Prior to 1924 the site was the scene of many Schafer family picnics. From the 1920s to the 1940s, Schafer Bros. Company employees held their annual picnic in the park, with as many as 6,000 people in attendance. Several other local associations also held annual events at the park, including the Farm Bureau, the Scandinavian Central Committee, and Vasa Lodge. In 2010, the park was designated a state and national historic site of statewide significance by its addition to the Washington Heritage Register and National Register of Historic Places.