Lewis & Clark State Park - Cowlitz Valley Sights

Lewis and Clark State Park is a heavily forested camping park situated in a lowland old-growth forest. The highlight is the large trees, streams, wetlands, dense vegetation, all surrounding the park complex. The camping is traditional, it has 25 tent spaces, nine utility sites, five primitive equestrian sites, one hiker/biker site, two restrooms and two showers. All campsites are first come, first served. There is an amphitheater, some large fire circles, horseshoe pits, a volleyball filed, a playground, kitchen shelters with electricity and a large open field. Lewis & Clark State Park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and many of the buildings constructed by them remain in use today. There is a self-guided half-mile interpretive trail in the park, featuring information on the park's old growth forest. Overall, there are 8 miles of hiking trails, with 5 miles of horse trails.

WillhiteWeb.com - Washington Travel

Located 12 miles south of Chehalis, Washington just off I-5 in Lewis County. From I-5 take exit #68, and head east about 2.5 miles. At Jackson Highway, turn right going south. Continue about two miles to the park entrance.

Lewis and Clark State Park, which is actually separate from the Lewis and Clark Trail, began as a "public camp" for automobile tourists in 1922. Two years later, more than 10,000 people visited the park annually. The old north spur of the Oregon Trail, which extended from the Cowlitz River landing to the city of Tumwater, passed directly through the present park site. When pioneers used this road, ramps had to be built over some of the downed logs (six to nine feet in diameter), since they had no saws capable of cutting the giants. The park has a unique stand of old-growth forest, primarily Douglas fir and red cedar. It is one of the last old-growth forest stands remaining along Hwy. 99. Two-thirds of the old-growth trees were blown down in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm. The park was closed for three years to make repairs and plant trees.

Just before the park is the John R. Jackson House. He had the first American pioneer home built north of the Columbia River, constructed in 1845. The original house has deteriorated completely. The current log cabin was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The Jackson family has donated some original pioneer artifacts, which are on display at the cabin. It first served as a significant meeting place during the organization of the Washington Territory. The small log cabin also served as a stopover for pioneer travelers in 1845. The house was also used as the Jackson Courthouse as early as 1850. Today, it stands in a small grassy park on Jackson's Prairie. The interior can only be viewed through the windows but Jackson House tours are available year-round by appointment.