Heritage Park — Attraction in Camas

I'm writing specifically about the Lacamas Heritage Trail (about 3.5 miles long) that runs along the west side of Lacamas Lake. For the sake of clarity, Lacamas Lake connects with Round Lake, just across the road to the east. Round Lake has a trail system that extends to the south, and it is the one with waterfalls and, as you move away from the lake, more challenging terrain. Heritage Trail at Lacamas Lake itself is very different - it's a gravel infused, wide, well-mainained, mostly flat trail that rarely gets more than 50 feet or so away from the shore of the lake. A nice drainage/culvert system along the inland side of the trail allows water coming downhill to pass under the trail and make it directly to the lake without any of it running across the trail itself. All in all, this is a place where visitors can concentrate on the scenery without worrying about twisting an ankle on rocks or roots. There are enough trees between the trail and the lake to provide places for wildlife to gather, and to tease hikers with ever so slightly obstructed views of what's happening on the lake. Across the water, the road on the east side of the lake seems to attract people who own intentionally loud vehicles, so be prepared for the bucolic mood to be broken regularly. If you are walking south on a clear day, Mt Hood will jump out at you on multiple occasions, looking deceptively close, even though it's in a different state. If you are walking north from Heritage Park, you will have to walk about a mile before the mountain will become visible when you look back over...

I absolutely love taking my toddler and baby on a stroller "hike" along the Lacamas Heritage Trail departing from this park.

Finding info on line was tricky because there are a few parks nearby with similar or the same names as both the park and trail. So when meeting up with friends, be sure to tell them both the name and the address!

You’ll arrive at a HUGE parking lot with ample parking, a boat launch into Lacamas Lake, Restrooms and a playground (with a few slides, a climbing wall and a tire swing). If you’re like me, you’ll want to park on the far left side so your kiddos don’t see the playground right away (if my toddler had seen the playground before hitting the trail we’d never have gotten on to the trail, lol!)

From here you are starting at “Camas Heritage Park Trailhead” which is to the left of the bathrooms. The trail is hard packed gravel, is wide enough for two double strollers side by side, and has minimal elevation gain (but enough that if you’re pushing two kiddos in a duallie, you will feel it! 🤣). It’s and out-and-back trail totaling 7 miles round trip, or 3.5 miles each way. The trail is busy enough to be social, but empty enough that you can safely distance and pass folks easily. I love that this trail is wide, making it easy to use a stroller, but you’re surrounded by trees (and shade) and have beautiful views of the lake along the way so you feel like your on a...

This is a lovely little park that also provides the parking for the South Trailhead for the Lacamas Heritage Trail.

Picnic tables with charcoal barbecue stands, play structures, walking paths, restrooms with flush toilets & running water.

There always seems to be plenty of parking for vehicles with trailers. However, regular vehicle parking spots can fill up quite quickly on beautiful summer weekends.

The boat launch area always seems to be quite congested. Irregardless of the no swimming signs from the pier that’s not stopping anybody anytime soon (other than weather).

Kayakers and paddle boarders seem to feel they have the right away at the boat launch even though their boats can be easily walked in from the parking lot. I have witnessed the frustration of many wakeboard boats and fishing boats waiting to launch their watercraft. The no parking signs at the boat launch aren’t stopping the high density of entitled boaters here.

The water is nice and calm at this park and many boaters are very respectful that it is a no wake zone. Paddling my kayak north into the main body of Lacamas lake can offer some choppy waters for small boaters no matter of the time of day.

The park is dog friendly. The rules technically state that dogs must be on leash .However in practice this rule is...