Recreation
The Pacific Northwest and North Clark County offer nearly endless recreational opportunities for every taste and walk-of-life. Hiking, skiing, golf, camping, boating and some of the finest fishing to be found anywhere in the Nation are just minutes away. Sail boarding, mountain climbing even surfing are all part of the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as are symphonies, opera, jazz, ballet and professional acting companies, along with some of the finest and most varied cuisine life has to offer. On these pages you can explore just a small sampling of the options available to help you live your life to the fullest!
National Wildlife Refuge
In the heart of Ridgefield is the National Wildlife Refuge, which is part of the Pacific Flyway, a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in the Americas, extending from Alaska to Patagonia (southern tip of South America). Hawks, eagles, great blue heron, deer, fox and other fauna can be seen from the comfort of your car on the auto tour or you can walk quiet trails for a more personal adventure. Click here for more information.
Tri Mountain Golf Course ~ 4 Stars • Golf Digest Best Places To Play 2008
An 18 hole links style course with award-winning medium-sized greens and eleven lakes come into play on over half the holes – can you say “water hazard?!” The club house offers all the amenities one would expect including a well stocked club house and dining. Meeting rooms and catering are also available. An aquatic driving range and an eighteen hole putting course round out the offerings and for spectacular scenery you can’t beat the views of nearby Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Oregon’s Mt. Hood. Click here for more information.
Mt. St. Helens Visitor Center
In May of 1980, Mt. St. Helens blew its top and brought world-wide attention to the Pacific Northwest and a great deal of excitement right here in North Clark County! From nearly any vantage point in the district you can see the ol’ girl steaming away and the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is a great day trip. At the center you can walk trails and see life coming back to the mountain and relive the eruption in the center’s theatre, it’s a ‘real’ blast! Click here for more information.
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
Another adventure is historical and scenic Columbia River Gorge and State Highway 14 right here in Clark County is literally the ‘gateway’ to the Gorge. At 80 miles long and 4000 feet deep, the Gorge abounds with waterfalls so spectacular they are guaranteed to take your breath away. One of the grandest is Multnomah Falls which is the second highest year-round waterfalls in the United States and probably one of the most photographed! The Gorge is also home to the City of Hood River, wind-surfing capital of the world. Hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, boating, wildlife watching, birding, wildflower viewing, photography, picnicking, rock climbing, it’s all here. Click here for more information.
Port of Ridgefield Boat & Kayak Launches
Whether it’s a trailerable powerboat, canoe or kayak, the Port of Ridgefield offers two great facilities to float your boat! Both Port launches are located at the Ridgefield waterfront on the banks of Lake River.
Boat Launch
The Boat Launch is located at the west end of Mill Street and Lake River. The Boat Launch provides: two cement launches with center launch float, one day-use dock, paved parking lot, restroom facilities, ADA accessible facilities and a grassy picnic area.
Kayak Launch
The Ridgefield Kayak Launch offers paddlers and non-motorized boaters a great place to float a boat to take in views of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Bachelor Slough and Island. The Kayak Launch is located at the west end of Division Street and Lake River. The Kayak Launch provides: dock launching or gently sloped beach launching, picnic area, gravel parking area and portable restroom facilities.
Getting Here
From Land
To reach the Ridgefield Launches: Take exit 14 off of Interstate 5 and head west 3 miles along Pioneer Street. Take a right onto Main Avenue. Take a left onto Mill Street for the boat launch. Take a left onto Division Street for the Kayak Launch. Click here for a map.
From the Columbia River
Lake River joins the Columbia River immediately upstream of the Lewis River, across from St. Helens, Oregon, approximately at River Mile 92. The mouth of Lake River is bound by two shallow water shoals upstream and downstream of its mouth. The best approach is to enter the mouth straight on, tending toward the northern bank; in summer the channel hugs the northern bank of Lake River. Lake River is navigatable for boats drafting up to around 5 feet year-round. Our facilities are approximately 2 nautical miles from the mouth of Lake River.
Facility Use Fees
Effective January 1, 2009
$6 Day-Use Fee for Boat or Kayak Launch facilities
$20 2009 Annual Pass for Kayak Launch Facilities
$40 2009 Annual Pass for Boat Launch Facilities
The $6 Day-Use Ticket for either launch site can be purchased on-site at the ticket vending machine located in the restroom building at the boat launch.
Annual Passes can be purchased at the Port of Ridgefield administrative offices, Monday-Friday, 8 am - 5 pm located near the Kayak Launch at 111 West Division (closed during lunch hour [12-1:00], weekends and holidays), or at the Ridgefield Hardware store (corner of Pioneer St. & Main) in downtown Ridgefield. The hardware store accepts most major credit cards.
Rules and Regulations
For the safety and enjoyment of all users, please abide by the following rules and regulations:
Day-use fee required to park and/or use launch facilities.
The following items or activities are strictly prohibited:
- Firearms
- Alcohol
- Overnight camping
- Overnight moorage
- Open fires
- Loitering
- Fish cleaning
- Power launching
- Dumping of household trash
- County Leash Law Enforced: Pets must be on leash and under control at all times. Please clean up after your pet.
- Overnight parking requires an Annual Pass or the purchase of multiple day use tickets (displayed on the vehicle front dashboard) for the duration of the vehicle stay.
- Remember, ‘Captain Jack’ says, "Be safe, be courteous and have fun!"
*Defacing or destruction of Port property will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.