Skamokawa Vista Park

Skamokawa Vista Park offers convenient water access on Skamokawa Creek and the lower Columbia River system, located about an hour east of Long Beach and 45 minutes west of Longview. The park features a dedicated boat ramp for launching kayaks, canoes, and small motorboats, with access to both Skamokawa Creek and nearby Brooks Slough and Steamboat Slough. A yearly pass good for all Port #2 boat launches can be purchased at the Vista Park office or at nearby Svensen Park.

The 75-acre park is well-equipped for paddlers and day-trippers, with amenities including drinking water, flush toilets, showers, sandy beaches, picnic areas, and hiking/biking trails. The location provides excellent kayaking opportunities and scenic views along the lower Columbia River, with the added bonus of watching barge traffic pass through. Overnight camping options include RV sites, yurts, and cabins, making it ideal for a weekend paddle trip.

The park sits near two significant wildlife refuges—the Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge (spanning 27 miles of the Columbia River across 20 islands) and the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer—offering excellent opportunities to combine paddling with wildlife viewing in this historically rich area.