Cowlitz: Hotels for Your Stay

In Cowlitz, you’ll find a variety of destinations for a stay filled with nature, outdoor activities and history. Riverside parks, hiking trails, a lava tube and exhibits each offer a different focus. You can choose your outings based on what you’d like to do, while also taking into account the different trail surfaces and conditions.

Parks, Rivers and Trails

At Riverside Park, paved walking paths lead to the levee along the Cowlitz River and offer views across the park. Soccer, baseball, tennis and basketball courts add to the amenities. Harry Gardner Park offers different options: it has 11 RV sites and 11 tent sites, as well as hiking trails and playground equipment. A simple access point leads to the South Toutle River, where fishing and swimming are possible.

If you’re looking for a longer route on foot or horseback, the Cook Ferry Trail System has a 2.5-mile trail along the Cowlitz River. There are also places to fish along the river. Marine Park on the Columbia River, by contrast, is a five-acre day-use park with paths for walking and cycling. These destinations differ not only in their activities, but also in the kinds of visits they offer—from a stroll to a longer route.

A public access point to the Coweeman River is currently being developed at Coweeman River Park. Two established paths lead to the river; however, the paths are unpaved and unstable. Take these conditions into account when planning your visit. Longview has paved, gravel and unpaved trails that lead to scenic attractions and historic neighborhoods. These trail types offer practical guidance when choosing between paved and less-developed routes.

Nature and Landscape

Seaquest State Park is a 475-acre camping park open year-round, set among fir trees below Mount St. Helens. The nearby Mount St. Helens Visitor Center shares the area’s volcanic theme, with scientific exhibits, a theater and educational programs. The center serves as an access point to the U.S. Forest Service’s National Volcanic Monument.

The Loowit Trail circles Mount St. Helens for about 30 miles through volcanic landscapes and forest. Access and conditions vary by season; check seasonal conditions before setting out. Another geological feature is Ape Cave, a 2.5-mile lava tube considered the third-longest in North America. At Silver Lake, a 0.6-mile trail runs along boardwalks through a wetland, where you can observe aquatic plants and migratory waterfowl.

The wildlife areas also have different focuses. Hall Road Wildlife Area Unit is managed to protect wetlands and nearby forest habitats in higher-elevation terrain. Fisher Island Wildlife Area Unit is in the Columbia River and is accessible only by boat. Columbian white-tailed deer live on the island. Its location and boat-only access make it a different kind of destination from the trails and parks you can explore on foot.

History and Regional Themes

In Kalama, the Transportation Interpretive Center tells how transportation shaped the city’s settlement and development. It also features a 1917 Northern Pacific steam locomotive. The exhibit pairs a specific historic object with the story of transportation. An information sign also commemorates Finn Hall, which originally stood at this site.

The permanent exhibit “Cowlitz Encounters” brings together several themes from regional history. Film footage shows the floods of 1933, 1948 and 1996, alongside the work at the Longview Fibre and Weyerhaeuser mills, a pioneer story and hundreds of objects. These include Hulda Klager’s dress and a cup that survived the 1902 Yacolt Fire. Many of the region’s earliest settlers and founders are buried at Catlin Cemetery. The cemetery’s pedestrian gate is open at all times.

Interstate 5 is also useful for getting around the county: Cowlitz County borders the interstate, which makes it easier to reach a range of activities in the county. Destinations include everything from river trails and outdoor activities to historical exhibits.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kelso, Longview, Kalama, Whitman County, Kitsap, Pierce, Franklin County, Pacific County.

For the broader travel overview: Washington.