Columbia Hills Historical State Park, Nature reserve in Wasco County, United States
Columbia Hills Historical State Park covers 3,338 acres on Horsethief Lake, an impoundment of the Columbia River, about 6 miles east of Dallesport on SR 14 in Klickitat County. The park was created in 2003 by merging Horsethief Lake State Park and Dalles Mountain Ranch, and it holds petroglyph panels moved there to save them from flooding by the Dalles Dam.
The park was created in 2003 by merging Horsethief Lake State Park and Dalles Mountain Ranch. Horsethief Lake is an impoundment of the Columbia River, and several petroglyph panels saved from inundation by the nearby Dalles Dam were installed in the park.
The rock carvings and paintings scattered throughout the park represent the artistic expression of the region's original inhabitants. Visitors can see these works and understand how such places held meaning for the communities who created them.
A park pass is required for vehicle entry, and the grounds offer different camping options ranging from full facilities to basic tent areas. Access to the park depends on weather conditions, so visitors should check conditions before arriving.
The park holds several petroglyph panels that were cut out and moved here to save them from flooding by The Dalles Dam. They are displayed near Horsethief Lake, where visitors can see carvings that otherwise would lie under the reservoir.
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