Fort Columbia State Park, Coastal defense park in Pacific County, United States.
Fort Columbia State Park is a former military installation covering about 593 acres along the Columbia River, with historic structures, wooded trails, and waterfront access. The site preserves original military buildings and maintains paths through forested areas.
The fort was established in 1896 to defend the Columbia River mouth and served as an active military base during World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. It closed in 1947 and was later converted into a state park.
The Commanding Officer's House displays period furnishings and exhibits about military families who stationed here. You can see how daily life looked for people living at this remote fort.
The park requires a Discover Pass for vehicle access and offers picnic tables and interpretive trails to explore. Sturdy shoes work well since paths go through wooded and uneven areas.
The fort includes over 1 mile (2 km) of Columbia River shoreline with access to a varied waterfront landscape. This extended waterfront allows visitors to see different habitats along the river.
Location: Pacific County
Operator: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Part of: Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks
Website: https://parks.wa.gov/506/Fort-Columbia
GPS coordinates: 46.26010,-123.91876
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41
Washington holds far more than the well-known attractions of Seattle and Mount Rainier. Across the state, dozens of less-visited sites offer insight into the region's geological history, military past, and natural diversity. From waterfalls to ancient forests to historic lighthouses and military fortifications, Washington presents a substantial range of landscapes and cultural sites. Palouse Falls in Franklin County drops 198 feet (60 meters) into a basalt gorge, while Cape Flattery at the northwesternmost point of the continental United States looks out over jagged cliffs and the open Pacific. Ape Caves in Skamania County is one of the longest lava tube systems in the country, and Beacon Rock rises 848 feet (260 meters) above the Columbia River. The Trail of the Patriarchs leads through centuries-old Douglas firs and cedars, and Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to the mainland via a 180-foot (55-meter) steel structure from 1935. Fort Worden in Port Townsend served as a coastal defense installation, and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle documents the Asian American history of the Pacific Northwest. Dry Falls in Grant County shows the remains of an Ice Age waterfall that was once wider than Niagara Falls. Mima Mounds in Thurston County forms a field of hundreds of symmetrical earth mounds whose formation continues to be scientifically debated. These sites offer practical alternatives to the crowded main attractions and allow for deeper engagement with Washington's natural and historical features.
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