Photo: Chris English, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
🌤 Weather at Washougal Oaks Natural Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–66 °F | 47–80 °F | 37–74 °F | 33–48 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Skamania Fish Hatchery, 5 mi away, elevation 435 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Washougal Oaks Natural Area is a protected natural area of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Clark County, not a state park. Designated in 2002, it combines a Natural Area Preserve and a Natural Resources Conservation Area on 517 acres of DNR land at the western end of the Columbia River Gorge.
Quick Facts
| State | Washington |
| County | Clark County |
| Size | 517 acres owned by DNR (boundary about 1,656 acres) |
| Designated | 2002 |
| Managed By | Washington State Department of Natural Resources |
| Public access | Research, guided education and volunteer work parties only |
Location & Getting There
Washougal Oaks Natural Area lies on the north bank of the Columbia River. It starts 3 miles east of the City of Washougal and runs east to the county line; State Route 14 crosses its southern portion. The coordinates are 45.5669, -122.2681.
Things to Do
Washougal Oaks protects the largest remaining high-quality Garry oak (Oregon white oak) woodland in western Washington, along with rare plants such as small-flowered trillium and tall bugbane, a stream corridor, and fish and wildlife habitat. It is used only for research, guided tours and educational outings, and DNR currently offers no formal education programs there. If you want to help, ask the DNR Pacific Cascade Region about volunteer restoration work.
Best Time to Visit
There is no general visiting season, because DNR opens the site only for research, guided tours and educational outings. Facilities are not available, and the site is not ADA accessible.
Visitor Tips
Washougal Oaks is not open for general recreation. DNR currently allows access for scientific research, guided environmental education and volunteer work parties, and bicycles and pets (except leashed service animals) are not allowed. There is no camping. If you want to see the oak woodlands, look for a DNR volunteer event or guided program; for other recreation, DNR points to its State Trust Lands map and DNR GO! map.
Explore More Washington State Parks
Washougal Oaks Natural Area is a DNR natural area, not a state park. Discover Washington’s state parks in our Best State Parks in Washington guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.
Wildlife & Nature
Washougal Oaks Natural Area protects two high-quality Oregon white oak (Garry oak) woodland plant associations, three rare plants, two rare birds and a rare salamander. DNR’s management plan names the slender-billed nuthatch and the Larch Mountain salamander among them and is working to establish Kincaid’s lupine, a rare plant native to the area. Oak woodlands like these were once fairly common in the Puget Sound and Willamette Valley regions and are now exceptionally rare.
Nearby Attractions
Washougal — adjacent — has the Pendleton Woolen Mills outlet. Cape Horn — 5 miles east — offers dramatic Columbia River Gorge hiking. Beacon Rock State Park — 15 miles east — has the 848-ft volcanic plug trail. Portland, Oregon — 20 miles west. Multnomah Falls (Oregon side) is 30 miles east.
Nearby parks: If you have extra time, Beacon Rock State Park is a short drive away, and Battle Ground Lake State Park is within about an hour’s drive.
