Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Skamania Lodge
Skamania Lodge
serves gourmet Northwest cuisine three meals a day in an elaborate and busy setting. Be ready to drop $40 or more per person
for dinner and be sure to get reservations, especially on summer weekends. The Sunday brunch is especially popular.
Information
The
Stevenson Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Center
(167 NW 2nd, 800/989-9178,
www.skamania.org
, 8 A.M.-5 P.M.
daily in summer, Mon.-Fri. only in winter) is the place to go for the scoop on Stevenson.
Getting There
Bus service to these parts is close to nonexistent. Vancouver's
C-TRAN
(360/695-0123,
www.c-tran.com
)
will get you as far east as Camas and
Washougal. Cross over to the Oregon side for Greyhound bus service along I-84.
Just a few miles east of Stevenson is the little town of Carson, known for its hot springs and as an entry point into Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
The drive north from Carson to the east side of Mount St. Helens offers photographic and recreational opportunities aplenty.
Sights
Historic
Carson Hot Springs Resort
(509/427-8292 or 800/607-3678,
www.carsonhotspringresort.com
)
has been drawing visitors to its 126°F
natural mineral baths since 1876. The St. Martin Hotel was built in 1897 and cabins were added in the 1920s. Hot mineral baths and wraps ($20),
and one-hour massages ($60) are available and still the chief draw.
The
Big Lava Bed Geologic Area
encompasses 12,500 acres of lava beds, the eerie remains of an ancient volcano. The steep walls of the tree-
covered crater rise 800 feet on the north end of the area, sheltering a meadow deep inside. When exploring the lava beds, be sure to bring plenty
of water and keep track of your wanderings, since there are no marked trails to follow. It's even rumored to be haunted. Get here by heading north
up Cook-Underwood Road from the town of Cook, eight miles east of Carson on Highway 14. It turns into South Prairie Road (Forest Service
Road 66) after several miles and continues to the lava beds, approximately 14 miles up. The road follows the east side of the lava for the next 10
miles or so.
Festivals and Events
For a walk far on the wild side, plan your trip to catch Carson's
Bigfoot Daze
festival, held on the last weekend of August every year. The wacky
festival features talks and panels on the legendary beast plus a costume contest, Sasquatch yell contest, and a chili cook-off.
Sports and Recreation
Several day hikes await the adventurous, including the
Bob Kuse Memorial Trail,
leading to the 1,000-foot summit of
Wind Mountain,
a three-
mile hike that provides dramatic views over the Columbia Gorge and a peek at historical Indian vision-quest sites. The trailhead is a mile up Wind
Mountain Road on the east side. Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes during the summer months!
For a good view of the area's peaks, take a short hike to the top of
Little Huckleberry Mountain,
best hiked mid-July-October. Take Forest
Service Road 66 (along the east edge of the lava bed) to the 49 trailhead; climb the steep grade for 2.5 miles to the summit and a refreshing berry
break. The trail is open to hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers.
A $5 National Forest Recreation Day Pass is required for parking at all Forest Service trailheads in the scenic area. Or pick up an annual
North-
west Forest Pass
($30) that is valid for most national forest trailheads in Washington and Oregon. Get one from most local sporting-goods stores,
any Forest Service office (800/270-7504), or at
www.fs.fed.us/passespermits
.
