Battle Ground Lake State
Park
Northeast of Vancouver, WA |
|
This park offers five miles of horse trails and
a primitive equestrian camping area. The spring-fed lake is stocked
with
trout and is a favorite of anglers. The lake is said to be a "miniature
version" of Oregon's Crater Lake.
Location
21 miles northeast of Vancouver, WA.
Park Hours
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to dusk.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk.
The park is open year-round for camping and day use.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Acreage
279.5 acres of land with 4,100 feet of freshwater shoreline surrounding
a 28-acre lake.
Acquired
Battle Ground Lake State Park was acquired in ten parcels; the first
in 1966 and the last in 1972, for a total cost of $559,897.
Historical Background
In 1855, local Indians were held at Fort Vancouver to prevent them from
joining hostile Indians elsewhere in the area. The Indians held at Fort
Vancouver escaped, and Captain Strong was sent with troops to bring
them back. These troops found the Indians near the lake which is now
called Battle Ground Lake. Captain Strong talked the Indians into returning
to the Fort.
In the meantime, there was a skirmish, and the Indian
Chief Umtuch was killed, either by a soldier or one of his own men.
Captain Strong returned to the Fort without the Indians after receiving
a promise from them that they would return to the Fort after burying
their chief. The Indians did return peacefully to the Fort.
The area near the lake then became Strong's Battleground
in derision of his act of returning to the Fort without the Indians.
Chief Umtuch is buried in an unmarked grave on a farm about one mile
east of Battleground.
Facilities
35 campsites, 15 primitive walkin sites, 57 picnic sites, 1 camp-host
site, comfort station, playground equipment, bathhouse, 3 kitchen shelters,
two residences, concession building, shop/service buildings, contact
station, four adirondack shelters located in the Group Camp, 7 pit
toilets, boat launch ramp, unguarded swim beach and trailer dump station. Horse
facilities includes pit toilets, parking lot, a tiedown, and five miles
of horsetrails.
Of Special Interest
The park is largely evergreen forest with trails around the lake. Annual
average rainfall is 35 inches. The lake's origin is volcanic, and is
believed to have been formed as a "Maar" volcano. This type
of volcano is the result of hot lava or magma pushing up near the surface
of the earth and then coming into contact with underground water. This
is thought to have resulted in a large steam explosion, leaving a crater
that later formed a lake.
Activities
Trails Water Activities Other
10 mi. Hiking Trails
10 mi. Bike Trails
5 mi. Horse Trails
Boating (freshwater, non-motorized)
1 boat ramp (freshwater)
60 feet of dock (freshwater)
Fishing (freshwater)
Swimming (freshwater)
1 Amphitheater (sheltered)
1 Badminton area
1 Baseball Field
Bird Watching
1 Fire Circle
2 Horseshoe pits
Interpretive Activities
Mountain Biking
1 Softball Field
1 Volleyball Field
Wildlife Viewing
Driving Directions
From I-5 southbound:
Take exit #14, and follow signs to city of Battle Ground. Drive to east
end of town. Turn left on Grace Ave. (in front of Foodliner Grocery),
and follow signs to park, approximately three miles from city of Battle
Ground.
From I-5 northbound:
Take exit #9, and follow signs to city of Battle Ground. Drive to east
end of town. Turn left on Grace Ave. (in front of Foodliner Grocery),
and follow signs to park, approximately three miles from city of Battle
Ground.
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Comment Submission
Courtesy of Washington
State Park and Recreation Commission
