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Battle Ground Lake State Park |
Battle Ground Lake State Park
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Park Overview
 Battle Ground
Lake State Park is a camping park with 280 acres of beautiful, forested land in
the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The lake itself is of volcanic origin
and is considered to be a smaller version of Crater Lake in Oregon.
A vehicle parking permit is no longer required for day visits.
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: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Driving Directions Located 21 miles northeast of Vancouver, Wash., on the
state's western side.
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.
Picnic Facilities Two kitchen shelters without electricity are available
first-come, first-served year-round. Each accommodates about 20 people. There
are 70 unsheltered picnic tables. The day-use restroom is ADA-compliant.
One kitchen shelter with electricity is reservable. The facility accommodates 20
to 150 people. Fees vary, based on size of the group. To reserve, call (888)
CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.
Activities
| Trails |
Water Activities |
Other |
- 10 mi. Hiking Trails
- 5 mi. Horse Trails
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- Boating (freshwater, non-motorized)
- 1 boat ramp (freshwater)
- 60 feet of dock (freshwater)
- Fishing (freshwater)
- Swimming (freshwater)
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- 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
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Swim Area Restriction: Children under the age of four are not
allowed in the swim area.
The sports field has room for soccer but no goal posts. There are movable poles
for badminton or volleyball. Groups provide net and ball or shuttlecock.
The park does not have designated bike trails. Mountain bikers may use horse
trails as long as they yield to horse riders.
Boating FeaturesPaddle boat rentals are available at the park contact station.
Rental price is $10 an hour per boat.
Featured Creatures
| Mammals |
Birds |
Fish & Sea Life |
- Chipmunks
- Coyotes
- Deer or Elk
- Foxes
- Rabbits
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Squirrels
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- Crows or Ravens
- Ducks
- Geese
- Hawks
- Herons
- Jays
- Ospreys
- Owls
- Woodpeckers
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Environmental Features
| Physical Features |
Plant Life |
Special |
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.
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- Cedar
- Douglas Fir
- Hemlock
- Alder
- Apple
- Cherry
- Maple
- Oak
- Daisy
- Lupines
- Berries
- Ferns
- Moss or Lichens
- Thistle
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History This area was named for a battle that settlers at Fort Vancouver
expected to happen in 1855 between U.S. Army soldiers and some Klickitat
Indians. The battle never occurred.
Captain Strong, the post commander, allowed some Indians to leave the fort on
the promise that they would return after burying their chief, who had been
accidently killed. Most fort residents believed a battle would ensue to get the
Indians to return, and therefore dubbed the spot "Strong's Battle Ground." The
Indians, true to their word, returned peacefully, but the name took hold. Later
the area was simply referred to as "Battle Ground." |
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