There’s no doubt, we all could use some extra time outside and in nature. I want to share one of my favorite places to photograph and hike near Vancouver, Washington. This part of the country has a crazy abundance of great hiking so this is just one spot to get you started.

Lacamas Park in Camas, WA

Lacamas Park has so many things to offer that I think often get overlooked. Lacamas Park is located in Camas, Washington, about 25 minutes east of Downtown Vancouver, WA and about 35 minutes northeast of Portland, Oregon.

This park has so many hidden treasures and offers a variety of year-round outdoor activity options, including hiking, biking, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and picnicking.

Lacamas Park has two lakes, Lacamas Lake and Round Lake, creeks and waterfalls. Fishing is common on both lakes and fish type are rainbow and brown trout, yellow perch, large-mouth bass, bluegill, etc. Click here for more information about fishing at Lacamas Park.

Sunset View on Lacamas Lake in Camas, Washington

Lacamas park also has several trails— hiking and biking and great accommodations of picnic tables, grills, restrooms, and dog waste stations.

Round Lake Loop Trail — A common view of hiking trails at Lacamas Park in Camas, WA.

I think the most unique feature of Lacamas Park is Pothole Falls. Potholes are carved into the rock all around the waterfall.

These crevices in the bedrock resemble Native American grinding holes but were formed naturally by fast-moving water that carried hard rocks capable of grinding out the softer Troutdale Formation. So cool!!

A few suggestions for visiting Lacamas Park:

Parking: If there are no parking spots at the Lacamas Lake Trailhead, go to NE 35th Ave (near Lacamas Lake Kayak) to find more parking.

What to bring: Water, a snack, All Trails App, camera, anything for an outdoor activity of your choice— paddle board, fishing gear, or my personal favorite, a dog to walk ;-)

Length of time: Varies so much— I’ve spent entire days at the park and I’ve spent 30 mins for a quick dog walk. It’s totally up to you!

Difficulty of trails: Also varies so much— there are some paved paths near the entrance to the park, and also some steep, uneven terrain on some smaller trails. It’s easy to stay on easy to moderate trails, and difficulty increases as you go on the smaller, less common trails.