Wet and Windy Leashed Dog Friendly Fort Stevens State Park

Typist: Bethany
As we drove into Fort Stevens State Park we were welcomed by a beautiful herd of grazing elk. In hind sight, this unexpected greeting at the entrance of Oregon's northwestern most park foreshadowed the remote and wild day we would enjoy at this lovely, leashed dog friendly locale. Of course, the elk didn't have anything to do with our choice to visit the park during one of the worst storms the area has had in months. Jason, Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley and I didn't mind the pouring down rain. We're from Cascadia! But the wind, which gusted up to 86 miles per hour, was more than we're used to venturing out in.

Elk at the entrance to Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon, Cascadia.

We began our afternoon at Fort Stevens State Park in the historic area. Having visited Fort Worden many times, Jason and I were pleasantly surprised that the historic buildings at Fort Stevens are very clean and well preserved. A dog friendly hike around a fascinating historic site is much more fun without worrying about trash or broken glass. I also enjoyed the graffiti free photo opportunities at Fort Stevens. The rain managed to literally dampen some of our photo taking but the storm only figuratively soaked our adventure!

The Battery Pratt at Fort Stevens State Park, Hammond, Oregon.

Leashed dogs are allowed go inside the buildings that are open to the public except for the War Games Building. During our stormy visit, we appreciated those brief chances to get out of the rain. Upon stepping through one concrete doorway, we frightened a sparrow that was also seeking refuge from the wind and rain. We could have spent more time exploring the historic area of Fort Stevens State Park, but after almost two hours of wandering, we were all very wet and needed a break. There is so much to see here; the buildings, the river, the wildlife. Well, we didn't see as much of the latter as we did the droppings of the latter. It often took some fancy maneuvering with the dogs to hike through the many different animal species droppings scattered everywhere. That one slight annoyance during our visit to Fort Stevens State Park historical area certainly doesn't stop me from wanting to return. And what was an annoyance to me was great sniffing fun for the dogs.

Hiking Fort Stevens historical area.

The dogs and I couldn't stay atop Battery 245 for long enough to pose for a photo because the wind gusts were too strong.

Despite the wind gusts, Jason managed to get a nice photo of Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley and I with the large Navy gun.

Site of Battery Freeman and Original Earthworks.

This is near where the fort began in 1863.

We left the historic area and drove South to re-enter the park and drive to the beach. The drive through the coastal forest of Fort Stevens State Park was beautiful but with the high winds it was a little frightening at times. When Jason saw some of those tall evergreen trees bend, he thought maybe we ought to turn back. But the whole reason we had come to the park was to see the wreck of the Peter Iredale, a boat that ran aground in 1906 with some remains still scattered on the beach at Fort Stevens State Park. We couldn't turn back with out seeing the shipwreck! But when we arrived at the beach where the shipwreck stands, the sand was blowing off the dunes so furiously, it was coating the wind side of people's vehicles like brown spray paint. We couldn't safely get out of the car.  So, now we have yet another reason to someday return to Fort Stevens State Park. I still want to see the shipwreck. But what we did see, the sand whipping off the dunes, was incredible!

We made two more stops farther North in the park. The wind continued to howl but there was less rain and less blowing sand so Jason and I safely exited the car to marvel at the storm from the South Jetty lookout tower. The wind was gusting a little less on the river East of the South Jetty so we decided it was safe for the dogs to have some legally leashed beach time. But the rain soon came back and hiking became less fun for all of us.

The South Jetty. Dog Friendly but too windy for dogs during our visit.

Jason leans into the wind.

The mouth of the Columbia River, Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon.

Walking the Columbia River beach.

Hiking the sand dunes.

Since the weather had cut our evening hike at Fort Stevens State Park short, we stopped at Eban H. Carruthers Memorial Park in Warrenton, Oregon, at dusk. This park is the trail head for the Warrenton Waterfront Trail and home of the Warrenton Dog Park. It was too dark to do much more than glance at the Columbia River and the waterfront trail but there is a large street light above the off leash area so Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley could do plenty of playing. Warrenton Dog Park is a nice, volunteer funded off leash park with fully fenced large and small dog areas, plenty of poop bag stations and trash cans. There was water for dogs and a nice restroom for humans. What a lucky find! I hope to return to hike the waterfront trail and I know the dogs would not pass up an opportunity to again race around the large trees in the off leash park.

Home of the Warrenton Dog Park.

Huxley, Brychwyn and Wilhelm run at the off leash park.

With so many dog friendly things to do in and around Fort Stevens State Park, I know we will need a lot more time in the area to explore it all. I have to admit that I hope we have slightly less dramatic weather on our next visit though we had so many wet, wild and wonderful stormy experiences on this day that I wouldn't trade for any amount of sunshine. The last thrill the storm gave us was on our night time return East across the Young's Bay bridge. Jason and I saw the power go off briefly in Astoria. We were driving the long, wind wobbly bridge and suddenly our destination disappeared! After agreeing we both actually saw the blackout happen and we caught our breath, we each said our hearts felt as if they had literally stopped beating. It's a good thing the dogs were snoring away in the back of the car. They had no idea our motel had temporarily vanished. As long as they got dry and fed, they were too tired to notice much else anyways. Fort Stevens State Park is definitely one the dogs would put high on their "it made me so sleepy" list.

My favorite part of the historic site was where a replica Clatsop longhouse usually stands. The replica space is near were an authentic longhouse was marked on maps before the Civil War. Just seeing the door was amazing!

Battery 245 built in 1944. More photos of it are above.

For those of you wondering about the battery Brychwyn, Huxley and Wilhelm were guarding in yesterdays Wordless Wednesday post it is Battery 245 built in 1944. We really enjoyed everyone's great comments! Thanks for sharing the adventure with us.