in case you missed it
september21
2017
County Commissioners
Dedicate Plaque to Oregon
Equestrian Trails for Work
at Camp Wilkerson
Group built horse corrals, camp
sites, trails at county’s largest park
The Columbia County Board of
Commissioners honored members of the
Columbia County Chapter of Oregon
Equestrian Trails (OET) for their dedi-
cation in building a horse camp at the
county-owned Camp Wilkerson as well
as many other projects throughout the
county.
On Wednesday, September 20
the Commissioners unveiled a plaque
at the horse camp in the park. The area
has six pull-through sites, some of which
can accommodate two motor homes or
campers, each with corrals that can hold
four horses. Each site also has a picnic
table and a fire ring, along with pota-
ble water spigots. An ADA-compliant
mounting ramp, built with funds provid-
ed by the Leslie G. Ehmann Trust, is also
located in the horse camp area as well as
a 24’ x 24’ shelter for group interaction.
OET provided much of the funding for
materials as well as labor to build out the
area.
“This plaque is a symbol of the
county’s appreciation for our local chap-
ter of Oregon Equestrian Trails for their
work in designing, funding and building
much of the horse camp area,” said Co-
lumbia County Commission Chair Hen-
ry Heimuller. “Columbia County resi-
dents love to ride horses, so I am happy
they have a place where they and their
beloved animals can relax and spend
time outdoors.”
At 280 acres, Camp Wilkerson
is the county’s largest park, with more
than 13 miles of trails. In addition to
the horse camp, it hosts 25 three-sided
camp shelters referred to as Adirondak
camps, ten tent sites, two dry RV sites,
three rustic two-room cabins and a day
lodge complete with cooking facilities to
accommodate groups of up to 250 peo-
ple. Camp Wilkerson is located 16 miles
northwest of Scappoose on Apiary Road.
Trail users can travel on either
forest roads or the single-track 3.5 mile
Liahona Trail that loops through the park
and crosses bridges over Oak Ranch
Creek. Wider forest roads bring riders
on five, seven or 10-mile loops.
Other than when trails run near
Apiary Road, the remote pathways and
roads lead through the park’s dense ev-
ergreen and hardwood temperate for-
est. Camp Wilkerson is considered one
of the county’s most quiet and secluded
areas.
All trails are considered easy to
moderate for hikers and are marked with
wooden signs embellished with horse-
shoes and arrows indicating turns.
According to Rory Hammond,
former OET president, the group chose
Camp Wilkerson because of its size and
seclusion. “There were no horse camps
in the county,” Hammond said, “and
since Camp Wilkerson also used to host
horse gatherings in years past, there
was room, and the forest is so beauti-
ful, we thought it was a good place to
start bringing horse trails and camping
to county parks.”
Hammond and other OET vol-
unteers have been collaborating with
the county on the horse camp and trails
19
9/11 Annual Silent Walk
Members of the Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District and Vernonia
Volunteer Ambulance Association took part in the Annual Silent Walk
to commemorate the lives lost on September 11, 2001.
since the early 2000s.
“A lot of individual people and
groups have helped significantly over
the years at Camp Wilkerson,” Ham-
mond said. “Along with OET, Trailkeep-
ers of Oregon, the Sheriff’s Posse and
Boy Scout troops have raised funds for
various park enhancements and have
provided labor for quite a bit of the work
accomplished there.”
OET has also funded work on the
bridges and helped the county identify
and develop the Liahona Trail and some
connecting trails in the park through a
GIS study the group performed. OET
members also continue to perform main-
tenance and upkeep of the trails and the
horse camp.
“Columbia County looks for-
ward to its continued collaboration with
Oregon Equestrian Trails in developing
horse areas in some of our other parks
and trails like Diblee Beach Park in
Rainier and along the CZ Trail,” said
Heimuller. “Their input, skills and the
incredible amount of work they do are
invaluable to the county.”
Camp Wilkerson, one of the
county’s most visited parks, is open
year round, except for the lodge which
is closed during winter months. Be-
cause the camp is busy at most times of
the year, particularly in summer when
the lodge is booked for weddings, it is
recommended that campers make res-
ervations by calling the reservation line
at (503) 366-3984. Campers can also
complete a reservation request form on
the county’s website www.co.columbia.
or.us/parks.
About Columbia County Forest, Parks
and Recreation: The Columbia County
Forest, Parks and Recreation depart-
ment manages and oversees nine parks
in the county. They range from the full-
service Hudson-Parcher along the Co-
lumbia River to the 23-acre JJ Collins
Marine Park to the rustic Scaponia Park
deep in the county’s wooded interior.
County parks offer a variety of activi-
ties, including camping, windsurfing and
horseback riding. In addition to these
park and recreation areas, the county
owns 430 acres of forest lands that are
managed for periodic timber harvests.
About Oregon Equestran Trails: OET
is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
whose members are dedicated to build-
ing, promoting, preserving and main-
taining horse camps and trails in Ore-
gon. Established in 1970, the group has
worked with state and federal partners to
secure more than 70 campgrounds that
offer a safe, secure overnight equestrian
experience. Members work throughout
the year to maintain the trails to provide
continued access for all user groups. The
Columbia County chapter was formed in
2001.
Burgers & Fries
9 Beers on Tap
Home of the
Bear Creek Pub
Growlers To Go
Check us
Out on
Facebook
UPCOMING EVENTS
Couples Scotch Ball
Every Friday, 5-6 pm Tee Off
Men’s Club
Every Wednesday, 3-6 pm Tee Off
Vernonia Golf Club • 15961 Timber Rd • (503) 429-6811
503.429.0214
831 Bridge St.