community
november7
2019
7
Worth the Trip: Crossing the Columbia River
construction of the Wauna Paper Mill,
and a historical tribute to Simon Benson,
the famous self-made timber baron who
successfully owned logging operations
in the area in the very early 1900s. The
pies, jams, jellies, and their other syrups
and sauces they manufacture, are only
sold from the restaurant gift shop; the
soups are marketed wholesale around
the Pacific Northwest and can be found
in over 100 locations. A slice of their
Marionberry pie ala mode and a cup of
coffee was the perfect start to our day.
Above: The Berry Patch located in
Westport. Right: The river view and totem
poles at sunset at Kalama Harbor Lodge.
Just a few miles away from the
Berry Patch is the dock for the Wahkia-
kum County Ferry. Wahkiakum County
in Washington operates the Oscar B, and
has run a ferry across the 1.5 mile cross-
ing here since 1962. The ferry is the last
car ferry to cross the lower Columbia and
operates 365 days a year departing from
Puget Island in Washington on the hour,
every hour, between 5:00 am and 10:00
pm, and from Westport, fifteen minutes
past the hour, every hour, between 5:15
am and 10:15 pm. Cost is $6 for a car or
pick-up and RVs pay by length.
A ferry has operated in the area
since 1925, when Walter Coates started
regular service, with one ferry crossing
from Cathlamet to Puget Island, and a
second ferry to cross to Westport; a road
across the 2.5 mile island got travelers
from one ferry to the other, and Coates
shuttled pedestrian passengers in his
own Buick. Coates sold his ferry busi-
ness in 1932 and it continued operat-
ing until 1939 when the opening of the
Puget Island – Cathlamet Bridge con-
nected the island to the mainland and
eliminated one of the crossings. Elmer
Danielson took over and ran the Puget
Island to Westport ferry until 1959 when
Wahkiakum County took over the ser-
vice, and has operated it ever since. The
short ferry ride takes just 10 minutes and
the ferry accommodates about a dozen
cars. It remains a unique and historic
way to cross the Columbia River.
On the Washington side of the
river, it’s a short drive across Puget Is-
land and the bridge to the mainland,
where you can connect
to the quaint town of
Cathlamet. If you want
to slow down and visit,
Puget Island offers a
great spot to kayak or
canoe, fish, or just ex-
plore some history.
We were too early to
visit the River Mile 38
Brewing Company in
Cathlamet, and instead
headed southeast on
Highway 4, a quiet and
scenic route that winds through forests
and along the Columbia, with a beauti-
ful view of Mount St. Helens as an ad-
ditional reward. If you’re an RVer, you
might consider a stay at County Line
Park, located where Highway 4 crosses
the Wahkiakum County line. Situated
on the shores of the Columbia it offers
hookups, restrooms, showers, and of
course, a great view of the river, but is
located right beside the highway. Back
on Highway 4, as you near Longview,
the scenery changes drastically to indus-
trial. From Longview we hopped on I-5
take in the view or a place to get out of
the rain; large space heaters make this
a cozy option throughout the year. The
Cloud Bar on the 3 rd floor provided an
even better view of the river.
The Harbor Lodge is located be-
tween the Port of Kalama and the Ras-
mussen Day-Use Park. Directly adja-
cent to the Lodge are a collection of four
totem poles, handcrafted by local Native
American Don Lelooska. The tallest to-
tem is the largest one-piece totem pole
in the world at 140 feet; it was lowered
for safety reasons in 2018, but the other
three remain as magnificent sentries and
share the view over the Columbia.
Bighorn Logging
since 1981
Contract Logging
503-324-2422
Free Estimates
Timber Purchases
Timber Management
Oregon Professional Logger certified since 1996
Are You A
Veteran?
Phone:
503-366-6580
Community Action Team
south and headed for our final destina-
tion, the McMenamins Kalama Harbor
Lodge.
McMenamins have a reputa-
tion for exquisite renovations of old
and historic properties. The Kalama
Harbor Lodge is a completely new con-
struction located right on the Columbia
River, and opened in 2018. The design
and construction was in-
spired by the Hawaiian
heritage of John Kalama
and is based on the de-
sign of the Pioneer Inn
in Lahaina, Maui, Ha-
waii. John Kalama was
a full-blooded Hawai-
ian and an employee
of the Hudson’s Bay
Company who worked
in the region from 1837
to 1870, although the
town is not named after
him; the name was already in use by Na-
tive Americans when Lewis and Clark
passed through the area in 1806.
Like many McMenamins prop-
erties, the Harbor Lodge offers rooms
for overnight guests, and numerous bars
and restaurants where you can grab a
bite to eat or relax with a beverage. The
Ahles Point Cabin is located just a short
stroll down the waterfront on a paved
path, and is a less crowded spot to un-
wind and enjoy the fantastic river view.
At the main lodge, a wrap around patio,
partially covered, offers a sunny spot to
C12163
Owned and Operated by
Don & Kim Wallace
DON WALLACE, PLS
Professional Land Surveying
1224 E. Alder St.
Vernonia, OR 97064
Phone: 503-429-6115
FAX: 1-866-297-1402
Email: DWallace_KLS@msn.com
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MEMBER