Open each year from Mid July to August
Castle Rock, WA 98611
The Science and Learning Center at Coldwater, located near Mt St Helens, is a hub for education and research focused on volcanic activity and ecological recovery. Established in collaboration with the US Forest Service and the Mt St Helens Institute (MSHI), the center sits within view of the volcano's dramatic crater, offering a unique vantage point for studying the aftermath of the 1980 eruption.
Originally built as the Coldwater Ridge Visitor center, it was repurposed into the Science and Learning Center to support filed based learning and scientific inquiry. It hosts school programs, workshops and research initiatives, serving students, educators, and scientists alike. The center provides hands-on opportunities to explore geology, ecology and resilience of nature systems in one of the most studied volcanic landscapes in the world.
Winter Hours: 2026 Schedule Hours: 10 am to 4 pm - Saturday & Sunday
Toutle, WA 98649
Mile Marker 43
Seaquest State Park is owned and operated by the State Of Washington. Seaquest State Park is a nature lovers retreat. Among the popular activities are bird watching (more than 13 species), mammal watching (more than 8 species including foxes and bears), sea and sea life watching in Silver Lake, tree identification (8 major species), wildflower identification (more than 10 native plant types) and visiting the Mount St. Helens Visitor Center. The visitor center is located across the highway from Seaquest State Park and is accessed via a tunnel that runs under the highway. At only 6.6 miles east of Interstate 5 (I-5), Seaquest is as easily accessible for an overnight stay as it is for a week long stay. Limited services and shopping is available in Castle Rock. Full services and shopping is available in Kelso. Open year round.
Number of Sites: 16 full hook up RV camping sites, 17 electricity and water RV camping sites and 55 tent camping or RV camping sites without hookups plus 5 yurts
Electricity: At 33 RV camping sites
Water: At 33 RV camping sites
Sewer: At 16 RV camping sites
Waste Water Dump Station: Yes
• Waterbody: Silver Lake
• Facilities: Parking, picnic areas, restrooms
• Boat Types: Small craft, kayak, paddleboard
• Notes: Shoreline launch within park; great for family day trips.
Silver Lake (Seaquest State Park)
Silver Lake at Seaquest State Park offers a calm and welcoming paddling experience set against a forested state park backdrop. With easy access points and consistently smooth water, it’s an excellent choice for beginners, families, and those looking for a relaxed paddle with great opportunities for nature viewing.
Kayak Access
Developed boat launch
Easy shoreline access
Why It’s Great
Convenient state park amenities nearby
Calm water ideal for beginners and families
Excellent for relaxed paddling and nature viewing
• Waterbody: Silver Lake
• Facilities: Parking, boarding float
• Boat Types: Motor, non-motor, kayak
• Notes: Concrete ramp ideal for recreational boating and fishing.
Breathtaking views, Lakeside relaxation, & World class fishing. Magical evenings around the bonfire with new friends. Friendly staff who treat you like family. Silver Lake Resort has it all, with a variety of accommodations to meet your needs. Our beautiful property is located on the shores of Silver Lake with stunning Mt. St. Helens in the backdrop. Silver Lake has some of the best fishing in the Pacific Northwest – from one of our many rental boats, from our docks, or even from the balcony of your own room. Kids can play on the playground, feed the ducks by the waterfront, or catch fish with a rented fishing pole. Silver Lake Resort is the perfect lodging for visiting Mt. St. Helens, fishing for largemouth bass, or relaxing in the natural beauty all year ‘round. Our rustic setting has been drawing vacationers looking for rest and relaxation for over 50 years
Just minutes away to Castle Rock WA and the following Restaurants and more to explore
* Parkers Steakhouse
* El Compadre
* Papa Pete's Pizza
* Peper's 49er
* C & L Burger Bar
* CJ's Pizza
* Crosscut Taproom
* Mount St Helens Visitor Center
* Castle Rock Visitor Center
Wherever you are in the world, the dream of the open road is the same—the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, and that feeling of freedom that can’t be matched. At Super 8, you’ve got a standing invitation to come in and experience it firsthand.
• Waterbody: Lewis River
• Facilities: Parking, vault toilets, picnic area
• Boat Types: Small craft, non-motorized, kayak, canoe
• Notes: Convenient river access; suitable for beginners and families.
Spirit Peaks Drift Raceway is a very large industrial lot with a pretty consistent surface. Cones provide a variety of a long straight away bearing into a downward slope left corner with barriers to scrub. The layout consists of about 7 wide corners for some prime tandem opportunities. The venue is quickly growing in popularity and we are very excited to return with the whole team for some more fun!
Toutle, Washington 98649
sQuatch Fest 2025
You can expect world renowned Speakers, Authors and Researchers along with Brew Mountain that will be serving some of Washington’s finest beers. The Kids Cave will be back with even more for the children to do and don’t forget the fantastic vendors where you can find some one of a kind items. Stay tuned for updates.
Event Location: Cowlitz County Event Center
Date: January 24, from 2 pm to 9 pm & January 25, from 9 am to 8 pm
Hosted by: Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Cowlitz County Event Center
1900 7th Avenue
Longview, WA 98632
Longview, WA is famous for its delightful squirrel bridges—ingenious little wildlife crossings crafted to help squirrels avoid busy streets. Here’s a full tour of all the known bridges:
1. Nutty Narrows Bridge
- Location: Olympia Way, between 18th Ave & Maple St (near R.A. Long Park).
- Details: The original 1963 squirrel crossing—60 ft long, built from recycled fire hose and aluminum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Why It’s Awesome: This catenary-style miniature suspension bridge was the first in the U.S. and remains Longview’s iconic landmark.
2. Bruce Kamp Squirrel Bridge
- Location: 1300 block of West Kessler Boulevard.
- Details: A covered‑bridge style structure installed in 2011 as a memorial. Made of copper with a webcam
- Tour Tip: Walk or drive West along Kessler Blvd to find it—look for the webcam!
3. John R. Dick Bridge
- Location: Nichols Boulevard, near Kentucky Blvd (by RA Long High School).
- Details: Unveiled ~2012, modeled after Boston’s Zakim Bridge—a cable‑stayed version
4. OBEC Bridge
- Location: Louisiana St at ~23rd Ave.
- Details: Installed circa 2013–14; a covered‑bridge aesthetic with redwood frame and metal roof. Designed by OBEC Engineering
5. Safety Awareness Bridge
- Location: 1700 block of Kessler Boulevard.
- Details: A 2015 truss‑style structure built by local high‑school robotics teams, featuring colored glass panels (walkers, cyclists) to promote safety
6. R.D. Olson MFG. Bridge
- Location: On Kessler Boulevard across from Lion’s Island.
- Details: Designed to resemble the big Lewis‑Clark Bridge across the Columbia. Built by R.D. Olson MFG from Kelso
7. Fremont‑Style (S & R) Bridge
- Location: Kessler Blvd at the end of Lake Sacajawea.
- Details: An aluminum replica of Portland’s Fremont Bridge—about 20 ft long, tied‑arch design
8. PUD Squirrel Bridge
- Location: (Often referred simply as the “PUD Bridge”) Precise location on Kessler Blvd; built by the public utility district .
9. Waco Japan Sister City Bridge
- Location: Also on Kessler Boulevard, celebrating Longview’s partnership with Waco, Japan mylongview.com.
🗺️ Suggested Tour Route
- Start at Nutty Narrows near R.A. Long Park.
- Drive west on Kessler Blvd:
- Stop at Bruce Kamp,
- Continue to Safety Awareness,
- Visit R.D. Olson near Lion’s Island.
- Swing south to Nichols Blvd for the John R. Dick Bridge.
- Head to Louisiana St & 23rd Ave to see the OBEC Bridge.
- Finish at Fremont‑Style, PUD, and Sister City Bridges by Lake Sacajawea end of Kessler Blvd.
- Time your visit for August, when Squirrel Fest celebrates these quirky landmarks on a guided tour.
🎯 Fun & Useful Info
- Bridges are maintained by volunteer group Sandbaggers, who also host Squirrel Fest
- The bridges aren’t just cute—they help reduce squirrel road fatalities and make for great photo ops!
- You can stream live via webcam on the Bruce Kamp bridge at lvsquirrelfest.com.
This self-guided tour should take about 1–2 hours by car or bike, plus plenty of opportunities for squirrel-watching and exploring Lake Sacajawea Park. Enjoy your nutty adventure!
There are also a Squirrel Bridge Tour each year during the Squirrel Festival on the 3rd Saturday of August.