Brew Pubs (10)
Culture (28)
Events & Festivals (8)
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Outdoors (151)
Shopping (3)- Sporting Events (4)
- Visitor Centers (6)
1st Street Antiques located in Kalama WA. Open 11 am to 5 pm 7 days a week.
ALERT: BEAVER BAY PARK and CAMPGROUND to REMAIN CLOSED for 2025 SEASON
More Information
- 63 individual camping sites
- Day use picnic area
- Swimming beach please note: for the safety of all swimmers, no personal floatation devices (including but not limited to: kayaks, paddleboards, inflatable watercraft, etc.) or use of oars or paddles are allowed within the swimming area
- Single-lane boat ramp
- Group camping facility has 15 campsites and a covered picnic shelter with a fireplace and sink.
- Restrooms, showers and water provided
- Recreational vehicle dump station, but no RV hook-ups at campsites
Mountain Biking
Don’t pass up the chance to turn a crank on the shoulder of an active volcano! The Ape Canyon ride, which begins on the south side of Mount St. Helens, is one of the Northwest’s premier mountain biking treks, with varied landscapes and incredible vistas. World-class single-track also awaits at Siouxon Creek, Lewis River, South Coldwater, and Old Man Pass/Falls Creek.
Tour de Blast - Road Biking
Tour de Blast is the essential event for road bikers, attracting crowds in excess of 1,000 each year. The 82-mile route from Toutle to Science & Learning Center takes riders into the very heart of the blast zone. Saturday June 20, 2026.
UPDATE: Tour de Blast will be ending at the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater this year. Due to the landslide prior to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.
STP Bicycle Classic
This 200-mile bicycle ride is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest, with up to 10,000 participants riding from Seattle to Portland in one or two days. The route takes you through the scenic valleys, forests, and farmlands of western Washington and Oregon. Saturday July 12th at 5:00 am to Sunday July 13th by 7:00 pm. 🚴♂️ STP Classic is happening this weekend! Riders will be passing through our area—come out, cheer them on, and enjoy the energy of this incredible event! 🚴♀️Safe travels to all participants and volunteers—see you on the route!
Castle Rock Bike Skills Park
Nestled in the heart of Castle Rock, WA, the Bike Skills Park is a must-visit destination for riders of all ages and skill levels. Designed with both fun and progression in mind, this park features a variety of trails, pump tracks, jumps, and technical features that help riders build confidence and sharpen their mountain biking skills.
Whether you’re just learning to ride or looking to push your limits, the park offers a safe and scenic environment to practice and play. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, it’s a perfect stop for families, youth groups, or anyone who loves to ride.
The park is free and open to the public, and conveniently located near trails, rest areas, and downtown Castle Rock amenities. Helmets are required—and smiles are guaranteed.
Bob's Sporting Goods
Offering:
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Full-time Pro Shop employees
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Archery Lessons, Seminars
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Archery League
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11-lane air-conditioned range
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Full-service repair shop
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Offering Hoyt, Mathews, Mission Bows
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Parts and Accessories
Tel: 360.425.3870
Boundary Trail #1 to Norway Pass (SR 504 Side)
- Location: Near Coldwater Lake, off SR 504, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument.
- Distance: 7 miles one-way (about 14 miles round trip).
- Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging – steady uphill climb with some rocky sections.
- Elevation Gain: Around 2,500 feet to 4,200 feet at Norway Pass.
- Best Season: Late spring to fall (May to October), avoid winter and early spring due to snow.
Trail Highlights:
- Views: Great views of Mount St. Helens, Spirit Lake, and the blast zone.
- Wildlife: Look for elk, deer, and bears.
- Trail Type: Point-to-point (out-and-back).
- Family-Friendly: Not ideal for young kids; better for experienced hikers.
Things to Know:
Shuttle: If doing a one-way hike, consider arranging a shuttle.
Trail Access: Start at Coldwater Ridge or Coldwater Lake.
Water: Bring plenty of water, there are no reliable water sources along the trail.
Weather: Weather can change quickly; bring layers.
For more than two decades, the Broadway Gallery has been a staple in the local art scene. A collaborative effort by 50 area artists,
the Broadway Gallery hosts ongoing classes and special events.
Castle Rock Axe House is the premier indoor axe throwing facility in Cowlitz County. Regardless of the weather outside, you'll feel the exhilaration of axe throwing in comfort!
12 Lanes - all ADA Compliant
With 12 axe throwing lanes, Castle Rock Axe House can accommodate all group sizes. Whether you're planning a fun-filled date night or organizing a memorable event for a large group, our venue has got you covered! With our spacious, well-maintained lanes, you can unleash your inner lumberjack and compete against your friends in a thrilling game of axe throwing.
Advanced Technology
Castle Rock Axe House has the safest and most advanced axe throwing venue in the Mt. St. Helens area. We use anti-bounce borders and safety-designed end grain targets that are easier to stick, safer, and way more axe-citing than those boring standard targets. We've also taken it a step further with the latest state-of-the-art system for projected targets and games! These interactive axe throwing games also have digital scoring!
At Castle Rock Axe House, we guarantee a fun and memorable axe throwing experience for everyone, regardless of age or experience level. We welcome throwers as young as eight years old. If you’ve never thrown an axe before, there’s no need to worry! Our expert staff will provide comprehensive guidance and make the process of axe throwing easy for you during your session.
Hit the Bullseye on Fun!
Castle Rock Axe House offers the latest and safest axe throwing experience. Our facilities are equipped with anti-bounce borders and safety-designed end grain targets, making it easier to stick the axe and ensuring a safer and more exciting experience. We prioritize safety to avoid any axe-idents!
Looking for something different than just throwing at circles? Our state-of-the-art projected targets feature games like 21, Battleship, Tic-tac-toe, Zombies, and Line-Up-Four, with more games coming soon! We even have digital scoring to enhance your experience. Castle Rock Axe House is the place you must visit for the best axe throwing experience.
2023 Event
Castle Rock Festival of Lights
Tree Lighting and Parade
Second Saturday of December each year
Free pictures with Santa start at 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm./More after the Tree Lighting - Santa will hang around for pictures until about 7:30 pm!
Hometown Parade will start at 5:30, with a tree lighting ceremony to follow.
Gift Vendors, Food Vendors, local businesses and restaurants will be open during the event.
When: Saturday, December 9, 2023
Event starts at 2:00 pm
Castle Rock Festival of Lights is an amazing family-friendly event each December.
Claim a spot of sidewalk along Cowlitz St. or Front Ave. for the hometown parade, starting at 5:30 pm. A very well decked-out Castle Rock Fire Department, several local businesses. Following the parade, the official tree lighting ceremony will begin near the Post Office at 126 W Cowlitz St. Santa will lead the countdown and we’ll flip the switch, illuminating the charming downtown with thousands of glittering lights. Following the lighting ceremony, the Castle Rock High School band and the Castle Rock Men’s Ensemble will lead the crowd in classic Christmas Carols. Businesses will be decked out, each trying to win the coveted Best Decorated Storefront award. The committee also encourages attendees to come early and stay late to enjoy restaurant and shopping specials throughout the town, on both exit 48 and 49. Festival-goers can also enter to win fantastic raffle prizes being drawn the night of the celebration.
And of course, Santa will be making his annual stop for free pictures with all the good little boys and girls, inside the Visitors Center located at 147 Front Ave.
Whether this is your 1st year or your 11th year, you are sure to have yourself a merry little Festival of Lights. There’s a lot to do in this little town! For complete details and a schedule of events, please visit the Castle Rock Festival of Lights Facebook page.
Located on the west side of Interstate 5 off exit 49.
The Castle Rock Information & Visitor Center is open
Wednesday through Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.
The Cedar Creek Grist Mill – Woodland, Washington
Nestled in the forested hills east of Woodland, The Cedar Creek Grist Mill is a beautifully preserved piece of Pacific Northwest history. Built in the late 1800s, this working museum gives visitors a rare look inside a fully functional, water-powered grist mill — one of the only ones of its kind still operating in Washington today.
Visitors are welcomed by friendly volunteers who provide a “Working Tour” of the mill in action. Inside, you’ll see huge pulleys and belts whirring above and below as water power turns the grinding stones that produce flour, cornmeal, and even fresh apple cider. Guests often receive free samples to take home — a true taste of history.
No gas or electricity is used — the mill runs entirely on the natural flow of Cedar Creek. Every volunteer here is passionate about keeping the mill’s story alive and sharing how this 19th-century technology still works today.
Set against a steep, rocky slope at the bottom of Cedar Creek Gorge, the mill is also a breathtaking scenic landmark. It remains the only grist mill in Washington that has maintained its original structural integrity, still mills with stones, and is powered solely by water. Beside it stands a covered bridge, built in 1994, which adds to the site’s charm and continues to draw visitors from across the country.
Seasonal and Annual Events
The Cedar Creek Grist Mill hosts a variety of seasonal events throughout the year, celebrating heritage, community, and the joy of handmade food. Each event features live milling demonstrations and free samples prepared on-site by volunteers. Popular events include:
- Bread Day – Freshly baked breads made from flour milled on-site.
- Strawberry Shortcake Day – Enjoy homemade shortcake topped with sweet local strawberries.
- Blueberry Pancake Day – Watch flour being milled and enjoy delicious pancakes made right at the mill.
- Treat Day – A fun day filled with baked goodies and sweet surprises.
- Cornbread Day – See cornmeal ground by waterpower and sample warm, fresh cornbread.
- Apple Cider Pressing Day – The most popular event of the year! Visitors can help press apples into fresh, crisp cider using the mill’s traditional machinery.
Each celebration showcases the mill’s living history and brings the community together in a warm, family-friendly atmosphere.
A Living Piece of History
The Cedar Creek Grist Mill is more than just a historic landmark — it’s a living museum, lovingly maintained by dedicated volunteers. Every spin of the wheel and every grain of flour tells a story of craftsmanship, ingenuity, and preservation. Whether you visit for the history, the beauty of the gorge, or one of the mill’s famous events, the Cedar Creek Grist Mill offers an unforgettable experience for all ages.
Climb Mt St Helens
Climbing information - Permits
At 8,328 feet high (as measured by USGS in 2009), Mount St. Helens offers climbers a breathtaking view from the crater rim. Although it is not a technical climb, it is strenuous and hazardous due to ice, large boulders, loose pumice, fast-changing weather and volcanism. Climbers should be in very good physical condition, well equipped, informed about volcanic hazards, and have plenty of water and food.
The Mount St. Helens Institute has partnered with the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to help protect the volcano’s fragile features and to ensure climbers have a safe, low-impact experience on the volcano.
Before climbing Mount St. Helens, please read climbing rules, road and trail conditions, and other important information from the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. (please use the URL in the website field to get your permit and view rules and regulations)
Climbing permits are required year-round on Mount St. Helens. A Climbing Permit allows an individual or group (max size limit of 12) to be in or upon the area defined as the Mount St. Helens Closure Area #2 (PDF) during the 24 hour period designated by the permit. (please use the URL in the website field to get your permit and view rules and regulations)
To reduce crowding and protect natural features, the number of climbers per day on Mount St. Helens is subject to a quota from April 1 to October 31.
During the quota season, permits must be purchased online in advance. A permit may be printed up to 14 days before your reservation date. Once your permit has been printed, you cannot make changes. Outside the quota season, permits are free of charge and self-issued at the trailhead.
April 1 - May 14: 500 climbers/day. Must be purchased online in advance.
May 15 - October 31: 100 climbers/day. Must be purchased online in advance.
November 1 - March 31: Unlimited climbers. Permit is free and self-issue at the trailhead.
Climbing permits during the quota season cost $15 per person per day. A $6 reservation fee is charged per transaction.
Permits are one per Group, rather than one per individual.
The Permit Holder (the purchaser) of the climbing permit can make a reservation for up to 12 total climbing Group Members. The Permit Holder must be included in the climbing group.
The Permit Holder must provide the names of all Group Members at the time of purchase. While climbing Group Members' names can be adjusted after the purchase, the Permit Holder name cannot be changed nor refunded without cancelling the entire permit. All climbers in the Group must carry a government-issued photo ID that matches their name on the list of members on the purchased permit.
Every year millions of visitors use Recreation.gov to plan, reserve and share their experiences in national forests, national parks, and other public federal lands. Recreation.gov hosts more than 3,000 campgrounds nationwide, including 18 on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
The historic Columbia Theatre opened as a vaudeville venue and movie house in 1925, declined during the mid-20th century and escaped what would have been a tragic ending in 1980 when excavation and demolition equipment heading toward the theater was diverted to help with the cleanup following the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Subsequently, a group of visionaries got together and saved the building. Today, the vibrant 1,000-seat theatre hosts nearly a dozen shows each year, ranging from musicals to comedy to children’s theatre.
The Columbia Theatre is commemorating its 100th anniversary with a week-long Centennial Celebration from April 4th to April 11th 2025. The festivities begin on Friday April 4th with a rededication ceremony and a ribbon-cutting at 5:30 pm followed by cake, champagne, and live music from members of the SW Washington Symphony at 6:30 pm. The evening continues with screenings of the short film "The Uneasy Three" and the classic silent film "Charly's Aunt" the first film shown during the theatre's opening in 1925. Additional events include guided tours, a performance by blues artist LaRhonda Steele, and a sing-along of Disney's live-action "Beauty and the Beast". All events are free, though donations are appreciated.