Some people want to walk to Oregon. Others just want to go to the park.
Walkers at each end of the spectrum will be able to find an appropriate route on the first Clark County trails map.
One side of the free foldable map shows about 30 trails all over the county, as well as parks and green spaces.
The other side focuses on six prominent regional trails:
• Captain William Clark Park Trail at Cottonwood Beach.
• Columbia River Renaissance Trail.
• Frenchman’s Bar/Vancouver Lake Trail.
• Moulton Falls Regional Park Trail.
• Salmon Creek Greenway Regional Park Trail.
• Burnt Bridge Creek Trail.
The more detailed maps of those six trails show features like restrooms, parking areas and viewpoints. Information on each of the six trails includes descriptions of its setting, accessibility and — where appropriate — historical highlights.
The map was published by Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation, along with more than a dozen partners. They include all seven municipalities in the county.
“We saw this as an opportunity to have trails in all the jurisdictions on this map, as well as contact information,” said Lisa Goorjian, Vancouver-Clark trails program coordinator.
The map provides two walking routes into Oregon, via the sidewalk on the Interstate 5 Bridge and the pedestrian/bicycling lane on Interstate 205’s Glenn Jackson Bridge. From there, hikers and cyclists can access a system of trails in the Portland area.
“We’re part of The Intertwine Alliance,” Goorjian said. “It’s a system of parks and trails and natural areas within the bistate area. People don’t care who owns or manages a trail. They want to know where it is.”
A few of the trails on the county map are barely more than red dots, but they have their place.
“We wanted to make sure we highlighted the importance of trails that connect neighborhoods and can get you through your community by walking or riding a bike,” Goorjian said.
The map also includes several boat launches for people who prefer to hit the trail with paddles in their hands.
“Water trails are very popular, and we’re looking to promote that for kayaks and canoes,” Goorjian said.
Printing of the 15,000 maps was funded by county real estate excise taxes and a donation from the Kaiser Permanente health system.
“Trails are great ways for people to enjoy nature and be physically active,” Dr. Terry Williams, a family medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente’s Orchards facility, said in a news release. He said Kaiser Permanente’s sponsorship was “a way to build healthy communities and support total health.”
Other partners included Washington State University Vancouver, Paradise Point State Park, Battle Ground Lake State Park and Yacolt Burn State Forest. Federal partners include the National Park Service, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Maps are available:
• In Vancouver at the city’s Esther Short Building, 610 Esther St.; City Hall, 210 E. 13th St.; Clark County Public Service Center, 1300 Franklin St.; Firstenburg Community Center, 700 N.E. 136th Ave.; Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Visitor Center, 612 East Reserve St.; Marshall Community Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd.; Vancouver Tennis Center, East 18th Street and Stapleton Road; and Water Resources Education Center, 4600 S.E. Columbia Way.
• Around the county at Battle Ground Community Center, 912 E. Main St.; Camas City Hall, 616 N.E. Fourth Ave.; La Center City Hall, 214 E. Fourth St.; Ridgefield City Hall, 230 Pioneer St.; Washougal City Hall, 1701 C St.; and Yacolt Town Hall, 105 E. Yacolt Road.
• At community branches of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District.
