Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

From the Civil War to World War II, three forts protected the mouth of the Columbia river: Fort Columbia and Fort Canby in Washington, and Fort Stevens in Oregon.  Fort Stevens was the primary stronghold of the three, seeing 84 years of active operation beginning in 1863.

Now the 4,200-acre state park, located just outside of Astoria, is one of Oregon’s busiest summer recreation spots and hosts one of the nation’s largest publicly run campgrounds (the largest in Oregon).  Beyond the full service campground, the park offers plenty of activities: enjoy the 15 miles of open, sandy beach, swim or fish in the freshwater lakes, ride on the 9 miles of paved bike paths, hike on the 5 miles of hiking trails, discover local wildlife from several designated viewing platforms, explore a wrecked ship from 1906 or the abandoned Fort Stevens, and put it all in context with the military museum.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

Historic fortress. Shipwreck. Miles of bike paths. Campground.

Cons

Very crowded the summer.

Features

Campgrounds + Campsites
Showers
Amphitheater
Historically significant
Flushing toilets
Boat ramp(s)
Bicycling
Potable water
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Volleyball
Playground
Bird watching
Wildlife

Site type

Full hookups
Cabins
Yurts

Location

Nearby Adventures

Washington, Southwest Washington Coast
Washington, Southwest Washington Coast
Lewis and Clark National Historic Park

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

03/19/2016
What an amazing park with lots to explore. We plan to go back for camping and exploring the old battlements again too.
04/25/2015
Each year, Astoria holds a Seafood and Wine Festival. An afternoon at the festival followed by a sunset viewing from Fort Stevens State Park makes for a great day.
04/05/2015
Had a great time exploring the old batteries, and was really intrigued by the textures caused by decay. Also discovered a species of jellyfish that had washed ashore. They were vibrant blue but as they aged turned clear. Apparently they make the trip all the way from Japan, blowing over using the sails, and only in El Niño years.
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