Southwest Washington · Washington
Parks & Recreation in Camas: Trails, Facilities & Outdoor Life (2026)
Most people researching Camas focus on the schools or the home prices. What stops them mid-scroll is the park system — specifically the realization that this city of roughly 27,000 people has approximately 60 miles of trails threading through forests, along lake shores, and past blooming lily fields. That's not a metropolitan amenity. That's something you'd expect from a destination resort town.
The outdoor infrastructure here is shaped almost entirely by water and topography. Lacamas Lake and Round Lake anchor the eastern side of the city, and the trail network that wraps around them forms the backbone of Camas's recreational identity. Add in the Washougal River corridor to the south, the rolling terrain of Prune Hill to the north, and a parks department managing facilities across dozens of named parks, and you start to understand why residents treat the outdoors here less like a weekend option and more like a daily habit.
This guide covers where those trails actually go, which parks are worth driving to, where kids play organized sports, and what you lose by not having a city-operated aquatic center — yet.
| Park | Highlights | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Lacamas Park | 12+ miles of trails, boat launch, lily fields, Round Lake loop | Hikers, trail runners, kayakers |
| Heritage Park | 6.9-mile lakeside trail, boat launch, large parking with trailer stalls | Long hikes, trail biking, fishing |
| Grass Valley Park | Tennis, pickleball, basketball, 1-mile paved trail, Little League fields | Families, active adults, youth sports |
| Crown Park | Historic grove of old-growth trees, Scout Hall, concert events | Community events, casual strolls |
| Fallen Leaf Lake Park | Non-motorized lake access, covered shelter, unpaved lakeshore trails | Quiet picnics, paddleboard, volleyball |
| Prune Hill Sports Park | Soccer fields, basketball, playground, universal accessibility | Youth team sports, neighborhood families |
| Louis Bloch Park | Historic baseball diamond, Babe Ruth League since 1958 | Youth baseball, neighborhood pickup games |
| Camas Skate Park | 12,500+ sq ft two-tiered skate surface, adjacent to Washougal River Greenway | Skaters, BMX riders, teens |
| Washougal River Greenway | River access, fishing, paved paths, dog-friendly | Dog walks, fishing, casual recreation |
| Klickitat Park | Soccer, tennis, basketball, picnic shelter, bounce walls | Multi-sport families |
| Dorothy Fox Park | Soccer fields, playground, restrooms, basketball | Neighborhood families |
| Benton Park | Paved trails, picnic tables, dog-friendly greenspace | Dog owners, walkers |
Location: 3344 NE Everett Street, Camas, WA 98607
Lacamas Park is the centerpiece of Camas's outdoor identity — a sprawling regional park with more than 12 miles of trails connecting to the Lacamas Heritage Trail along the lake's south shore, plus access to the Camas Potholes and the famous Camas lily fields, which peak in mid-April. The park includes a free two-lane boat launch, a playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, and a 1.2-mile loop around Round Lake that's one of the most-walked paths in the city. The insider tip: arrive before 9 a.m. on spring weekends — parking fills fast during lily season, and the lot off Everett Street has no overflow.
Best for: Hikers, paddlers, families with kids, anyone wanting the full Camas outdoor experience in a single visit.
Location: NE Goodwin Road trailhead, Camas, WA (additional access via the Lacamas Park corridor)
Heritage Park anchors the northern approach to the Lacamas Lake trail system with a 6.9-mile out-and-back that draws hikers, runners, and mountain bikers daily. The large parking lot with long-pull stalls makes it the preferred entry point for anyone bringing a kayak or canoe trailer to the boat launch. The trail is accessible year-round and rated suitable for all skill levels, though the packed-dirt sections get muddy after heavy rain — trail shoes beat road shoes here from November through March.
Best for: Long trail runs, casual day hikes, kayak launches, dog owners who want real mileage.
Location: 3211 NW 38th Avenue, Camas, WA
Grass Valley Park serves northwest Camas with a well-rounded mix of active amenities: tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts share space with Little League fields, a playground, covered picnic areas, and a one-mile paved trail that winds through marsh, forest, and open field. It's the kind of park where you can run the trail, hit a few tennis sets, and watch your kids' baseball game without moving your car. Gold's Gym — which operates the indoor pool facility formerly known as Lacamas Athletic Club — sits nearby on NW 38th Avenue, making this corner of the city one of the better-equipped recreation zones in Camas.
Best for: Active families, pickleball players, youth baseball, multi-activity weekend mornings.
Location: North side of Downtown Camas, near NE 4th Avenue
Crown Park was donated to the city in 1934 and remains one of the most distinctive green spaces in Southwest Washington, anchored by a mature grove of Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, Giant Sequoias, Zelkovas, and Maples that took nearly a century to reach their current scale. The park hosts Scout Hall, two tennis courts, a basketball half court, two play areas, and a picnic shelter, and it's the annual home of the Camtown Arts & Music Festival — a free community event held each June that draws vendors, musicians, and families from across Clark County. The old Crown Park Pool is long gone, but the park's tree canopy alone makes it worth a visit.
Best for: Community events, shaded walks, families with young kids near downtown.
Location: 2911 NE Everett Street, Camas, WA
Fallen Leaf Lake Park sits within a 119-acre park system and centers on a quiet, 15-acre lake closed to motorboats — which keeps the water calm and the atmosphere unhurried. The park has a covered picnic shelter available for reservation, lakeside tables, unpaved lakeshore trails, a volleyball net, and restrooms. It's notably less crowded than Lacamas Park on weekends, which makes it the local's choice for a low-key afternoon on the water with a paddleboard or kayak.
Best for: Quiet paddling, reservable group picnics, families wanting lake access without the Lacamas weekend crowds.
The Lacamas Heritage Trail is the connective tissue of Camas's trail network. Running along the south and eastern shores of Lacamas Lake, the trail links Lacamas Park, Heritage Park, and several neighborhood access points into a continuous corridor that extends well beyond any single trailhead. The surface varies between packed dirt and gravel, with some paved sections near major access points, and passes through dense second-growth forest, open wetland edges, and stretches where the lake is visible through the tree line.
Trail runners and hikers use it year-round, and mountain bikers make up a significant share of weekday traffic. The full system-wide count across all city parks hits approximately 60 miles, and the Heritage Trail represents the longest uninterrupted stretch. Access points off NE Everett Street and NE Goodwin Road offer the best parking, and the Lacamas Park boat launch is close enough that combining a morning paddle with an afternoon trail run is a genuinely common Camas weekend.
Camas does not currently operate a city-owned public aquatic center. The original Crown Park Pool was demolished, and while the city approved a bond measure years ago to fund a new community aquatics facility, no public pool has opened as of 2026. Families with competitive swimmers or those expecting year-round lap swimming should plan on Gold's Gym at 2950 NW 38th Ave, which operates an indoor 25-meter, 8-lane pool — the facility previously operated as the Lacamas Athletic Club and Grass Valley Aquatic Center before transitioning to new ownership in 2022. The gym offers swim team programming, Silver Sneakers, fitness center access, and badminton courts.
The Camas Community Center, Lacamas Lake Lodge, and the Fallen Leaf Lake Park Shelter serve as the city's indoor gathering and event spaces, all bookable through the Parks & Recreation office at 227 NE Lake Road. Prune Hill Sports Park, adjacent to Prune Hill Elementary, provides 8.94 acres of youth sports facilities including soccer fields, basketball courts, Little League fields, and fully accessible playground equipment. Louis Bloch Park — one of the most historically significant baseball venues in the city — has hosted the Camas-Washougal Babe Ruth League since 1958. The Camas Skate Park at 2902 NE 3rd Ave rounds out the active rec picture with over 12,500 square feet of two-tiered skating surface directly adjacent to the Washougal River Greenway.
Camas is one of those markets where proximity to outdoor amenities genuinely moves the needle on home values over time. Neighborhoods like Lacamas Shores and Prune Hill sit close to the Lacamas Lake trail system and regional parks, and buyers consistently target those areas for that reason. Grass Valley also draws attention for its accessibility to open space and a quieter feel. Homes near these trail corridors and recreational hubs tend to go quickly — sometimes within days — and well-priced properties under $750,000 don't sit long once they hit the market.
Before you start touring homes, please talk with a lender first. It sounds basic, but understanding your full monthly payment reality — which includes property taxes, homeowner's insurance, any HOA dues, and how your loan is structured — often shifts what "affordable" actually looks like compared to what you were pre-approved for. Max approval and comfortable budget are rarely the same number. When the right home near Lacamas Shores or Prune Hill hits the market and competition is real, being fully prepared means you can move with confidence instead of scrambling.
| Destination | Distance from Camas | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area | 15–20 min | Waterfall hikes, Vista House, wind sports at the Hook |
| Beacon Rock State Park | 25 min east | 848-ft monolith summit hike, Columbia River views |
| Cape Horn Trail | 20 min east | Clifftop Columbia Gorge views, wildflowers in spring |
| Dog Mountain | 35 min east | Demanding wildflower hike, panoramic Gorge views |
| Whipple Creek Regional Park (Clark County) | 20 min northwest | 305-acre forested county park, creek trails, off-leash dog area |
| Moulton Falls Regional Park | 30 min north | Arch bridge, Lewis River swimming holes, old-growth forest |
| Hagg Lake (Gaston, OR) | 45 min southwest | 15-mile shoreline trail, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing |
| Vancouver Lake Regional Park | 25 min west | 240-acre lake, windsurfing, wetland wildlife trails |
Local Expert Takeaway: The most underrated outdoor asset in Camas for buyers isn't the lake — it's the trail access from residential streets. In neighborhoods like Lacamas Shores and the streets off NE Everett, you can walk out your front door and connect directly to the Heritage Trail without driving. That kind of trail-adjacent convenience is rare in Clark County and tends not to show up in listing descriptions, but it's one of the first things residents mention when you ask them why they stayed.
Does Camas have good parks for families with young children?
Yes — Camas has multiple well-maintained parks with playgrounds, covered picnic areas, and sports fields spread across the city. Grass Valley Park, Prune Hill Sports Park, and Crown Park are the most frequently used by families with young kids, and most have restrooms and parking on site.
Are dogs allowed on trails in Camas parks?
Dogs are welcome at most Camas parks and trails, including the Lacamas Heritage Trail, Heritage Park, Grass Valley Park, and the Washougal River Greenway. Leash rules apply at most locations — the trail signage at each access point specifies current requirements.
Is there public swimming access in Camas?
The city doesn't currently operate a public pool. The primary option for lap swimming and aquatic programming is Gold's Gym at 2950 NW 38th Ave, which runs an indoor 25-meter pool with swim team and fitness options. Lacamas Lake and Fallen Leaf Lake provide non-motorized water access, but neither has a designated public swimming beach with lifeguard supervision.
Explore the full Camas series: Living in Camas · Is Camas Safe? · Cost of Living · Best Neighborhoods · Schools & Family Life · Youth Sports · Parks & Rec · Retiring in Camas