Whipple Creek Regional Park
Quiet forest wandering in bustling Clark County
Quick Facts:
Location: Clark County
Land Agency: Clark County Parks
Round Trip: more than 6.0 miles of trails
Elevation Gain: up to 250 feet
Contact: Clark County Public Works Parks and Lands Division
Detailed Information: Urban Trails Vancouver WA (Mountaineers Books)
Notes: Dogs permitted on leash; some trails also open to mountain bikes and horses; park open from 7 am to dusk
Access: From Vancouver follow I-5 north to Exit 9 and then head west on E 179th Street for 1.5 miles. Then turn left onto NW 21st Ave and continue for 0.3 mile to parking and trailhead.
Good to Know: kid-friendly, snow-free winter hikes, historic
Whipple Creek offers 300 acres of forest to wander just 10 minutes north of Washington’s 4th largest city. Hike through impressive forest groves; and explore ravines, old pastures, and historic structures including a hand-built stone mill. The park has long been popular with equestrians. Equestrians were a major force in rehabilitating this park from past neglect. It’s imperative that you yield to all horseback riders while you run, walk and hike this park’s trails. And always keep your dog on a leash and in control.
The park consists of more than 4 miles of wide gravel trails and a couple of more miles of narrower dirt trails. The dirt trails are closed to mountain bikers and horses from November through mid-May to protect them from erosion during the wetter months. Hikers and runners however can use all trails within the park year round.
Most trail junctions are marked with maps so you shouldn’t have any problems getting around in case you forgot to download a map before heading out. From the trailhead head south through an old orchard and pasture on the North-South Trail. This trail connects to and includes part of the 0.9 mile Stone Mill Loop. It passes Hilborn’s Stone Mill which was built by a local architect, Day W. Hilborn for electricity production. Hilborn hand-built the mill using local basalt. It took him 20 years to complete it. A one acre mill pond was formed fed by a dozen springs. Today the pond is gone, and a good portion of the mill has been restored after suffering years of vandalism.
Not too far from the mill are the remains of Castle’s Gazebo, yet another relic from this area’s pre-park days. There are several impressive grand and Douglas firs as well as many large maples thriving throughout the park. Check out the South Ridge Loop and North Ridge Way to appreciate the park’s trees. The North Ridge Way also passes Custard’s Chimney, the remains of a 1930-built homestead now covered in moss and ivy.
The Whipple Creek Way travels east from the North-South Trail to the edge of a horse farm. The trail then utilizing an easement and ends at NW 11th Ave across from the trailhead for the Fairgrounds Connector Trail allowing you to extend your wanderings.
For detailed descriptions (including maps) for this trail as well as others in Clark County, pick up a copy of my best selling Urban Trails Vancouver (Mountaineers Books).
