Historic Warrenton is the ideal spot for visitors who seek history and the wild natural beauty of the great outdoors.
Warrenton is home to Fort Stevens, the primary military defense station at the mouth of the Columbia River. The Fort˙s 87-year history includes service in both the Civil War and World War II.
Fort Stevens is now a 3,700 acre park that invites visitors to explore both history and recreation. Whether you˙re camping in the park or just spending the day, the park itself boasts activities galore. A nine-mile network of bicycle trails and six miles of hiking trails that cut through lush green forests and sandy dunes allow you to witness first-hand the lushness and beauty of the coast.
Here afternoons can be spent beachcombing and lake swimming, canoeing and exploring wildlife. Nearby Coffenbury Lake also features swimming and picnic areas, plus ramps for speed boating or fishing.
A year-round Civil War museum takes visitors back in time through the only enclosed Civil War earthworks site on the coast. In the summer months, you can tour an underground gun battery, or take a truck tour of ramparts used from the Spanish-American War up to World War II.
Another popular destination in the heart of Warrenton is the wreck of the Peter Iredale. About four miles south of the Columbia River channel sits the abandoned shell of the steel sailing vessel, The Peter Iredale, which ran ashore in 1906 en route to Portland. The ship˙s rusted bow and mast are still visible jutting from the sand (and sometimes more, if it˙s low tide).
Rich in history and wildlife, Warrenton offers visitors a taste of adventure.
