"On-site work will resume once the foundation plans are approved." That sentence is in Clark County's September 18 update on the bridge replacement at Lacamas Regional Park, and the date the northeast corner reopens depends on it.
The closure map the county released in July labels the northeast construction zone "Trails closed 8/1 - 11/15." That map came out before the work paused. By October 8, the Camas-Washougal Post-Record reported that the northeast trails were still closed and that many Camas residents were waiting for the whole park to reopen.
November 15 is still the best estimate available. Here is what that estimate depends on, and what you can still walk while you wait.
The calendar-bound step is already done
Most stream projects in this region are timed around a regulatory window, and this one was too. Clark County says workers removed the old bridge in August "during a permitted in-water work window" and cleared debris from an old culvert. The county explains that this had to happen in August because that is when environmental rules allow work in the stream.
That stage is finished. The contractor has since been preparing to install the new bridge foundation, and the county says the design calculations have to be reviewed for safety before the foundation goes in. The update gives no revised completion date. It acknowledges that "unforeseen delays can occur at any stage" and promises more schedule updates as information comes in.
The July notice was similarly cautious. It estimated the work would finish "sometime in November" and noted that weather and other unpredictable factors could change that. So the part of the job tied to a season is complete, and what remains is waiting on an approval with no published date. The closure signs on the trail are the most current information you'll have.
The reason for all this work matters for what comes after. The bridge sits on the main access road in the park's northeast corner. The county is replacing it so maintenance vehicles can keep driving in safely, and it said the old bridge was still safe for walkers before construction began. The project exists to keep the park's crews and equipment moving, and trail users get access back once that's secured.
Two projects, two owners, one end date
The park has two separate construction zones this fall. They're run by two different governments and have different rules for people on foot.
| Northeast corner | Round Lake dam | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | Clark County Public Works | City of Camas, which owns, operates and maintains the dam |
| What's happening | Bridge replacement on the main access road | Dam maintenance |
| Map dates | 8/1 to 11/15 | 9/15 to 11/15 |
| Trail status | All trails in the construction area closed | County text says trails stay open, with flaggers when equipment moves; the map labels the small work area "Trails closed" |
| Who to ask | Clark County Public Works | City of Camas Public Works |
The dam row needs some explanation. The county's notice says trails near the Round Lake dam "will remain open," with city flaggers directing walkers when equipment is moved along the trails. The map in the same notice marks a small area on the southwest side of Round Lake, close to the dam, as closed from September 15 to November 15. The safest reading is that you may meet a flagger, a short hold, or a sign sending you around the work area. The county says questions about the dam work go to the City of Camas Public Works office.
The county is also direct about closed areas. It asks visitors not to enter them at any time, including after work hours, because heavy equipment, unstable ground and hidden hazards stay in place. The map also warns that "Unmarked trails exist." On a 9.5-mile network, an informal path can lead you right up to a fence.
The waterfall route runs through the dam, not the northeast corner
The best-known walk in Lacamas Regional Park runs along Lacamas Creek, not through the northeast corner. The Washington Trails Association's Round Lake to Lower Falls route is 3.4 miles. It starts at the south end of the Round Lake picnic area, reaches the dam after about 0.3 mile, then follows the creek past the Pothole Falls overlook to Lower Falls. A wooden footbridge crosses the top of Lower Falls, and an optional trail continues downstream for a closer look. The route comes back toward Round Lake past the Camas Lily Fields, where an optional loop adds 0.7 mile.
That's 0.3 mile from the picnic area to the dam, which puts the city's work zone at the narrowest point of the park's most-used walk. The county's Round Lake Nature Trail guide describes a 1.2-mile loop around the lake that crosses the dam and passes the potholes overlook, so that route goes through the dam area too.
Neither the county's map nor its notice says which named trails are inside the northeast bridge zone. It's described only as an area "including portions of several trails." That leaves Woodburn Falls uncertain. The Reflector places it on Woodburn Creek, separate from the two Lacamas Creek falls. If it's your usual destination, check the posted signs and the county's Lacamas Regional Park page before you plan on reaching it.
A back door to Lower Falls
The City of Camas maintains a separate route to the same water. The Lacamas Creek Trail starts on NE 3rd Avenue and runs 0.7 mile with creek views, Lower Falls, the McEnry Bridge, and a junction with the Lacamas Park trail system.
This route reaches Lower Falls from the downstream end without passing the dam first. It also avoids the park's small lot at 3344 NE Everett St., which has 26 parking spaces and one accessible stall. The park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk, which the county defines as a half hour after sunset. That window keeps shrinking through October and into November, and it shrinks again when daylight saving time ends.
Where the rest of the miles are
If you want distance more than waterfalls, the city maintains longer routes outside the park's two mapped work areas. The county notes that the park's trails connect to the Lacamas Heritage Trail along the south shore of the lake. The city lists three nearby options:
- Heritage Park, 303 NE Lake Road. The trail is a 6.9-mile out-and-back along Lacamas Lake, open year-round, with a second trailhead at NE Goodwin Road.
- Fallen Leaf Lake Park, 2911 NE Everett Street, on the same road as the Lacamas Regional Park entrance. It has informal forest trails along the lake and is part of a 119-acre park system.
- Washougal River Greenway Trail, 2.2 miles, open year-round, with trailheads at SE Yale Street and NE 2nd Avenue and near Baz Park. It crosses the Washougal River on a pedestrian bridge.
The Heritage Park trail alone is twice as long as the full Round Lake to Lower Falls route.
According to the Post-Record, volunteers met at Heritage Park on September 26 to clear litter, debris and invasive plants around Lacamas, Round and Fallen Leaf lakes.
Two October dates that keep you off the closed trails
Camas has two outdoor events this month, and neither one goes through either construction zone. The city's Zombie Dash is Saturday, October 17, at 10 a.m. at 215 SE Leadbetter Road. It's a 1.25-mile obstacle loop, and registration is required. On Wednesday, October 28, the city's Pumpkin Party begins downtown at 2:30 p.m. The Downtown Camas Association's Boo Bash follows from 3 to 5 p.m., with trick-or-treating at participating businesses and street closures on Fourth Avenue and nearby streets.
Back at Lacamas Regional Park, the next real news will be a county post saying the foundation plans have been approved. Until then, the Lacamas Creek Trail from NE 3rd Avenue is the most direct way to reach Lower Falls without passing the dam.
When someone asks The Compher Group what daily life is like near a particular Camas street, we try to answer at this level of detail: which trailhead is within walking distance, which one needs the car, and how a season of construction changes that. If knowing the trails is part of how you're thinking about home, we'd love to talk it through over a consultation.
