WaStatePks100: Spring Creek Hatchery Traditional Geocache
WaStatePks100: Spring Creek Hatchery
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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This cache was originally placed in 2013 as part of the Washington State Parks Centennial GeoTour - "100 caches in 100 parks to celebrate 100 years" - cosponsored by Washington State Geocaching Association (WSGA).
Park Overview:
Spring Creek Hatchery Spring Creek Hatchery State Park is located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, in southeast Skamania County, along the Columbia River. Spring Creek Hatchery is a premier windsurfing and kiteboarding site in the Columbia Gorge with views of Mount Hood from the shore. The park sits at the entrance to the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery which offers tours of the facility and other interpretive opportunities for visitors.
Park Features:
Spring Creek Hatchery State Park is one of the premier windsurfing and kiteboarding sites in the Columbia Gorge. A majority of visitors coming to the park do so for this type of recreation. The park also offers other traditional outdoor activities, including picnicking and fishing. When financial support is available, the park has played host to professional windsurfing competitions in the summer.
Park Hours/Updates:
Summer: 6 a.m. to dusk April to September.
Winter: 8 a.m. to dusk October to March.
The park is open year round for camping and day use.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Park History:
The Spring Creek site was historically used by Native Americans for fishing. Although explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark may not have stopped at the particular park site, they did pass through the area while traveling along the river.
At one point, a homestead existed on part of the park property. The site and most of the surrounding area were later owned by the former Broughton Lumber Company. The Broughton mill was established by 1901, primarily as a planning mill which planed rough cut boards. The rough cut boards were cut from raw timber at another mill in Willard, Wash., and then transported by flume to the Broughton mill. Broughton established the first fish hatchery at the approximate site of the current hatchery in 1901. The surrounding area, including the state park, was used by Broughton as a recreation area. At one time the site included a boat ramp.
The fish hatchery was reconstructed in the 1940s following the construction of Bonneville Dam. The Corps of Engineers acquired the hatchery and neighboring property to the west, including the park land, in the 1960s. The hatchery was remodeled and the paved road was installed.
When windsurfing became the prominent recreation activity at the park, management was given to Washington State Parks.
Interpretive Opportunities:
Interpretive programs and self-guided tours are available at the adjacent Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and on select weekends during spawning seasons.
In addition to touring the hatchery, visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing at the park. Wildlife that frequent the site include bald eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons, flickers, beavers, and many other small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Three species of endangered salmon are known to be present in this area of the Columbia River, an area designated as critical habitat. These include the Snake River sockeye salmon, Snake River spring/summer Chinook salmon and the Snake River fall Chinook salmon. Two species of steelhead that are proposed for listing as endangered also are present, including the upper Columbia River steelhead and Snake River steelhead. Many fish attempt to spawn at the waters of the National Fish Hatchery, just east of the park.
Geocache Details:
The cache you are looking for is in a small sized ammo can. It is behind the picnic table in a hollow, under a mossy rock ledge.
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- This geocache has an approved Permit to be placed at this location on property managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Visitors are responsible for acquainting themselves with policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
- The following items may not be placed in the geocache: food, illegal substances, medications, personal hygiene products, pornographic materials, hazardous materials, or weapons of any type.
- By searching for the cache, visitors agree that they are responsible for their own actions, and acknowledge that neither the State of Washington nor the cache owner is responsible for any loss or injury that may occur in relation to such search.
- Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
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Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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