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AIM Google OpenID By Terry Richard, The Oregonian Follow Popular camping parks on Lewis River accepting reservations beginning March 5; more lakecamping parks near Portland, too Published: Tuesday, March 01, 2011, 3:42 AM Updated: Tuesday, March 01,
Windows 7 Pro, 2011, 10:29 AM Get your speed dial set up for 9 a.m., Saturday, March 5, if you want to reserve one of the most sought-after camping experiences near Portland.That's when the reservation line opens for PacifiCorp's Cresap Bay and Cougar Park on the reservoirs of southwest Washington's Lewis River.Spring is also the time to make reservations,
Windows 7 Keygen, if it's not already too late, as the region's other parks on lakes that offer boatingcamping vacations.Leiws River park campground reservations can be requested by calling the company’s recreation line at 503-813-6666. The recreation phone line will be open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on March 5-6, but afterward only on weekdays during the same hours. Other PacifiCorp-owned parks with campgrounds will continue to be available only on a first-come, first-served basis.PacifiCorp, which serves electric customers as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and California, operates 14 parks and day-use facilities along three Lewis River reservoirs and below Merwin Dam.Facilities include 318 campsites and 268 picnic sites, fresh water, hot showers, swimming beaches, boat ramps, restrooms and RV stations. Recreation sites begin below Merwin Dam, located 10 miles east of Woodland, Wash.,
Office Enterprise 2007 Key, on S.R. 503 and continue 40 miles upstream to Swift Camp.Due to a shortage of campsites on big water for boating, these sites are in prime demand.About a half-million people used these public camping, fishing and day-use facilities during 2010.Campground fees vary, depending on the campground and the type of site: Individual sites at Cresap Bay, Cougar and Beaver Bay campgrounds are now $20 per night; Swift Forest Campground sites are $17 per night. At Merwin Park, fees for group day-use picnic sites remain at $15 plus extra vehicle parking costs.No parking fees are collected during the current off-season. However, during the peak recreation season -- Memorial Day weekend to Sept. 15 -- a $3 parking fee is charged on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at reservoir day-use parks. The exception is Merwin Park where the parking fee is always $1.River access sites below Merwin Dam and at Eagle Cliff Park above Swift Reservoir do not have parking fees.Parking passes for the summer season are available for $20. Passes can be purchased at the Woodland Information Center and at fee booths located at parks during hours they are staffed. Parties wishing to purchase parking passes by mail can send applications to: Recreation Department, PacifiCorp, 105 Merwin Village Court, Ariel, Wash. 98603. An application form can be obtained at www.lewisriver.com or by calling the recreation line at 503-813-6666.Safety is the top priority in the Lewis River recreation area. To that end, PacifiCorp contracts with the Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania county sheriffs’ offices, Clark County Marine Board and a private security company for additional security measures. Experienced third-party vendors chosen by PacifiCorp operate the recreational areas.PacifiCorp has a no-alcohol policy at its campgrounds and reservoirs.Campground gate hours are 6 a.m.–9 p.m.Cresap Bay Campground is open Friday before Memorial Day through Sept. 30.Cougar Campground and Park are open Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Beaver Bay Campground is open last Saturday of April through Sept. 30.Swift Forest Camp and Day-Use Season is last Saturday of April through end of hunting season in November.Other seasons for recreation sites:Island river access, Cedar Creek river access, Lewis River Fish Hatchery river access, Johnson Creek fishing access and Merwin river access, all year-round, 24 hours. Merwin Park April 1 – Sept. 30, 5 a.m. – 9 p.m., Oct. 1 – March 31, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.Speelyai Bay Park April 1 – through Thursday before Memorial Day, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday before Memorial Day through Sept. 30, 5 a.m. – 10 p.m.,
Windows 7 64 Bit, Oct. 1 – March 31, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.Cresap Bay Campground and Day-Use Friday before Memorial Day through Sept. 30, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.Saddle Dam Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, 5 a.m.– 10 p.m.Yale Park April 1 – through Thursday before Memorial Day, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday before Memorial Day through Sept. 30, 5 a.m. – 10 p.m., Oct. 1 – March 31, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.Cougar Campground and Park Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.Beaver Bay Last Friday of April through Sept. 30,
Microsoft Office Professional Plus, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.Swift Camp Last Friday of April through end of hunting season in November, 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.Eagle Cliff Year-round, 24 hoursIf you can't get into a Lewis River park, here are some other boating parks that Portlanders use:
Taidnapam Park on Riffe Lake, the ext reservoir north of the Lewis River in Washington, is bigger and better than ever. The park grew in 2009 with 100 new sites to this campground at the east end of Riffe Lake. It has a forested setting for RV and tent sites. If you also love to fish, you'll fall hook, line and sinker for the park's fishing bridge. This park is operated by Tacoma Power and Light.Detroit Lake, the reservoir 50 miles east of Salem, is always a big hit in summer. It has a busy state park, U.S. Forest Service campgrounds and two commercial marinas.Portland General Electric maintains Promontory Park near Estacada for boating and camping.Lake Billy Chinook in central Oregon has a popular state park (the Cove Palisades) and is the closest place to Portland with overnight houseboat rentals.
-- Terry Richard; follow on Twitter