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Running trails in Washougal, WA
Washougal has 10 trails in the directory — 1 paved and 4 on crushed gravel or dirt, 2 loops that return to the trailhead, 1 with a stated distance, and 2 shaded. Every one post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 2,829 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Washougal Waterfront Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 832 reviews
Relaxed waterfront park featuring paved trails, picnic areas and a playground.
Captain William Clark Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 860 reviews
Relaxed sandy beach and picnic area offering views of the Columbia River and an outdoor shower.
Hathaway Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 363 reviews
Spacious, clean park featuring playgrounds for kids of all ages, plus sports fields and a riverfront.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge
4.5 ★★★★★ 349 reviews
This large refuge on the Columbia River offers a trail & wildlife observation plus guided hikes.
Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Kiosk)
4.6 ★★★★★ 161 reviews
Tranquil refuge featuring gravel trails for easy hiking and walking while watching birds and other wildlife.
Hartwood Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 129 reviews
Dog-friendly park with farm-themed playground equipment like a tractor and corn stalks.
Schmid Family Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 48 reviews
Dog-friendly park featuring a trail, grass lawns and river access.
Washougal River State Park
4 ★★★★☆ 53 reviews
State park offering hiking trails and swimming, plus picnic tables and a public restroom.
Campen Creek Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 24 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Washougal
- Match the surface to your legs. Washougal gives you a choice: 4 crushed gravel, 1 paved, and 1 mixed. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More crushed gravel trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 2 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Washougal is Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge at 6.8 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. Plenty of trails sit inside parks that gate at dusk and don't unlock until well after sunrise, so a trail that's perfect at lunchtime can be locked at 6am. 10 of the 10 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 5 have trailhead parking, 7 have restrooms, and 1 has a water fountain in Washougal. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 2 shaded, 3 that runners describe as quiet, 6 dog-friendly, and 4 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Washougal trails by type
Running trails near Washougal
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.