Park Guidelines
WELCOME TO COLUMBIA COUNTY PARKS! THIS PARK IS MAINTAINED AND OPERATED FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE PARK AND THE RIGHTS OF OTHER PARK VISITORS, WE ASK THAT PARK VISITORS ADHERE TO ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS LISTED BELOW. WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY AND COME BACK TO SEE US AGAIN!
Columbia County Park Rules and Regulations (Effective January 1, 2018)
1. Columbia County parks are open to the public. All park users should take precautions to safeguard their personal property. The County will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property, or the personal safety of campers or other visitors. Park users should notify the park host of suspicious persons or activities, or call 911 in case of an emergency. Individual or group security and safety is not the responsibility of the County. Due to poor cell phone coverage, an emergency phone is available at Camp Wilkerson.
2. For overnight camping parks, campers may check in at or after 2:00 p.m. Campers must check out by 12:00 p.m. on the day of departure.
3. Overnight camping is limited to seven (7) nights in any ten (10) day period unless prior permission is given by the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the Board of County Commissioners, or their designee.
4. Visitors and campers shall pay all applicable fees at reservation confirmation. First come, first serve campers shall pay all applicable fees upon entering the park unless otherwise directed by the Park Host. In all cases, however, no person shall leave the park without paying all applicable fees. (15- 20 minutes is allowed to view the park without charge.) Group Camping Fees (equal to one night's stay) are non-refundable. A five-day advance cancellation notice is required for other camping deposit refunds. Wedding packages are non-refundable. A $10.00 handling fee will be deducted from all refunds. Day-use parking passes are revocable without a refund if rules and guidelines are not followed. Day-use parking passes do not include shower fees.
5. At all hours, especially during quiet hours (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.), all park users shall respect the rights of others to peace and quiet.
6. No vehicle, device, instrument, or noise-producing machine of any type may be used in any manner that is disturbing to other park visitors or area residents.
7. Group use of any recreational area shall be limited to a maximum of 50 persons without prior approval of the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the Board of County Commissioners, or their designee. Groups over 400 guests require additional dumpsters and porta potties to be provided by the park user.
8. Motor vehicles are not to exceed five (5) miles per hour in the park unless otherwise posted.
9. The use of alcohol is permitted by those that are 21+ in reserved campsites but prohibited in day-use areas unless a FACILITY USE APPLICATION & AGREEMENT has been approved by the County, and the sponsor has complied with the insurance requirements. MARIJUANA IS PROHIBITED IN COUNTY PARKS.
10. Fires are permitted in authorized camp stoves, fireplaces or fire rings only. No fire shall be left unattended or be permitted to cause damage to park facilities or areas. Every fire shall be extinguished before its users leave the park area.
11. At the discretion of the State Forestry Department, fires normally permitted in park areas may be restricted or prohibited due to high fire hazard conditions.
12. No person shall endanger the public health, safety, and/or welfare of another visitor or a Park Host, and no person shall harass or intimidate another park visitor or Park Host. Persons violating this rule are subject to immediate eviction from the park.
13. No person within a park area shall possess any loaded firearm or discharge any firearm, pellet gun, bow and arrow, slingshot, or other weapons capable of injuring any person or wildlife.
14. Possession, discharge, or the causing to be discharged of any firecrackers, explosives, rockets, fireworks, or other substances is prohibited.
15. Trapping, and/or hunting of animals and destruction of animal habitat is prohibited in the parks. Hanging of game may be allowed in designated camping areas of Big Eddy and Scaponia parks only.
16. Mutilation, destruction, damage, defacing, or removal of any flora or fauna, including but not limited to trees, shrubs, reed-grass, snake grass, mushrooms, squirrels, birds, deer, elk, etc.; or park structures, including but not limited to buildings, signs, fences, tables, benches, fountains, etc.; is prohibited. Fishing is permitted subject and according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations. Slip and slides, swimming pools, and trampolines are prohibited.
17. Moving tables from other campsites/day-use areas is prohibited. If additional tables are needed, contact the Park Host. A $25.00 deposit may be applied to damage and/or failure to return tables to their original position.
18. Horses are allowed in designated areas of Camp Wilkerson and designated areas of Asburry Park, Scaponia, Dibblee Beach, and CZ Trail only. There may be additional designated areas in the future. Until then, horses and other large animals are not allowed in any other park without the written permission of the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the Board of County Commissioners, or their designee. Horses at Camp Wilkerson, dogs, and other small animals are permitted subject to Rule #19, below.
19. All animals (horses, dogs, cats, birds, etc.), must be in a pet container or on a leash/lead line (one end attached to the animal, the other end attached to a human or man-made stationary structure), which restricts the animal to the site where the owner is camping, picnicking, etc. No animal shall be allowed to infringe upon another visitor. Infringement includes loud and/or repetitive noise being made by the animal, especially during the "quiet hours" of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Owners are responsible for picking up their pets' waste immediately after each occurrence. Livestock droppings will need to be picked up in the camp area, and trail riders will be expected to spread the livestock's droppings. Animals are not allowed in the restrooms and showers. (Except for identified service animals.)
20. Asburry Acres is a day-use-only park with an off-leash area for dogs. • Dogs must be licensed and current on all vaccinations. • Dogs displaying aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs must be removed from the park immediately. • Handlers must have a leash in possession. • Dogs must be within view of their handlers at all times. Handlers must have control of their dogs at all times, either by physical restraint or by verbal command. • Handlers are responsible for the removal of their dog’s waste. • Handlers accept all responsibility for any damage or injury caused by their dogs while in the park. • Food and glass containers are prohibited in the off-leash areas. • Dogs who are showing signs of being ill or in heat are prohibited in the off-leash area. • Handlers must observe on-leash areas and leash dogs before entering parking areas. • Dogs are prohibited from the ball field area at the NE corner of the park. • Handlers must comply with all other Columbia County parks rules. • Organized dog club events are required to obtain a use permit from Columbia County Parks prior to use.
21. All bottles, cans, ashes, waste, paper, garbage, and other rubbish shall be placed in properly designated receptacles. Park receptacles are to be used by park visitors for rubbish generated at the park only.
22. Visitors and campers shall leave all park restrooms and grounds in a clean and tidy condition during and after use.
23. Vehicles may only be parked in authorized parking areas. Day-use camp users and visitors may not park in the camping area without authorization from the Park Host. Abandoned vehicles, or those not parked in authorized areas, may be towed at the owner’s expense.
24. Motorized vehicles are allowed on designated roads only.
25. Washing of vehicles in the park is prohibited.
26. County equipment is not available for towing of park visitor/camper vehicles.
27. No all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, or other off-road vehicles may be operated in the park (except 4-wheel drive vehicles fully equipped and licensed for legal use on public streets, roads, and highways). A special daily or annual pass may be granted by the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the Board of County Commissioners, or their designee, for those supplying documentation of a physical/medical condition, necessitating motorized mobility.
28. Operation of concessions is not allowed except by special permit from the Board of County Commissioners.
29. Public address systems may not be used without prior permission from the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, the Board of County Commissioners, or their designee.
30. Nudity is prohibited within the park, except by children under three (3) years of age, in restrooms, or in private accommodations (i.e., tents, trailers, and recreational vehicles). (For the purpose of this rule, nudity means the uncovered, or less than opaquely covered, human genitals, pubic areas, buttocks, or the human female breast below a point immediately above the top of the areola.)
31. The Adirondack areas at Camp Wilkerson are posted and designated for group use. When all of the Adirondacks are rented, the area is not meant for general public use. The County is not responsible for assuring that the general public does not enter into these group use areas. If additional markings are necessary, the group shall provide such markings and remove them prior to leaving the park. Children must be accompanied by a sufficient number of adults to ensure the adequate supervision and safety of the children.
32. Dibblee Beach and Prescott Beach Park hours of public use are as follows: April 1st through October 31st: 5:00 am to 10:00 pm November 1st to March 31st: 5:00 am to 7:00 pm NO OVERNIGHT CAMPING AT PRESCOTT BEACH PARK AND DIBBLEE BEACH WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR ITS DESIGNEE
33. For each boat using the boat launch at Beaver Boat Ramp, a five dollar ($5.00) day-use parking fee shall be paid prior to launch. If County Park personnel are not collecting the fee, then fees shall be paid into a collection box located next to the boat launch, or as otherwise instructed by Park personnel or official notice.
34. Beaver Boat Ramp yearly day-use parking passes are available for purchase at the Columbia County Forests, Parks and Recreation Department, 1054 Oregon Street, St. Helens, Oregon 97051. Yearly passes must be clearly visible in the towing vehicle during each boat launch, or a $5.00 day-use parking fee shall be paid.
35. There shall be no diving from County docks, boat ramps, tie-ups, walkways, or other boat dock facilities. There shall be no swimming within fifty (50) feet of County docks, boat ramps, tie-ups, walkways, or other boat dock facilities.
36. Boats/vessels overnight tie-up shall be limited to 7 days in any 10 day period at all Columbia County marine facilities and must move a minimum of 5 miles unless prior permission is given by the Director of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.
37. Anglers must yield to boats and other water vessels underway that are utilizing or attempting to utilize County docks, boat ramps, tie-ups, walkways, or other boat dock facilities. Persons violating this rule are subject to immediate eviction from boat dock facilities. Fishing lines and equipment, camping gear, and other similar items may not block or interfere with boats or other water vessels during launches or retrievals at County boat ramps, approaches to or moorings at docks or tie-ups, or the use by boats or other water vessels of any other County boat dock facilities, or block foot traffic on County boat dock facilities.
38. No person may place any written, printed, or painted advertisement, bill, notice, sign, picture, card, or poster on any property under the authority of the Columbia County Forests, Parks, and Recreation Department, without the prior written permission from the Columbia County Forests, Parks, and Recreation Department. A Columbia County Forest, Parks, and Recreation official may lawfully remove or destroy, without resort to legal proceedings, any advertisement, bill, notice, sign, picture, card, or poster placed in violation of this rule.
39. In addition to these rules and regulations, visitors and campers at the park shall obey all federal and state statutes, administrative rules and regulations, County ordinances, orders, resolutions, rules, and regulations, including those governing fishing.
40. You must be at least 18 years old to make park reservations.
41. Reservations can be made up to 365 days in advance of the arrival date.
The above rules and regulations will be enforced by the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, his/her designee, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, and any other person authorized by the Board of County Commissioners. Any person violating any of the above rules may be instructed to leave the park by a park caretaker (Park Host), the Director of the Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation, or his/her designee, any on-duty Oregon State Police Officer, any Columbia County Sheriff's deputy, or Columbia County Commissioner, according to the Columbia County Forests, Parks and Recreation Ordinance No. 94-9 as amended. Failure to abide by the rules and regulations set forth herein may result in penalties under the Columbia County Enforcement Ordinance and other criminal penalties as provided for under state and federal law.