Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Redtail Lake–Cottonwood Beach, 4 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Redtail Lake–Cottonwood Beach, 4 sights is an 8.1-mile out-and-back in Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Washougal, WA. The route passes Cottonwood Beach and Redtail Lake. It is mostly level, with 0 ft of elevation gain, and mostly gravel. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi26 – 46 ft8.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 45.57651, -122.35388
Nearest town Washougal, WA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Redtail Lake–Cottonwood Beach, 4 sights

8.1 mi · ▲ 0 ft · 2 hr 42 min

Elevation 27–46 ft

Out & Back · Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Trailhead: 45.57651, -122.35388

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:35 AM · sunset 7:44 PM

Transit-accessible: C Street & Pendleton stop 310 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 250 ftTurn left onto Lewis & Clark Discovery Greenway Trail, heading SE.
  3. 0.8 miPass Cottonwood Beach.
  4. 450 ftBear left, heading SE.
  5. 0.9 miBear left, heading E.
  6. 0.4 miPass Redtail Lake.
  7. 1.8 miReach Redtail Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 4 miTurn right, heading NW.
  9. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail surface

85% gravel5% dirt1% paved9% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:35 AMSunset 7:44 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.5 mi in (~85 min). Leave by 5:58 PM for the 7:44 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: C Street & Pendleton stop 310 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

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