Nestled in the forested foothills where the Clatskanie River flows out of the Coast Mountains and across the lowlands to the Columbia River, the community of Clatskanie is dissected by Highway 30, about 62 miles northwest of Portland and 35 miles east of Astoria.
Settled by Oregon Trail pioneers in the 1850s, Clatskanie was built by loggers, farmers and fishers, who named the town after a small vanished tribe of Native Americans. Both walking and water trails begin in the Clatskanie City Park, which also features playgrounds, playing fields and a covered skatepark. After launching in the park, kayakers can wind their way through the diked farmlands to the Columbia River. Perched on a hill above the center of town is the turreted mansion known as the Flippin Castle, a national historic preservation site, museum and special events center. The Clatskanie Cultural Center’s Birkenfeld Theatre is the home of the Clatskanie Arts Commission’s Performing Arts Series, an independent short film festival, and other cultural activities. A burgeoning arts community displays original works in the Bloom gallery. A few miles out of town, Beaver Falls offers hikers a spectacular view.
