If all you know about St. Helens is based on the most popular films that were shot there, you’re likely convinced it’s a place with strong supernatural vibes. The vampires, werewolves and witches of “Twilight” (2008) and Disney’s “Halloweentown” (1998) turned St. Helens into a destination for superfans, and the 2025 comedy “Paradise Records,” filmed at endlessound records downtown, added to the community’s cinematic legacy. There’s much more to this small town on the western bank of the Columbia River, just 30 miles northwest of Portland, however. You’ll find wildlife, nature areas, beaches, waterfront parks and even a lighthouse. Here are some of our favorite museums, trails and fun dining experiences.
Downtown’s Charms for Film and History Buffs
Movie fans now have many resources to find their favorite filming scenes, like the Oregon Film Trail and SetJetters. Among those is the Columbia County Historical Society & Museum Association, whose film map plots out where eight scenes from “Twilight” took place, along with 11 locations from “Halloweentown.”
For those interested in history, there’s a self-guided walking tour, with notable spots like the stately Columbia County Courthouse; its cornerstone laying in 1906 was preceded by a dinner with more than 1,000 guests. Follow the winding stone path outside at Plaza Square embedded with trinkets to learn more about the journey of Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery as they journeyed through Oregon. A few blocks away, stop by the renovated and relocated Columbia County Museum, which will open in early 2026 in the John Gumm Building & Civic Center. Check out the collection of logging and rail-working tools as well as a splint-basket collection.
Take a quick stroll along the waterfront’s paved, wheelchair-accessible path, taking time to enjoy riverside views at the spruced-up Columbia View Park, and then hunt for your own Oregon souvenir at 2Cs Vendor Mall, a 6,400-square-foot former Knights of Pythias fraternal lodge now crammed with quirky collectibles.
Test the Waters or Hit the Trail Nearby
One of the state’s most unique camping experiences is the St. Helens Sand Island Campground on Sand Island — a 32-acre, dredged silt bar in the middle of the Columbia, just offshore from St. Helens. Launch from St. Helens Marina if you’d like to spend a night at the private campground, which is open March through October and offers lawn games, on-site restrooms and a 12-hole disc golf course that’s accessed via boat shuttle. Check the tidal currents before paddling to the Warrior Rock Lighthouse, Oregon’s smallest and one of the few not adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. The tower near the tip of Sauvie Island is accessible via foot from a trailhead at the end of Reeder Road, 3 miles south, but saying you got there by boat in a tidal river might sound more impressive. No boat? The campground offers shuttles for guests.
Get some steps in before dinner and enjoy the views at the Columbia Botanical Gardens, a former rock quarry on the edge of town. The 23-mile Crown Zellerbach Trail, which starts 9 miles south in Scappoose, can be hiked in longer or shorter segments due to numerous trailheads. Two highlights include 15-foot-tall Bonnie Falls and an old railroad tunnel. Nearby Scappoose Bay — an 85,000-acre network of channels, marshland and sloughs — is a hot spot for beginning kayakers, given the calm waters and opportunities to spot great blue herons, ospreys and other wildlife. Rent a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard from The Paddle Shack to get started.
Where to Eat, Drink and Stay
Chicago-dog devotees should head straight to Big River Taproom for the real deal: Vienna links “dragged through the garden,” as they’re often described by Windy City natives, meaning they’re stuffed with tomato wedges, peppers, onion and neon-green relish, then sprinkled with celery salt. Then follow the soft neon glow of Dari Delish’s sign to the best ice cream around. The tiny, cash-only joint has no shortage of options, including soft-serve, milkshakes, sundaes and malts. Follow your meal with a cold drink at Crooked Creek Brewery’s taproom, which has 19 handles of craft brews and cider.
Save room for brunch, lunch or dinner at The Klondike Tavern, a St. Helens institution inside a former boardinghouse. The setting is Victorian-era parlor-room elegance, but the Pacific Northwest-influenced menu is modern and fresh, with choices like steamed clams and wine-braised boar with seasonal vegetables. What remains constant, some say, are the ghosts — who let their presence be known by lighting candles or playing a few notes on the piano.
If you decide to make a whole night of it, do so well in advance to reserve a room at the popular Twilight Swan House, the 1930s home where Bella moved in with her dad. Try for a room dedicated to either Team Edward or Team Jacob — you know you have your favorite.
