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. 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, 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 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. Head inside and you’ll find the Historic Courthouse Museum, which displays the tools of loggers and rail gangs as well as a splint-basket collection. 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.
Take a quick stroll along the waterfront’s paved path, 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 collectables.
Test the Waters or Hit the Trail Nearby
One of the state’s most unique camping experiences is 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 check it out. 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 Collins Beach, 3 miles south, but saying you got there by boat in a tidal river might sound more impressive. No boat? The St. Helens Sand Island Campground offers shuttles for guests.
Scappoose Bay, 3.5 miles south of St. Helens, is an 85,000-acre network of channels, marshland and sloughs. The placid water makes it an ideal place to learn how to steer and slow down via paddle, but the variety of wildlife — ospreys, herons and bald eagles, as well as four different salmon species — and narrow passages to push into will interest advanced kayakers. Newbies can rent gear from the Next Adventure Scappoose Bay Paddle Sports Center.
If you prefer to hike, get some steps in before dinner without working up a sweat at the Columbia Botanical Gardens, a former rock quarry on the edge of town. The 23-mile Crown Z Trail, which starts 9 miles south in Scappoose, is enjoyable in smaller segments due to numerous trailheads. Two highlights include 15-foot-tall Bonnie Falls and an old railroad tunnel.
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 (stuffed with tomato wedges, peppers, onion and neon-green relish, and topped with celery salt) — and ketchup-free. 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, opened in September 2023, which has 19 handles of craft brews. The standout on a recent visit was Aprickalypse — a bright, tangy ale made with apricot and prickly pear.
Save room for brunch, lunch or dinner at The Klondike Tavern, a St. Helens institution inside a former boarding house. The setting is Victorian-era parlor-room elegance, but the Pacific Northwest-influenced menu is modern and fresh, with choices like pan-seared steelhead fillets or shrimp hazelnut bucatini pasta. 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.
