Scapponia County Park

This small campground is along the East Fork of the Nehalem River. Here the river is a meandering stream, shaded by mature Douglas-fir, western red-cedar, and big-leaf maple. Watch for American Dipper and Common Merganser along the creek. In spring listen for Northern Pygmy-Owl in daytime, or Northern Saw-whet Owl and Western Screech-Owl at night. Late spring brings Pacific-slope (and possible Hammond’s) Flycatcher, plus Swainson’s Thrush and Hermit Warbler, to mature forests in this part of the Coast Range.

From Vernonia, go N on Hwy 47 for 5 mi and turn R 0.5 mi past the hamlet of Pittsburg. Go SE on Scappoose-Vernonia Rd and turn R into park entrance at MP 5.4. From Scappoose, go W on Scappoose-Vernonia Rd for 14.5 mi and turn L into park entrance at MP 5.4. Bicycle access along Scappoose-Vernonia road is not advised due to many curves with narrow shoulders. A former logging road (gravel), shown as Columbia Forest Rd on some maps, parallels this road and links from Scappoose to the Banks-Vernonia State Trail in Vernonia. GPS: 45 50.614 N, 123 05.637 W.