Washougal River |Cougar Creek|Cottrell Dam

Washougal River's Cougar Creek and Cottrell Dam

Both Cougar Creek and old Cottrell Dam abutement are near the five mile marker on the Washougal River. Both areas are great fishing, inner tubing, and kayaking areas. The narrow between the two rock walls makes up the five mile marker and the best dang fishing spot on the Washougal River! It's easy to tell when the salmon are running because at this five mile marker... trucks and their respective fishermen and women are lining the road. There will be small groups of men and women gathered on the edge of the 25 foot drop cliff. Excited fishermen and women are staring down into "THE SLOT." The salmon have to pass through this slot to go up past the Salmon Falls bridge. (After the salmon reach the Salmon Falls Bridge...they are "safe" from preying fishermen. There is no salmon fishing on the North Fork either.)

Cougar Creek comes crashing down from the hillside above the five mile marker and makes a gorgeous waterfall that splashes and joins into the Washougal River right there at the five mile marker. This beautiful little waterfall is part of what makes the rapids that the salmon have to travel through. Even though it's a great fishing spot there at the five mile marker, it's a kayaker's dream. It's a challenge spot. The rushing water through that slot gives lots of opportunity for thrashing through and good practice at staying alive, depending on the time of year and the volocity of water running through the slot.  Lot's of river-lovers have been thrown from their kayaks through this area. (The "Big Eddy" up by the 8 mile marker is quite a fishing/kayak/inner tube challenge too. People have died going through that fast-rushing river slot. The boulders are very dangerously placed at the 8 mile marker. It's a hot "hang-out" place in the summer and the rocky beach is covered with sun-seeker families.)

Here is a book from Amazon.com that describes a full history of Washougal, the business life, the first settlers, the growth and the people who have created the sweet little Washougal that we know and love.
Images of America, Washougal

Washougal - Google Books Result     Richenda Fairhurst - 2006 - History - 127 pages


Click here for a larger picture of the Cottrell Dam:
Picture of Cottrell Dam from the book mentioned above