Castle Rock Blooms Hunt

Start at North Riverfront Trail Parking Lot to walk around Castle Rock enjoying its gardens, landscapes, recreational activities and early history
Take the ramp to the Riverfront Trail with a view of the Cowlitz River on your right. Seasonal wild flowers line the trail; California Poppies; and Queen Anne’s Lace. Across the river you will see the boat launch. In the distance are youth ball fields, a school garden and orchard. Watch for eagles along the way.
Next, two interpretive signs on the trail above Shintaffer Avenue tell the story of Robin’s Mill and the Chester sternwheeler. Looking over the metal fence and ramp, you see Shintaffer Avenue off to the left, first business areas in Castle Rock. Walk down the ramp to 114 Shintaffer. The old two- story Victorian home on the left is the home of John Robin (below).
The interpretive sign at the bridge tells the story of connecting the west side of the river to the east side. In the beginning, two ferries provided transportation from one side to the other.
The Castle Rock Community Fair, the third oldest community fair in Washington State, comes to view on the opposite side of the river.
The Dog Park is on your left.
The trees and grasses along the trail are surviving in Mt. St. Helens dredge spoils. This material was removed from the bottom of the Cowlitz River after the eruption of Mt St Helens.
The Bike Skills Park is on your right.
Near Mile Post .9 on your left is Memory Lane Volunteer Park which includes the playground and a row of trees with dedication plaques in memory of love ones.
Skate Park ramps with basketball hoops and a Traffic Garden for beginning bike riders to learn the rules of the road is on your right.
Past the waste water treatment plant you will see a historical sign about floods in Castle Rock. There have been other natural disasters: Mt. St. Helen’s Volcanic Eruption, a Pacific Hurricane and earthquakes
Down the path on your right, you will be walking along the “The Rock” , Castle Rock’s name sake. Early fur traders paddling up the Cowlitz thought the ridge looked like a castle.
There are two paths leading to the top of the rock. An invigorating detour, this side-trip will extend your walk a bit longer. Whether you have conquered “The Rock” or not, you will enjoy a break at the Huntington Monument Picnic Shelter. Be sure to read the inscription on the marble monument about Castle Rock’s founding family, the Huntington’s
Continue your walk along the river to Lion’s Pride Park and the trail’s end . Restrooms available.
A small interpretive sign marks the big bucket instrumental in dredging the Cowlitz River after the 1980 volcanic eruption. At this time, you can see the “Castle Rock Welcomes You” water feature across the road.
Be sure to stop at the kiosk that talks about the big tree logging in “Castle Rock Welcomes You”, and Eagle Scout project by Scout Conner Burton.
On the return trip you will see a spectacular view of “The Rock”. Read the sign about the Huntington’s. The Northern Pacific Railroad cut the “The Rock” to lay railroad track connecting Castle Rock to other towns. The tracks eventually became Huntington Ave.
Returning to the Huntington Monument Picnic Shelter view the last sign. Cross Huntington Avenue using the two crosswalks. Walk to the Huntington Monument Picnic Shelter to cross Huntington Avenue using the two crosswalks.
A short walk to Castle Rock Elementary School, you will pass Castle Rock’s landscape islands. Drop down the hill to the Blooming Generations Garden to taste some berries or vegetables.
Continuing north, you will cross Huntington again at NAPA Auto Parts. One block to the next intersection, cross Front Avenue. Here early Castle Rock history begins.
At this corner the two-story the "Brick Building stood,". The 1949 earthquake damaged its upper floor, resulting in today's one-story building. Now the 1897 brick building housed the bar, or of serval taverns within 50 feet of each other.
The first school house was next to the “Brick Building” on Front Avenue
Across the street is the original 1904 Pacific National Bank stood. Before the bank was built, the Cyrus Noble Billiard & Pool Parlors occupied the corner before the bank.
Continuing north down Front Avenue you will see a large garage door, location of the Northwest Saloon (1897) and Dreamland Theatre in the 1900s.
Location of Doc Applebee’s Men Store is next in line.
Pastime Tavern (1928) was Dr. Hille’s Pharmacy (1901). On the side of the tavern is a mural of Mt. Saint Helens before and after the eruption.
Next, take detour left off Front Avenue through the parking lot to the Old Jail . Check out the signage for jail history and stories about former inmates, and enjoy the nearby raised garden beds with berries and vegetables.
Retrace your steps back to Front Avenue. Turn left. The next building is the location of the old Swift Hardware Store (1896) (now the Mt St Helen’s Creation Center). Look back to the opposite side of the street to view the mural of the Chester Sternwheeler. The Chester was one of the sternwheelers providing transportation from Portland to Cowlitz Landing near Toledo, Washington.
Crossing Jackson Street you will see the Baptist Church, here the three-story Spencer House (1886) stood with a ballroom on the third floor.
At the intersection of Shintaffer and Front streets, the Commercial Hotel stood on the left, one of two central hotels. On the right was the Ira Conger general store, known for its wide range of supplies.
Within the Ira Conger block was the YMCA, which a snowstorm destroyed in December 1919. The home to the right of the YMCA is a private residence that was the 1885 Central Hotel. The hotel was too small to serve the community needs so a larger Central Hotel was built.
You complete your walk back to North Trailhead by continuing north on Front Ave. As you pass the lush gardens of Gateway Park on your right, you may want to take the crossing at Barr Street to see the plants and flowers that grace the park twelve months of the year.