Vancouver Lake Regional Park

At Vancouver Lake Regional Park, you can walk in the steps of William Clark:

“at 7 miles below this village passed the upper point of a large Island nearest the Lard Side, a Small Prarie in which there is a pond opposit on the Stard. here I landed and walked on Shore, about 3 miles a fine open Prarie for about 1 mile, back of which the countrey rises gradually and wood land comencies Such as white oake, pine of different kinds, wild crabs with the taste and flavour of the common crab and Several Species of undergroth of which I am not acquainted . . . .”
—William Clark, November 4, 1805

Clark’s pond is almost certainly today’s Vancouver Lake, a shallow lake surrounded by trails. There is a picnic area with restrooms and a boat launch. Wading and swimming may be disallowed due to periodic blue-green algae blooms. The Vancouver Lake Rowing Club is centered here, and you will also find parking for the Frenchman’s Bar Hiking Trail.