Kayaking on Scappoose Bay in Columbia County.

St. Helens and Columbia County

Local legends and Hollywood romance take center stage on a weekend trip to St. Helens in Columbia County.

Updated May 3, 2024 3 min read

The scenery provides an enticing backdrop to contemplate the area’s historical significance: Legendary explorers Lewis and Clark camped here, in St. Helens, in 1805 as part of their journey to the Pacific Ocean (and on the way back in 1806). Today, locals are just as likely to regale you with tales of another notable duo: Edward and Bella of Twilight fame. Portions of the smash-hit vampire saga were filmed in town in 2008.

St. Helens film fame doesn’t stop with Twilight; millennial childhood-favorite Halloweentown was also filmed there, and every fall, the town celebrates Spooky Season with Spirit of Halloweentown. This family-friendly and fun festival fills weekends from mid-September through the end of October with costume contests, haunted town tours, scarecrows and trick-or-treating through St. Helens’ Old Town District.

A Day in St. Helens

Plenty more local history waits inside Olde Town’s collection of antique shops. Funky thrift stores like Treasures, Trinkets & Threads, or Jilly’s offer enough sequined evening gowns, feathery earrings and wigs, not to mention Twilight souvenirs, to deck out any costume party.

floating homes and house boats on the water — The St. Helens Marina is a tree-lined, quiet harbor on the Columbia River.

Visit Columbia View Park, where, on Thursday nights from June through September, nearly the entire town gathers on the lawn for 13 Nights on the River, an outdoor concert series with crowd-pleasing performers and views of serene sailboats and oceangoing freighters on the river.

When the sun finally sets, a visit to St. Helens’ Historic Columbia Theatre provides a nostalgic way to cap the day. Opened in 1928, the lobby is filled with memorabilia from Hollywood’s Golden Age, including photos of MGM actors and an enormous 1930s carbon arc projector on display. The balconied 400-seat cinema is fully modernized, with high-definition digital projection, 3-D technology and the latest releases. When the curtain falls, don’t be surprised if the theater, much like the town, leaves you wishing for an encore performance.

Explore St. Helens and Columbia County

How far away is St. Helens from Portland?

St. Helens is located 30 miles, about a 45 minute drive, north of downtown Portland, along Highway 30.

Where can I stay?

In St. Helens, the Best Western Oak Meadows Inn is a dog-friendly hotel that sports an indoor pool and hot tub for unwinding and also serves a loaded breakfast buffet.

In Columbia County, stay at Scappoose Creek Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast. Or, if you’re touring through the PNW, stop in at the Scappoose RV Park, a Columbia County-run RV park with 6 full hook-up RV spots, as well as 1 non-hook-up site. The park has hot showers, drinking water, and restrooms.

Columbia County

Columbia County takes its name from the storied Columbia River, which forms its eastern and northern border, flowing past tracts of emerald forest and creating a scenic backdrop for boaters and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Yet the river is hardly the only way to make a splash here; Columbia County is renowned among cyclists, kayakers, birders, anglers, and other nature lovers. From bird-watching on Scappoose Bay to cruising newly-minted bike paths or exploring the historic community of St. Helens, Columbia County offers countless family-friendly escapes from city life.

Scappoose Bay provides a scenic introduction to the region’s outdoor scene. This long channel, which feeds into the Columbia River, teems with great blue herons, bald eagles and seasonal runs of steelhead and salmon. Explore the marshes here with a guided outing from Scappoose Bay Paddling Center. The three-hour wetland tour features beginner-friendly kayaks and frequent sightings of river otters and a host of migratory birds.

man sits facing Fremont Bridge next to pink roses in front of a big grassy field

Biking

One of the best ways to explore the Rose City is on two wheels.

a flock of Canadian geese take flight at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

Bird-Watching in Portland

Catch sight of 200+ types of birds at the Portland area’s dozens of prime bird watching destinations, including sanctuaries, refuges and urban parks.

Fishing Near Portland

These four waterways — all less than an hour away from Portland — provide the perfect setting for your next fish tale.

Early morning on the Columbia River usually means that the fish are biting — which makes it a perfect time to hook up with local guide Dan Porter. A Northwest native, Porter has spent the last 20 years helping aspiring anglers land salmon, steelhead and sturgeon on the river.

Back on shore, the Crown Zellerbach Trail, a logging-road cum bicycle path provides a worthy destination. The trail repurposes an abandoned logging route that once connected the river city of Scappoose to Vernonia, a timber town in the hills to the west. No wheels? Stop by Barlow Bikes, which offers great deals on a fleet of rentals. Along the path you’re likely to encounter sunlight filtering through the cracks of a fir-and-maple canopy, views of snowy Mount St. Helens, and a natural soundtrack courtesy of the whispering Scappoose Creek.