Park at the Lacamas Park trailhead off Leadbetter Road in Camas — yes, technically Camas, not Vancouver, but locals from both sides of the city line make the twenty-minute drive without complaining — and within five minutes you’re standing at the edge of a lake that genuinely surprises people who grew up here and somehow missed it.
The Lacamas Heritage Trail loops around Lacamas Lake and Round Lake, covering roughly six miles if you do the full circuit. You don’t have to. The trail is well-signed, and you can cut it short at several points. Most people start at the main Camas trailhead and head counterclockwise toward the falls first, which is the right call. Lower Falls and Upper Falls on Lacamas Creek are both worth the early push — Upper Falls especially, where the creek drops into a basalt bowl. Go after a wet week in November or February and the flow is loud enough that you have to raise your voice.
The trail surface shifts as you go: packed gravel near the trailheads, rooted dirt through the older forest sections, some muddy low spots in winter. Trail runners use it regularly, but it’s not technical. Wear something with grip if it’s been raining. The trees over the middle stretch of the loop are big enough that the canopy closes over you even in summer, which keeps things cool when the east side of the metro is baking.
Expect company on weekend mornings between March and October, particularly on the first mile from the main trailhead and near the falls. If you want the place quieter, Tuesday or Wednesday mid-morning is a different experience entirely — mostly you, some dog walkers, and the occasional great blue heron posted at the water’s edge. Round Lake, the smaller of the two bodies of water, gets less foot traffic than the main lake and feels noticeably calmer.
There’s no admission fee. The parking lot off Leadbetter fills up by 9 a.m. on sunny Saturdays; arrive early or use the street parking along the road and walk in. Restrooms are available at the main trailhead — basic but functional. No food vendors, no rentals, nothing commercial on-site, so bring water and whatever you need.
The lake allows non-motorized watercraft, and you’ll occasionally see kayakers and paddleboarders on the calmer sections. If you bring a boat, the launch area is near the main parking lot. Fishing is legal here — mostly bass and crappie — and the shoreline sections of the trail give you a decent sense of what’s holding where.
What makes the loop worth doing over a typical urban greenway is the variety packed into six miles: creek canyon, old-growth Douglas fir, open lakeside stretches, two waterfalls, and a passage through second-growth alder that smells like rain even when it hasn’t rained. It moves through enough different environments that you don’t feel like you’re circling a track. Budget two to three hours for the full loop at a walking pace, or ninety minutes if you’re moving with purpose.
Lacamas Heritage Trail sits just off SR-500, east of Vancouver proper. From downtown Vancouver, take Highway 14 east to Camas and follow signs toward Lacamas Park. The trailhead address is 3616 Leadbetter Road, Camas, WA 98607.
