Schafer State Park

Schafer State Park: Historic Logging Camp Turned Family River Paradise on the Satsop

Schafer State Park offers a perfect blend of Pacific Northwest history and family-friendly river recreation on 113 acres along the East Fork Satsop River in Elma. This historic camping park, designated as both a state and national historic site in 2010, preserves the legacy of the region’s logging industry while providing modern amenities for fishing, swimming, and riverside camping. Popular with anglers for sea-run cutthroat trout in summer, salmon in fall, and steelhead in late winter, the park also features calm, shallow waters perfect for inner tubing and wading, plus two miles of interpretive trails through the mossy forest that tell the story of homesteading and logging in the Satsop Hills.

Schafer State Park Fast Facts

Park Overview

Schafer State Park preserves a remarkable example of Pacific Northwest industrial heritage, where abundant historic structures from the logging era earned the site recognition on both the Washington Heritage Register and National Register of Historic Places. The park’s location along the East Fork Satsop River provides ideal family recreation opportunities, with calm, shallow waters that create perfect conditions for swimming, wading, and inner tubing while maintaining excellent fishing habitat for both resident and anadromous species. The surrounding forest showcases the region’s recovery from intensive logging, now offering interpretive trails through moss-covered second growth that demonstrates natural succession.

The park’s unique combination of historic preservation and river recreation makes it particularly appealing to families seeking both educational and outdoor experiences. Interpretive exhibits throughout the park detail the fascinating history of homesteading and the area’s logging industry, while the Satsop River provides year-round fishing opportunities that vary with seasonal fish runs, creating a dynamic recreational experience that changes throughout the year.

Activities & Recreation

The East Fork Satsop River Loop Trail provides the park’s signature hiking experience, crossing a bridge from the picnic area and winding 1.3 miles through mossy forest alongside the river. Multiple connector trails within the campground extend hiking opportunities, while interpretive signs explain both natural history and the human story of logging and homesteading that shaped this landscape.

Facilities & Amenities

Schafer State Park provides comprehensive facilities anchored by a recently updated visitor center that serves as the hub for park information and interpretive programming. Three picnic shelters accommodate group gatherings, while horseshoe pits and an amphitheater provide additional recreational options. Day-use amenities include multiple picnic areas with tables available first-come, first-served, plus swimming and river access areas. The park features three restrooms with two offering hot showers, trailer dump station, and ample parking areas designed to handle the park’s popularity with fishing and family recreation enthusiasts.

Camping & Accommodations

The park offers diverse overnight accommodations with 29 standard campsites and 34 partial utility sites accommodating RVs up to 40 feet in length, with 52 sites available for reservation and 15 operating first-come, first-served. Four walk-in sites and one primitive site serve hikers and bicyclists, while a group camp accommodates up to 70 guests with a covered picnic shelter featuring wood stove, fire ring, vault toilets, and barbecue facilities. Two furnished cabins provide unique accommodation options, each sleeping up to four guests with heater, air conditioner, futon, bunk beds, and outdoor amenities including picnic table and fire pit with grate.

Planning Your Visit

Schafer State Park operates seasonally with hours from 8:00 AM to dusk May 1 through September 30, and modified winter schedules the remainder of the year. The park requires a Discover Pass for entry, with reservations available up to nine months in advance online or by calling 888-CAMPOUT. Fishing requires appropriate licenses and varies by season, with sea-run cutthroat trout best in summer, salmon runs in fall, and steelhead in late winter. Inner tubing and swimming are most popular during warmer months when river temperatures are comfortable for water activities.

What to Bring & Know

• Fishing license required for all angling activities with seasonal regulations varying by species
• Inner tubes perfect for floating the calm, shallow river sections through the park
• Historic site designation means interpretive exhibits provide educational opportunities throughout visit
• River conditions ideal for families with children due to shallow, gentle waters
• Two cabin rentals require advance reservations and accommodate up to four guests each
• Firewood available for purchase at camp host site, gathering prohibited within park

Final Word

Schafer State Park successfully combines Pacific Northwest logging history with outstanding family river recreation, creating an educational and enjoyable destination where visitors can fish, float, and explore while learning about the region’s industrial heritage along the peaceful Satsop River.

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Schafer State Park offers historic logging site interpretation, Satsop River fishing and swimming, plus family camping near Elma in southwest Washington.