Facilities

Overview

Rain or shine finds the health-conscious walking, jogging and biking the 3.5 miles of trails that wind under landscaped bridges past many species of trees and flowers in bloom, through rhododendron gardens and past the lake’s two spectacular fountains.

There truly is something for everyone at the lake, so add this gem to your list of things to do in Longview, and come down for a visit. You will see why we call Lake Sacajawea the city’s crown jewel: it always sparkles with activity!

Flora

A more leisurely stroll will allow you to learn about the planets or trees by way of the Solar System Walk or the Frank Willis Arboretum, or enjoy the captivating Japanese Gardens, splendid in any season.

Activities

Kayaking, fishing, canoeing and picnicking bring out families for a day of fun.

Children or those young at heart can enjoy two unique playgrounds, while everyone loves relaxing to Concerts at the Lake on summer evenings and taking in the Go-4th event celebrating the Fourth of July holiday.

During the week people come to the park to relax during lunch time, bringing a book or just visiting and watching the activity of children feeding birds, squirrels, and chipmunks.

Lake Water Sources & Levels

The water source for Lake Sacajawea is from the Cowlitz River. The water is pumped from the River to an open ditch that flows into the north end of the lake. It flows to the south end where the overflow exits into the diking system and ultimately into the Columbia River. Lake levels rise during the rainy season, but are controlled as an integral part of the flood control program for the city. The paths which rivers flow change over time and Lake Sacajawea is a remnant of one of those course changes.

Lake Wildlife

Fish/Fishing

The State Department of Fisheries Wildlife classifies the lake as a “warm waters fishery” with year round fishing. Fish populations include large mouth bass, trout (stocked several times per year), a healthy population of Bluegill, some Yellow perch. An annual Fishing Derby is held for the children of the community. Aquatic weeds became a problem in the 1970s and 1980s so in 1995 sterile grass-eating carp were introduced to eliminate the unwanted weeds.

Mammals

Citizens enjoy monitoring the activities of:

• Otters
• Beavers
• Weasels
• Raccoons
• Opossums
• Deer

Birds

Water fowl are numerous, some indigenous year round. They include a variety of ducks, Canadian geese, Cormorants in the spring, colorful wood ducks for which volunteers provide nesting boxes, and many more.  Domesticated geese and ducks are frequently deposited at the lake and their populations are controlled by relocation.

Frank Willis Arboretum

The diversity and number of trees in Lake Sacajawea Park elicited an interest in identifying the different trees. In 1987 the Lower Columbia Council of Camp Fire girls proposed and completed the project of labeling trees around the lake with aluminum tags listing the common names. In 1995 the Superintendent expanded on the concept to include scientific names, common names, country of origin and mapping to locate the trees as an informational and educational tool for the community.

With that information, the labeled trees were incorporated into an arboretum setting and named after a former Superintendent of Parks, who was instrumental in elevating the awareness of trees in the mid 1950s and achieved success with a Master Street Tree Plan in 1963. The arboretum, dedicated in 2002, has 119 species of trees represented in a walking tour of approximately 3.5 miles around the periphery of the lake.

Fore more information, view the Arboretum Brochure (PDF).

Lake Sacajawea History

Development of Lake Sacajawea and the park began in 1924 and was maintained for a number of years as a park.

The Great Depression

The Great Depression of the 1930s created problems and back taxes had accrued. One solution for the back taxes was a proposed development of the lake property into 346 residential lots to sell. Public outcry and opposition ensued. The community wanted to keep the property as a park. The City could not afford to purchase and assume ownership of the privately owned property, but some legal maneuvering and legislation corrected the problem and the Longview Company deeded the lake property to the city in 1938.

World War II

Shortly thereafter, World War II erupted and the lake fell into disrepair and little was spent on maintenance and upkeep including watering of the landscape. In 1948 and 1949 the lake was chemically treated to kill the indigenous carp and then in 1950 the first stocking of the lake began when 40,000 trout were introduced.

Post War

In 1952, after twenty years of not watering the landscaping, the Council funded new farm irrigation equipment and water was once again being used. Stagnation, algal growth, water clarity, and low oxygen content became a problem and in 1953 and 1954 pumping water from the Cowlitz River began.

Fishing at the Lake

Frequently Asked Questions

To answer such questions as "What kinds of fish are in the lake?" or "Where do the fish come from?" see the related Frequently Asked Questions about fishing.

Boats

Only electric outboard motors, three horsepower or less, may be used to propel motor boats. All boats must be carried down to the lake from the street. Remember, state law requires children 12 years and younger to wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets on all boats under 19 feet.

Practice Conservation

A good angler respects our natural resources and wants to conserve them for others to enjoy. Always carry out everything you bring into the park - never leave behind plastic containers, packaging, or trash. It is particularly important not to discard fishing line or hooks. They can be very dangerous to birds and other wildlife.