Fort Stevens State Park

25 08 2016

Ft. Sevens, OR Site #156

Good Morning from Fort Stevens State Park, location of the only World War II Japanese attack on the mainland US. Fort Stevens and its associated military bunkers were commissioned during the American Civil War to protect the mouth of the Columba from the British . In 1942 a secret Japanese submarine surfaced and fired 17 times toward the general location of Fort Stevens. With virtually no damage, the Fort’s commanders opted to hold fire to avoid giving away their exact position. Not to mention they believed they were seriously under powered, not actually sure their artillery could reach the sub. After several nervous hours the sub retreated and never fired on the US coast again.

Fort Stevens State Park occupies most of the area on the peninsula of the south shore of the Columbia River. Originally nearly 6 miles wide, the river has been compressed into a 2 mile mouth with a huge jetty project that is incorporated into the park. Also in the park is the famous skeleton of the Peter Irondale, a four-masted ship that ran aground while trying to navigate a foggy, windswept Columbia in 1904. The very large campground of over 400 sites is set in a dense cedar forest, organized around 8 loops and provides both water/electric sites as well as full hookups. We spent 1 night in site E-156 and another night in E-148. Both sites are nice deep, private sites. 156 is a bit larger, and set-back in the dense trees, a bit darker and quieter. 148 is on the corner of the E loop, between the inner sites and those along the main roadway. It also provides plenty of space, privacy and has a bit more sunlight available during the day.

From Fort Stevens we’ll continue north on 101, this morning crossing over the historic Astoria bridge and enter Washington state. More from along the Washington coast…