| Columbia Hills State Park (which includes the Horsethief Lake area and Dalles Mountain Ranch area) is a 3,338-acre camping park with 7,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on the Columbia River. Horsethief Butte dominates the skyline. It stands over the lake like an ancient castle. The lake itself is about 90 acres in size and is actually an impoundment of the Columbia River. The lake was flooded into existence by the reservoir created by The Dalles Dam. There are 35 unsheltered picnic tables located around the day-use area. Nine braziers are available. Facilities are first-come, first-served. Large shady, grassy lawns are sutiable for croquet, soccer, etc. Visitors must bring their own equipment. No horseshoes are provided for the horseshoe pits. This is a fair location for beginning windsurfers who can get high-wind experience without the risks associated with river currents and barge traffic. The lake is usually open for fishing the last Saturday in April through October 31. Fishermen should consult regulations to be sure of the dates. Horsethief Butte is a very popular rock-climbing location. Two areas are signed "no climbing" for cultural resource protection. Climbers are directed to limit their use of chalk when climbing at the butte. Be aware that park conditions are often extremely windy. Some rattlesnakes live in the area, but they are fairly rare. The bullsnake is more common. Its color and markings are similar to a rattlesnake's, but they don't have rattles and they are not venomous. Watch out for poison oak in the rock climbing areas of the butte. They appear as woody shrubs along the base of some rockwalls. When foliated they have glossy leaves in groups of three and little round white berries. Spring is tick season. Ticks vary in color from brown to green. Be sure to check for ticks when hiking the guided tour or visiting undeveloped areas. Archeological sites and artifacts are protected by both federal and state laws, and their disturbance and/or removal is illegal and carries severe penalties. Oral history states that the park received its former name -- Horsethief Lake State Park -- from workers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who developed the site. The workers thought the terrain was similar to that of horsethief hideouts in popular 1950s Hollywood westerns. The abundance of horses kept on the premises by local Indians apparently gave the workers their inspiration. |
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