Frenchman's Bar Regional Park

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Frenchman's Bar Regional Park

 

This lush 120-acre regional park is located on the Columbia River about two miles west of Vancouver Lake Park. It was dedicated in 1997 and features a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. A 2.5 mile trail connects the park to Vancouver Lake Regional Park.

Facilities

  • 2 shelters
  • 9 barbecue grills
  • 34 picnic tables
  • 2 pieces of playground equipment
  • 2 drinking fountains
  • 5 restrooms
  • 2.79 miles of gravel/dirt path - Trail map
  • 220 parking spaces, plus 15 disabled parking stalls

Parking fees

Clark County charges parking fees year-round at Frenchman's Bar Regional Park. Daily parking fees are:

  • $2 for motorcycles
  • $3 for cars
  • $6 for cars with trailers
  • $8 for buses or motor homes

These are parking fees, not entrance fees. There is no charge for people who walk or bicycle into Frenchman's Bar Regional Park.

During the busy season, parking fees are collected from a fee booth and a parking meter. When the fee booths are not staffed, park users need to use the parking meter.

Both fee booths and self-pay stations accept cash, coin, debit cards, Visa and Mastercard. They do not accept checks, Discover or American Express cards.

Frequent park users can save money by purchasing annual parking passes, which are valid at the four regional parks charging parking fees: Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park, Lewisville Regional Park, Salmon Creek Regional Park/Klineline Pond and Vancouver Lake Regional Park.

Annual parking passes cost $30. Go to the parking fees webpage for information on how to purchase annual parking passes or click here to purchase a parking pass online.

Under Clark County Code, parking a vehicle without paying the required daily fee or displaying a valid parking pass could result in a $40 fine.

Clark County Code, 9.05.260 Parking

Picnic shelters

Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park has two reservable picnic shelters.

The Langsdorf shelter can seat 50 people and rents for $75 a day. The shelter has six picnic tables and garbage cans.

The Riverview shelter can seat 100 people and rents for $150 a day. One-half of the shelter can be rented for $75 a day. Each half of the Riverview shelter has six picnic tables, a charcoal barbecue grill, a sink with cold running water, a prep surface, electrical outlets and garbage cans.

Other portions of the park may be available for weddings and other events with an approved special use permit. Air-inflated “bounce houses” are allowed with approved special use permits, but dunk tanks are not.

Shelter reservations and special use permits

Swimming

Swimming is not recommended at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park because of steep drop-offs and swift currents in the Columbia River. There are no lifeguards on duty. Park users who swim in the river do so at their own risk. Parents are urged to be vigilant watching children near the water. In addition, no personal watercraft may access the beach for any reason, including docking or loading and unloading people.

In the spring local rivers are still running fast and cold. Swimming in cold water can:
-Cause you to involuntarily gasp and inhale water.
-Cause you to lose muscle control in your arms, legs, hands and feet.
Even the strongest swimmers can experience these effects of cold water. Wearing a life jacket greatly reduces these risks. If you choose to go into a natural body of water to cool off, wear a life jacket!
While swimming is allowed in most Clark County parks with water access, there are no lifeguards on duty and swimmers enter the water at their own risk. Parks on the Columbia River, namely Captain William Clark Regional Park at Cottonwood Beach and Frenchman's Bar Regional Park, are not safe for swimming because of strong currents and sudden drop-offs. More information, including how to swim safely, is at https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/swimming.
Safer options include enjoying a sprinkler or dipping your feet in a wading pool.

More information: Swimming at Clark County Parks

Volleyball

Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park has eight sand volleyball courts. Nets are typically up between May 15 and Sept. 15. The sand courts can be reserved by the day for a fee. When they are not reserved, the courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations for the courts can be made by calling the Parks and Lands office at 564.397.2285.

Online reservations

Hours

7 am to dusk

Related information

Location

9612 NW Lower River Road
Vancouver, WA
United States

Amenities
Barbecue Grills
Benches
Covered Picnic Shelter with Electricity & Water
Fishing
Picnic Tables
Play Equipment
Restrooms
Shelter
Trails
Volleyball Court