Area Attractions
Places to Go
Toledo, Washington is located in Southwest Lewis County along the north/south Interstate 5 Corridor
You can reach Toledo by taking Exit 60 and traveling approximately three miles east on Highway 506 (Toledo-Vader Road) or you can take Exit 63 and travel approximately three miles east on Highway 505.
Kemp Olson Park
Within the city limits is the Kemp Olson Memorial Park, which offers a covered kitchen area, BBQ pit, restrooms with shower facilities, kids playground, water-spray park, 12 RV camping sites with water and electricity hook-ups, tent camping and Veteran’s Memorial Wall.
Drive-thru Dump Station onsite.
There is a great outdoor kitchen that can be rented for parties and get togethers.
Toledo Thursday Market
Since 2017, Toledo Thursday Market brings handmade crafts, fresh cut flowers, farm eggs, artisan cheese, chocolate, baked goods and homegrown produce to the Toledo waterfront throughout the summer. Our mission is to provide Nutrition, Education, and Community. Come see us at our year-round location at Steamboat Landing.
https://toledothursdaymarket.com/
Toledo Mini Parks
Toledo has three little parks to discover:
Toledo Historical Jail, located at the end of undeveloped N. Third Street. The jail grounds house a lovely edible forest.
The Cowlitz River Park, located at the end of S. First Street. Picnic at the Gazebo overlooking the Cowltiz River. The City boat ramp is located here too.
Steam Boat Alley is an adorable pocket park. You’ll find a cute little lending libary and seating for lunch or a little respite with your coffee. Located in the 200 Block of Cowlitz street traveling north to south between Cowlitz street and Augustus.
Lewis County Historical Museum
The Lewis County Historical Society and Museum celebrates the storied history of Lewis County, Washington. Founded on December 21, 1845, Lewis County once stretched at one point from the Cowlitz River to the south and north to Sitka, Alaska. Come celebrate our rural heritage of the hop fields and timber industry to the Chehalis and Cowlitz Native American tribes.
Oregon Trail Markers
Not all travelers on the Oregon Trail ended their journey in Oregon. Some took the Cowlitz Trail and traveled north to Toledo and beyond. So the end of the Oregon Trail became wherever you ended up. In Toledo, this century-old marker is one of 11 markers in Washington located between Vancouver and Tumwater.
There are two markers in Toledo: One at the west end of the bridge crossing the Cowlitz on Hwy 505. The second at the corner of N. 5th and St. Helens Street.
2016 Rededication ceremony: https://youtu.be/RSN1QiseMro
Veterans Wall of Honor
Toledo Lions invite you to visit our Veterans Wall of Honor, located in Kemp Olson Park.
Toledo Lions Club built the wall to honor past and current veterans of any war, anywhere. We have more than 400 bricks installed so far.
Please visit the Toledo Lions Club for more information.
Saint Francis Xavier Mission
First Catholic mission in the state of Washington and is now (as of 2019) the oldest Catholic church in the state. The mission, which originally occupied 640 acres of Cowlitz Prairie, is also known as the Cowlitz Mission by members of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe. And also as Saint Mary’s after a girl’s boarding school that operated there from 1911 to 1973.
139 Spencer Rd, Toledo, WA 98591
About the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum
The Chehalis-Centralia began in 1986 as the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Association, a (501) (c)(3) non-profit corporation. The founders were a group of local citizens whose goal was to restore a 1916 logging locomotive that had been placed in a Chehalis park thirty years earlier. Soon work was underway on the Cowlitz, Chehalis & Cascade No. 15, a Baldwin-built 2-8-2 “Mikado” type steam locomotive.
Over the course of two years, the engine underwent extensive restoration, and several passenger railcars were acquired. In 1989, scheduled passenger operations began over the former Milwaukee Road track in Lewis County. In 2006, the association changed its name to the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum, to better reflect its continuing mission to preserve the railroad heritage of the region.
South County Park
(Wallace Pond)
On the east side of the Cowlitz River is the South County Park (Wallace’s Pond) offers a single lane boat launch, fishing piers, walking trail, covered kitchen area, restrooms and play area.
Jackson House State Park & Heritage Site
Jackson House State Park Heritage Site is a 1.4-acre day-use park in Chehalis on the Jackson Highway. The park was the setting of a homestead cabin built in 1850 by John R. Jackson, one of the first Euro-Americans to settle north of the Columbia River and an important figure in early Washington territorial history.
There are several miles of hiking trails through beautiful old growth glens.
Nearby Attractions
Toledo is location halfway between Portland and Seattle. That makes almost everything nearby. Beautiful places are just a short drive away.
Discover Lewis County
In Lewis County, there’s always a good reason to go exploring. Natural beauty abounds, outdoor adventure is nearly limitless, and the slower pace of our rural lifestyle offers calm and relaxation. Plan your trip now and find things to do, places to stay, and outdoor opportunities galore.
Mt. St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is best known for its major eruption on May 18, 1980, the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in U.S. history.
A good place to begin your visit is at one of the Monument’s visitor centers or information stations. Interpretive staff are available to answer your questions and help you plan your visit. Ask about the schedule of interpretive walks, talks, and theater presentations that share the geologic, biologic, and cultural history of the area.
Kayaking, Canoeing, Rafting and Paddle Boarding
Boarding from Blue Creek to Downtown Toledo Boat Launch – May through October
North Fork Survivors Gift Shop
While the aftermath of Mt. St. Helens has started to fade, there is a roadside attaction that has preserved the enormity of the May 18, 1980 event. an A-frame remains as part of a tourist attraction. You could walk through the A-Frame’s ground floor — now below ground, since the mud flow raised the local elevation by a few feet
This stop is also Bigfoot Headquarters, including one of the largest Bigfoot statues on record.
Location: 9745 Spirit Lake Hwy, Toutle, WA 98649
Mayfield Lake
This reservoir was formed by the construction of Mayfield Dam. It is managed for catchable rainbow trout and warmwater species. Tiger muskies were introduced in 1993 to help in controlling nuisance northern pikeminnow (squawfish) populations.
Ed Carlson Memorial Field – South Lewis County Airport (TDO)
The airport was originally known as the Toledo-Winlock-County Airport when the two municipalities and Lewis County had joint ownership. Prior to their ownership the airport was a privately owned airport that served as an emergency airfield. In December 2001 the two municipalities released their ownership and Lewis County took over full ownership and eventually renamed the airport to the Ed Carlson Memorial Field-South Lewis County Airport.
Fort Vancouver & Pearson Field
Located on the north bank of the Columbia River, in sight of snowy mountain peaks and a vibrant urban landscape, this park has a rich cultural past. From a frontier fur trading post, to a powerful military legacy, the magic of flight, and the origin of the American Pacific Northwest, history is shared at four unique sites. Discover stories of transition, settlement, conflict, and community.
Mt. Rainier
Mount Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington and the Cascade Range. The mountain is known for its glaciers, wildflowers and inland rain forests. Some of the best star gazing is located in and around its park.
White Pass Scenic Byway
East to West, West to East, the byway offers World Class recreation. For many visitors within the region or around the world, the byway is a route for exploring Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mt Adams. For those in the know – either canny locals or niche recreationists from around the country – there are amazing recreational opportunities all along the byway, in every season.
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Whether you seek solitude, social activity, creative inspiration, wildlife, forest products or scenic beauty, you can find it in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. We invite you to enjoy the many different aspects of your National Forest.
Olympic Peninsula
Anchored by the majestic Olympic Mountains and bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Hood Canal, the Olympic Peninsula offers an unexpected experience as diverse as its terrain.
Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River gorge is a spectacular river canyon, 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep, that meanders past cliffs, spires, and ridges set against nearby peaks of the PNW’s Cascade Mountain Range.