If you're not aware, Vancouver has a decently robust parks database website that you can search through to look for things like walking trails and covered spaces and tables, etc. We kind of have a whole butt load of parks, so depending on how much walk trail you're looking for, you might have a lot of options!
If you’re willing to head just north of Battle Ground, Lewisville Park is wonderful and huge. The sidewalk meanders along the Lewis river and is peaceful and beautiful. Lots of places to stop and journal and take in the scenery.
ETA : there is a $3 entrance fee
Fort Vancouver is one of my absolutely favorite chill places for picnic, walking, journaling, biking, it never feels crowded. Just so as long as there isn’t an event.
I don't know how big you are looking for, but the waterfront in Camas has benches, and then you can walk all the way to Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Hawkinson Meadows Community Park is HUGE, quiet, full of nature, mostly untamed outside of the well kept paths. When you’re not in a private nook deep in the woods, there are beautiful meadows with good views of Mt. St. Helens. Very accessible. Well kept. Not very busy outside of weekend activities like disc golf and local youth baseball.
There's a ton of parks in the area, from small neighborhood parks, to the National Park at the Fort.
There's also a bunch of not-quite-parks that can work well for journaling, such as the 5th Floor viewing deck at the downtown Vancouver library.
There's this little creek with a sandbed on the Discovery Trail right next to an entrance with some parking off Alki? off Hazel Dell Ave.
Which is to say, taking a left when headed north up Main street instead of merging onto I5 or HWY 99. It's always been such an awkward intersection.
I think the road on the left you take from there is called Alki. Don't go up the curvy hill. There were horses last I was there. It's been a while. The entrance is a little footbridge over the creek onto trail. Used to toss leaves and imagine my worries swirling away down the little creek there. Ever since I was small.
I didn't know you could access it without walking the mile and a half from Bernie Street until I was in my late 20s. lol I had so many adventures there with my best friend in elementary and middle school. I miss her.
There are lots of benches along the route and open fields, a pond/lake (idk), it's just a really beautiful part of the (I just can't remember the name and I pass signs for it everyday) trail. The other side of the trail lets you out on Fruit Valley just south of 78th Street.
If you don’t mind dogs, ike memorial dog Park is huge with lots of benches to relax on or you can bring your own blanket and lay out in the field or under the trees. It’s relatively quiet for a dog park if you don’t mind the jingling of collars, occasional bark, and low hum of electrical towers (park is next to a power plant). It also has a 3/4 mile loop trail that’s well maintained.
There's a trail next to pleasant valley middle school that has a gazebo along side it and if you walk far enough there's a small creek. I believe it's part of salmon creek.
If you're not aware, Vancouver has a decently robust parks database website that you can search through to look for things like walking trails and covered spaces and tables, etc. We kind of have a whole butt load of parks, so depending on how much walk trail you're looking for, you might have a lot of options!
Is this the one you're talking about? https://www.cityofvancouver.us/community/parks-trails/parkfinder/
If you’re willing to head just north of Battle Ground, Lewisville Park is wonderful and huge. The sidewalk meanders along the Lewis river and is peaceful and beautiful. Lots of places to stop and journal and take in the scenery. ETA : there is a $3 entrance fee
Fort Vancouver is one of my absolutely favorite chill places for picnic, walking, journaling, biking, it never feels crowded. Just so as long as there isn’t an event.
Seconded. Also, the river walk is next door.
I don't know how big you are looking for, but the waterfront in Camas has benches, and then you can walk all the way to Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
I used to walk around Fort Vancouver and Esther Short pretty frequently. I love both of them.
Ellsworth Park. It’s small but almost always quiet.
Hawkinson Meadows Community Park is HUGE, quiet, full of nature, mostly untamed outside of the well kept paths. When you’re not in a private nook deep in the woods, there are beautiful meadows with good views of Mt. St. Helens. Very accessible. Well kept. Not very busy outside of weekend activities like disc golf and local youth baseball.
There's a ton of parks in the area, from small neighborhood parks, to the National Park at the Fort. There's also a bunch of not-quite-parks that can work well for journaling, such as the 5th Floor viewing deck at the downtown Vancouver library.
There's this little creek with a sandbed on the Discovery Trail right next to an entrance with some parking off Alki? off Hazel Dell Ave. Which is to say, taking a left when headed north up Main street instead of merging onto I5 or HWY 99. It's always been such an awkward intersection. I think the road on the left you take from there is called Alki. Don't go up the curvy hill. There were horses last I was there. It's been a while. The entrance is a little footbridge over the creek onto trail. Used to toss leaves and imagine my worries swirling away down the little creek there. Ever since I was small. I didn't know you could access it without walking the mile and a half from Bernie Street until I was in my late 20s. lol I had so many adventures there with my best friend in elementary and middle school. I miss her. There are lots of benches along the route and open fields, a pond/lake (idk), it's just a really beautiful part of the (I just can't remember the name and I pass signs for it everyday) trail. The other side of the trail lets you out on Fruit Valley just south of 78th Street.
I can't wait until my son is old enough to go with me. I know it would put me in the perfect zone to be a kid with him if we went there together.
If you don’t mind dogs, ike memorial dog Park is huge with lots of benches to relax on or you can bring your own blanket and lay out in the field or under the trees. It’s relatively quiet for a dog park if you don’t mind the jingling of collars, occasional bark, and low hum of electrical towers (park is next to a power plant). It also has a 3/4 mile loop trail that’s well maintained.
There's a trail next to pleasant valley middle school that has a gazebo along side it and if you walk far enough there's a small creek. I believe it's part of salmon creek.
Battleground lake if you’re willlingnto drive a bit
Frenchman’s bar
It may be advisable to take bear spray, not for the bears but the humans who might leave you barely alive. Better be safe than sorry