Grant's Getaways: Underground Fort Stevens

There are so many reasons to visit Fort Stevens State Park: perhaps to dig a supper from the sea; or catch a summer trophy from the Columbia River estuary; or take your home on the road for camping adventures!
No doubt about it, Ft. Stevens is made for the good times, according to park manager Mike Stein: "We've over 4,000 acres to spread across, plus we've got miles of beach to explore and nine miles of paved trail, plus another seven miles of nature trail. There's plenty to do and plenty of elbow room to stretch out and play."
But if you want to "find the fort" at F.t Stevens, follow park ranger John Koch through a locked gate and into the darkness for a stroll underground.
The free guided tour of "Battery Mishler" is chilly, damp and dimly lit, but it is a place where you can see and touch Oregon's military past.

[@goasfarasyoucansee]

2:27 Very nice.

[@73challenger5031]

I've spent many Summers there, as a child and adult, and every time I go there I find something new. At the end of the batteries, you can see the pilings that held the rails that were used to build the South jetty of the mouth of the Columbia River. The, there's a trail that follows the river East that will take you to a Chinook Longhouse. Continue on that trail and it will eventually lead to a communication structure at the East end of the parking lot. If you go East from there, you will run into the structures that were used to drop mines into the Columbia via long cables and a huge Radar base. You'll find a lot of spent rifles shells all over the ground there as well. Never a dull moment but, you've gotta have the legs for a long, prosperous journey!

[@dennisyoung4631]

Hope to visit *this* part next spring…

[@mackpines]

Fort Stevens and Ecola are my favorite Oregon state parks!

[@albert_obey3151]

3:50 was just standing here today and everything’s a lot more worn down

[@josephgreeley5569]

I spent so much time trying to figure out how to get into Battery Mischler when I was a kid . . . then I moved away and they opened it up for tours. Just my luck.

[@MrJeep75]

It's not unground

[@73challenger5031]

There is more than one Battery there and Missler, for reasons I have forgotten, was covered with a concrete roof so, yes, it is underground as there is soil over the top of it and there is no natural light when you get into the gun turret. When you get there, they turn off all of the artificial light sources and you can't see your hand in front of your face.

[@dylanblock7084]

I thought the reasons the fort is there because of the plain bombing that happened on the coast during WWII

[@enaitbg3798]

Dylan Block That's one of them. They were fearing an attack on the west coast because of Japan

[@enaitbg3798]

Dylan Block But it was actually made in the 1800's. So they practically just made up to date stuff.To upgrade it

[@oregoon3988]

I have been there so many time and have never got to go in there.....

[@73challenger5031]

They only do the underground tours during the summer months. When you go into the museum to get your parking permit they have a schedule of tours posted. If you don't see one, just ask the cashier. It's definitely worth the price. Also, if you didn't already know, at the most Western end of the batteries is a long staircase and at the top is a trail where you can walk Eastward along the Columbia river where there is a Native American long house. That trail takes you all the way to the Eastern part of the parking lot where the original Civil War battery has been recreated. Another part of the park that people miss is just after you drive into the entrance to the park there is a gravel road to your right(you can't drive it but you can walk it) where there are buildings where they used to load the mines used to string across the mouth of the river. As a kid, my Dad used to only take us through Battery Russel and I never knew any of the other batteries were there. Its such a cool place because you find something new there every time you visit.

[@enaitbg3798]

Guns, Gear and More I've snuck in there even though it's off limits. There's not much left but it's pretty cool