279.5 acres of land with 4,100 feet of freshwater shoreline surrounding a 28-acre lake.

Acquired

Battle Ground Lake State Park was acquired in ten parcels; the first in 1966 and the last in 1972, for a total cost of $559,897.

Historical Background

In 1855, local Indians were held at Fort Vancouver to prevent them from joining hostile Indians elsewhere in the area. The Indians held at Fort Vancouver escaped, and Captain Strong was sent with troops to bring them back. These troops found the Indians near the lake which is now called Battle Ground Lake. Captain Strong talked the Indians into returning to the Fort.

In the meantime, there was a skirmish, and the Indian Chief Umtuch was killed, either by a soldier or one of his own men. Captain Strong returned to the Fort without the Indians after receiving a promise from them that they would return to the Fort after burying their chief. The Indians did return peacefully to the Fort.

The area near the lake then became Strong's Battleground in derision of his act of returning to the Fort without the Indians. Chief Umtuch is buried in an unmarked grave on a farm about one mile east of Battleground.

Facilities
35 campsites, 15 primitive walk­in sites, 57 picnic sites, 1 camp-host site, comfort station, playground equipment, bathhouse, 3 kitchen shelters, two residences, concession building, shop/service buildings, contact station, four adirondack shelters located in the Group Camp, 7 pit toilets, boat launch ramp, unguarded swim beach and trailer dump station. Horse facilities includes pit toilets, parking lot, a tiedown, and five miles of horsetrails.

Activities

Picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, camping, nature study, scuba diving, hiking, horseback riding, horseshoe pit, and organized sports playfield.