Bridgeport is a 748-acre camping park with 7,500 feet of freshwater shoreline on Rufus Woods Lake. Set directly behind Chief Joseph Dam, this lake is actually a segment of the Columbia River. The park provides 18 acres of lawn and some shade in the midst of a desert terrain. "Haystacks," unusual volcanic formations resembling their name, are the park's most striking feature.
Park in the designated day access lot and take a short hike to the cache location. Beware of snakes and ticks while you venture to the treasure.
Park hours:
Summer: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed October 31st to March 13st.
Camping:
Check-in time, 2:30 p.m.
Check-out time, 1 p.m.
Quiet hours: 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.
A park plaque honors Mr. Ralph Van Slyke who, with the most common garden tools, cut a park in the valley above Chief Joseph Dam in the early 1960s. Van Slyke was a retired employee of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The park was named for the town of Bridgeport, which from 1881 to 1889 was known as Westfield. In 1889, Mr. J. Covert, a citizen of Bridgeport, Connecticut, came west to survey a railroad route and renamed Westfield after his hometown.
The park was created as part of a cooperative agreement between Washington State Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps is involved in park-building because of an operating agreement for dams which requires the corps to rebuild recreation areas.
Interpretive programs are provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Subjects include the operation of Chief Joseph Dam, area wildlife, and many other topics of local interest. Programs are usually on Saturdays during the summer season.
2013 is the 100th anniversary of Washington State Parks, and we're celebrating with the Washington State Parks Centennial GeoTour, a statewide challenge featuring 100 new caches placed on 100 State Park properties, with a commemorative geocoin for finding 50 caches (silver coin) and 100 caches (gold coin).
- Visit the GeoTour page to view a list and map of qualifying caches. All caches have the series name "WaStatePks100."
- Be sure to read the challenge rules at http://www.parks.wa.gov/124/geocaching.
- You can download and print a passport (PDF file) from either site. You must stamp the passport with the ink stamp inside each GeoTour cache to qualify for a geocoin.
- A Discover Pass is required to park at all State Park locations.
The Centennial GeoTour is sponsored by Washington State Geocaching Association (WSGA) and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (WSPRC), with the support of Groundspeak. We hope you enjoy the tour!
- This geocache has an approved Permit to be placed at this location on property managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Visitors are responsible for acquainting themselves with policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
- The following items may not be placed in the geocache: food, illegal substances, medications, personal hygiene products, pornographic materials, hazardous materials, or weapons of any type.
- By searching for the cache, visitors agree that they are responsible for their own actions, and acknowledge that neither the State of Washington nor the cache owner is responsible for any loss or injury that may occur in relation to such search.
- Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
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