DamTour 2009 :    

 

Welcome to the 2009 Picnic - RSVP page!

Mossyrock Dam

      Please help us plan for the picnic by RSVP-ing!

Date: June 27, 2009 is over and was great.

The place is Mossyrock Park and here is the tentative schedule.

  • Arrival/visit/share albums: 10:00 to 11:30
  • Introduction and Welcome: 11:30
  • Lunch/BBQ: 12:00
  • Awards & Games: 1:00 to 4:00-ish
  • DamTour: to be determined if we have one.

The park overlooks the Mossyrock Dam that was on our DamTour 2005 list and is owned by Tacoma Power. This is the same kitchen facility we had last year. We may be getting a break on parking and we may get a tour of Mossy Rock Dam again this year. Sorry for all the "may be's". Please add a note if you would be interested in attending the tour of Mossy Rock Dam if we get it. The area also has some great camping available. check their site for availability. Below are actual pictures of the park area we will be in. Directions and the RSVP form are below.

Cowlitz River Project

Located off US Highway 12, about 3.5 miles east of Mossyrock
Latitude: N 46 30 58.6       Longitude: W 122 25 24.5

 

Mossyrock Dam

Mossyrock Dam is just outside of the park. It is owned and operated by Tacoma Power. Check out more info on this beautiful dam here . They say it is the tallest dam in Washington state, at 606 feet, and it really does looks tall from the bridge below the dam. They also state that it generates about one billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power about 78,000 Northwest homes. Wow !

Mossyrock Dam was one of our Washington Dams in 2005.

RSVP Form Below!

Play area of Mossyrock Park, Mossyrock Dam in the background.

How to Get There

Mossyrock Park is on the south side of Riffe Lake, formed by Mossyrock Dam, on the Cowlitz River, about 90 miles south of Tacoma.  Just off Hwy 12 and 3 1/2 miles outside of the town of Mossyrock. At the flashing yellow light on Hwy 12, (approx. 20 miles from I-5) Shell station on the corner. Turn south into Mossyrock.

From the north head south on I-5 to exit 68 at Hwy 12.  Head east about 21 miles. Right turn on Williams Street (flashing yellow light). Continue several blocks on Williams Street to a "T" intersection in the town of Mossyrock.  The speed limit is 20 mph through this town.  Feel free to donate to community funds, if you like to speed.  :-) Be mindful of their Saturday Market  pedestrian and car traffic, through-out town.

Turn left onto State Street. Outside of town, State Street becomes Mossyrock Road East, and then Ajlune Road. Ajlune Road leads into the park. If you stay on this road and keep going straight, you "will" see the lake and run into the park.

A more scenic route for those of you tired of slabbing it, would be to head south on Highway 7 to Morton. (P.S. this is a great motorcycle road). At Morton, turn right onto Highway 12. Continue on Highway 12 to Williams Street; turn left and continue as above.

Coming from the south, take Interstate 5 north to Highway 12 East, and continue as above. There are several route to elude the slabs almost entirely if you are interested. Here are two to check out if you want. South-west route, south-east (and longer) route. (You need Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006). These are just suggested paths and start out of the Longview area, ride at your own risk and skill level, and do some checking on route closures first.
Route images, south-west, south-east.