Attractions
Backed by golden hills and fronted by the mighty Columbia River, Maryhill State Park is a welcoming place for all kinds of guests. Windsurfers seek thrills on the river, while cultural tourists explore nearby attractions, and parents succeed in occupying kids’ short attention spans.
In fact, the kids may be content to swim in the shallows and play on the park lawn for days. Maryhill offers that classic state park experience, with camping, boating, fishing and relaxation.
But, wait. There’s more.
Less than 25 minutes away, on a high plateau, Goldendale Observatory State Park merits a stargazing visit at night, and 22 miles west, Columbia Hills Historical State Park offers hiking, climbing and seasonal guided ranger walks to view Native American pictographs and petroglyphs. A few minutes from the park, Maryhill Museum, built by historic entrepreneur Samuel Hill, houses one of the most astonishing private art collections on the west coast. A mile away from the park, Samuel Hill also built a full-scale replica of Stonehenge as a monument to local soldiers killed in World War I. This site is open to the public.
In fact, the kids may be content to swim in the shallows and play on the park lawn for days. Maryhill offers that classic state park experience, with camping, boating, fishing and relaxation.
But, wait. There’s more.
Less than 25 minutes away, on a high plateau, Goldendale Observatory State Park merits a stargazing visit at night, and 22 miles west, Columbia Hills Historical State Park offers hiking, climbing and seasonal guided ranger walks to view Native American pictographs and petroglyphs. A few minutes from the park, Maryhill Museum, built by historic entrepreneur Samuel Hill, houses one of the most astonishing private art collections on the west coast. A mile away from the park, Samuel Hill also built a full-scale replica of Stonehenge as a monument to local soldiers killed in World War I. This site is open to the public.
History
Maryhill State Park is located within a larger community area, also called Maryhill, which was influenced by renowned highway builder, noted lawyer and financier Samuel Hill and the son-in-law of Great Northern Railway tycoon James J. Hill. Sam Hill built a majestic home and a full-scale replica of Stonehenge close to the current state park. A Quaker, Hill commissioned Stonehenge in 1918 as a monument to the Klickitat County soldiers who died fighting World War I. The structure was completed nearly 13 years later, shortly before Hill died. Sam Hill’s wife, daughter and mother-in-law were all named Mary, and his home, now a museum, was named Maryhill to honor them. The park was named for its proximity to the home. In 1972, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leased the property to the state of Washington to operate Maryhill State Park.