Kalama has river views and hillside homes
Kalama is a Columbia River community with waterfront views in the Pacific Northwest. Downtown features a collection of locally owned bars and restaurants within walking distance of beachfront parks, and most homes sit on a lush hillside, with New Traditional builds on terrain that descends toward the river. "Kalama is a cute little town on the waterfront," says local real estate agent Nicole Cathcart with John L. Scott Real Estate. "It has become very popular in the last six years because most houses have river views. It also has a great central location on Interstate 5, with minimal traffic between Longview and Portland."
Hilly terrain and floor-to-ceiling windows frame the river scenery
Houses in Kalama have fenced-in lawns and colorful gardens on hilly terrain with tree-lined streets. Craftsman and New Traditional homes in the area come with midcentury features like floor-to-ceiling windows, and many houses have views of the Columbia River. The median home sale price is $537,000. Homes up to 2,000 square feet cost between $260,000 and $500,000, while houses over 2,000 square feet go for $500,000 to $860,000. Mobile homes can go for $80,000 to $500,000.
Students can explore forests and design clothes
Kalama Elementary School earns a B-minus grade from Niche and offers a transitional kindergarten program using computer games and technology learning. Kalama Middle School, rated C-plus, focuses on environmental science by offering field trips to Gifford Pinchot National Forest. B-rated Kalama High School has career-oriented programs like the Chinook Shoppe, where engineering design and marketing students can create and sell locally inspired apparel. Twihards will also recognize Kalama High School as the stand-in for Forks High School from the first Twilight movie.
Beachfront parks provide boating areas and totem pole trails
The Port of Kalama Marine Park features a sandy beach on the Columbia River for swimming and sunbathing. It also has a 2-mile trail with the tallest one-piece totem pole in Washington, standing 140 feet. The beach extends down the coast to Louis Rasmussen Beach Park, which has tennis and beach volleyball courts. "Our new waterfront park has swimming on the beach and a boat launch, which is huge for locals," Cathcart says. Kress Lake, another recreation area, is stocked with trout and has boat access. Kayaking, rafting and windsurfing are popular activities on the Kalama and Columbia rivers.
The area can occasionally experience poor air quality due to nearby wildfires, and the Washington State Department of Health provides information to residents during high-risk periods. The Cascadia Subduction Zone can be home to tectonic plate events, such as volcanic activity from Mount St. Helens. While Kalama is outside the blast zone for eruptions, volcanic events can cause sediment buildup, mudflows and landslides. The conditions are monitored closely by Cowlitz County.
Grab a drink by the water or walk to the Lucky Dragon
Downtown Kalama features brick brownstones with locally owned shops and restaurants by the river. "There are a few cute restaurants you can visit," Cathcart says. "You can walk downtown and grab drinks, pizza or Chinese food." One of its eateries is the Lucky Dragon, which serves large servings of classic Chinese dishes. Carrigg's Columbia Inn Restaurant is a well-established breakfast place that has served German pancakes to customers like Elvis Presley. Residents visiting the beach can walk to McMenamins Ahles Point Cabin, a waterfront bar with river views. The area's supermarket is the Kalama Shopping Center. Walmart Supercenter is about 8 miles south in Woodland.
Easy access to Vancouver and PDX
The RiverCities Transit system connects Kalama to Longview, Woodland and Vancouver, Washington. From Kalama, Vancouver is around 30 miles south on Interstate 5. Portland is about 40 miles south, and the Portland International Airport (PDX) is roughly 35 miles away.
