Packwood, WA

Packwood is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in easternmost Lewis County, Washington, in the United States. The 2020 census counted 319, residents. The name "Packwood", used for the town, a mountain pass, and a lake, honors William Packwood, a Virginian pioneer and explorer of Oregon and Washington. As a mark of their successes in this venture, the charted pass – called the Packwood Saddle – is still unused by any road, trail, or other conveyance to pass between the east and west sides of the Cascades. Packwood is home to the La Wis Wis Guard Station No. 1165, a rustic cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Packwood is home to the Skate Creek Park Natural Area. The Cowlitz River Public Access Park opened in 2022, The park lacks a boat ramp but a nature trail allows users to access to the Cowlitz River. Packwood's local map joins its older history to the places and landscapes that still shape the town today, all within the wider Washington setting. The local scoop is how Packwood's history still shows up in the places people visit, work, learn, and meet.