Montesano Washington Tourism

The county seat of Grays Harbor County for more than 120 years, Montesano is located about nine miles east of Aberdeen.

The city was founded in the 1850’s, near the confluence of the Wynoochee and Chehalis Rivers. Inside the historic County Court House are murals depicting the history of the area, including Captain Robert Gray’s discovery of Grays Harbor in 1792.

The region’s timber industry heritage is strong here, and Montesano is known as the birthplace of the first commercial tree farming system. Weyerhauser Timber Company started an innovative program in the early 1940’s to reforest thousands of acres of timberland that had been clear-cut of its Douglas fir and other species, some more than 60 years earlier. The original land area of the pro-ject was about 100,000 acres of second growth trees and areas cleared by cutting and forest fires. The Clemons Tree Farm, the first tree farm in the U.S., has grown to an area twice that size today.

North of Montesano is Lake Sylvia State Park, a secluded camping area along 15,000 feet of shoreline. This wooded area, once an old logging camp, is halfway between Olympia and the shores of the Pacific. There are displays of vintage logging gear and other curiosities, including a giant hand carved wood ball. Fishing is good for trout and bass, and a boat ramp is provided for non-motorized boats. There are biking, trails in and around the park, including a half-mile interpretive trail that is ADA accessible.

Several popular events are held here each year, including the Festival of Lights and the Montesano Music Festival. Don’t miss the Chehalis Valley Historical Museum located in an early 1900’s church building, where photographs and many items documenting the forest industry’s growth in the regions are carefully preserved.

Fleet Park, Montesano