Camp Eight:
About two miles from Hawkins Road, or 5 miles from the summit the CZ Trail enters a flat plain tucked into a broad bend in the flanking hills. It was at this location that the Clark & Wilson railroad and their logging interests erected Camp Eight to serve as residential area for their loggers. Probably built in 1928, the site became a burgeoning little town because it occupied an open flat area and it was located near a major fork in the railroad. 
As mentioned above, the Portland & Southwestern spur that climbed the nearby ridge linked it to the Clark & Wilson line that headed west to another major logging camp called Wilark, and eventually it’s own log dump on the Columbia River. Originally, logging companies had housed loggers in railroad cars that were parked near the logging sites. These railroad logging camps were tightly controlled by the company, and workers could only “escape” their quarters from Saturday evening through Sunday—if they could
afford the trip to “town.” By the 1920s the companies began to build detached homes where the workers lived in a company owned community and commuted to their work sites on the trains that hauled out the wood. Amenities were scarce as this picture of the railroad-based school for the children of Camp Eight illustrates. By the end of 1931 loggers were earning about $4.00 per day! Grace Brandt Martin, the school mistress at the nearby Wilark Camp in 1931 described the typical accommodations,
“The weather-beaten shack that we are to occupy has never been painted on the outside, just like all the other houses 
I saw around the camp. In the small Kitchen there is a sink piped for cold water and the only, places for storing things are a few crudely built shelves. The bedroom is about the same size as the kitchen, so there is just enough room for a double bed, dresser, and my wardrobe trunk. No closet, naturally, but a makeshift place to hang clothes has been built in one corner.”
Hello has anyone been to camp eight? Do you know who owns the property is it Columbia County or is it a big Logging company that owns is who owns the land
I think it’s owned by Weyerhaeuser. I believe there’s an equestrian trail connecting to Camp Wilkerson that crosses the location of Camp 8.
Jim Thayer
Hi this is Cindy again so how many camps are in that area camp eight Camp Wilkerson and Camp willark?? Is it okay to go up and Hike through those areas no matter who owns the land? . Thank you.
Cindy:
Camp Eight is completely gone, but there is an equestrian trail that connects to Camp Wilkerson, but I have not walked it myself.
Jim Thayer
The Crown Zellerbach Trail, named after the logging company that operated in this area, is becoming a hidden jewel for hiking, Mt. biking, trail running, etc. in this area.
The Crown-Z goes past the Wilark town site. You can drive a few miles from Vernonia to 47 (Vernonia – Scappoose Rd.), and then to the Crown-Z Wilark trail head. The Crown-Z trail runs parallel to 47. It is being developed and has interpretive signs and photos at the various trail heads and along the way.
The Wilark trail head sign includes a few Kinsey photos. The Kinsey brothers were known for photographing the railroad and logging operations in this area. That would be a good way to research the local history. Several of their books are available in book stores.
I recommend driving 47 (paved), stopping at the CZ trail heads, and reading about the history along this road. It makes a nice drive from PDX. Plan lunch in Vernonia.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/oregon/crown-zellerbach-trail–4?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map