Fishtrap

Washington's ghost towns are mill towns and mining camps in country so green the forest is already taking them back.

Fishtrap is an extinct town in Lincoln County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The GNIS classifies it as a populated place. A post office called Fishtrap was established in 1906 on land owned by John W. Lawton, and remained in operation until 1936. A train station at this site was named Vista. The post office was named Fishtrap after Fishtrap Lake, which was so named because local Native American settlements had natural traps to catch fish there. The name was suggested by Mr. Lawton.

The on-the-ground condition of Fishtrap is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Fishtrap is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Fishtrap is roughly 47.3886, -117.8308 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.