The Caples community is located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of Woodland along Caples Road, on the east shore of Columbia River and across the river from Columbia City, Oregon.

Caples Landing (45°54′18″N 122°48′10″W / 45.90500°N 122.80278°W / 45.90500; -122.80278)[2] was an embarkation point for steamboat passengers on the Columbia River.

On 25 February 1901 a passenger on the Lurline, Gordon Smith, fell overboard and drowned after boarding at Caples Landing.

The railroad was intended to run from Hillsboro, Oregon to Caples Landing or else to Columbia City.

[5] The venture was a failure, but in 1883 Charles Caples was involved with the Northern Pacific Railway extension to Columbia City.