Lewis and Clark National
Historical Park
92343 Fort Clatsop Road
Astoria, OR 97103-9197
Phone
Headquarters
(503) 861-2471
Visitor Information
(503) 861-2471 ext. 214
WELCOME to Lewis and Clark
National Historical Park
The Park is made up of 12 park sites located on
a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific coast from Long Beach, WA to Cannon
Beach, OR. Visit the sites in any order you wish; we recommend
starting at Fort Clatsop or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at
Cape Disappointment. Both offer rangers, gift shops and exhibits on
the region.
- Lewis & Clark National Historical Park
Sites
- Washington State Park Sites
- Oregon State Park Sites
History
The explorers started up the Missouri River from
near St. Louis on May 14, 1804. After a tedious journey of five
months, they wintered at Fort Mandan, which they built near the Mandan
Indian villages 1,600 miles up the Missouri. Here they acquired the
interpreting services of Toussaint Charbonneau, a French-Canadian
trader, and his young Shoshone wife, Sacagawea, accompanied by their
infant son, Jean Baptiste.
In April 1805 the Corps of Discovery left Fort
Mandan and followed the Missouri and its upper branches into an
unknown world. Along the Lemhi River, in what is now Idaho, Sacagawea’s
people provided horses and a guide for the grueling trip over the
Continental Divide. In November 1805, after some 600 miles of water
travel down the Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia rivers, they finally
sighted the Pacific.
Within 10 days of arriving on the coast, Lewis
and Clark decided to leave their storm–bound camp on the north shore
and cross the river, where elk were reported to be plentiful. Lewis,
with a small party, scouted ahead and found a “most eligible” site
for winter quarters.
On December 10, 1805, the men began to build a
fort about two miles up the Netul River (now Lewis and Clark River).
By Christmas Day they were under shelter. They named the fort for the
friendly local Indian tribe, the Clatsop. It would be their home for
the next three months.
Picnic Areas
Near the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center
Open All Year
September - mid-June 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Mid-June - Labor Day 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location Between the two Visitor Center parking lots.
Closures Closed Christmas Day.
Available Facilities Wheelchair accessible picnic area with covered
seating, open grass area, and recycling bin. (no fires allowed)
Fort Stevens State Park (OR)
Open All year
Location Warrenton, Oregon
Exhibits Fort Stevens Military Museum and the Battery Russell
(historic military area)
Available Facilities Camping, beachcombing, freshwater lake swimming,
trails, wildlife viewing, picnic areas, an historic shipwreck and an
historic military area make Fort Stevens a uniquely diversified park.
A network of nine miles of bicycle trails and six miles of hiking
trails allow you to explore the park through spruce and hemlock
forests, wetlands, dunes, and shore pine.
Dismal Nitch (WA)
Open All year
Location Highway 401 Pacific County, Washington
Exhibits Interpretative Panels
Available Facilities Restrooms and Picnic Shelters
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
In Cape Disappointment State Park (WA)
Open
Summer 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Winter 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location Cape Disappointment State Park (two miles Southwest of Ilwaco,
Washington)
Exhibits Mural-Sized “Timeline” Panels of the Lewis and Clark
Expedition, Maritime and Military Displays
Available Facilities Hiking, Picnic Area, Theater, Gift Shop,
Glassed-in Observation Deck, shuttle bus and Restrooms
Discovery Trail (WA)
Open All Year
Location Eight mile trail that runs between Ilwaco, Washington and
Long Beach, Washington
Exhibits Clark’s Tree, Basalt Monolith, Gray Whale Skeleton, Clark
& Sturgeon Bronze Statue
Available Facilities hiking (8 miles), bicycling (Long Beach end),
wildlife viewing platform, beachcombing, ADA accessible (Long Beach
end), boardwalks, wetlands, bridges, picnic areas and restrooms
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