Accidental Shooting at Brunot Island

Meriwether Lewis stopped here on his journey west. During his visit, he showed off his new air gun, and someone got shot.

• A low-lying island in the middle of the Ohio River. In the center of the island is a coal-fired power plant. The rest of the island is forested, with some trails. A railroad bridge connects the island with the mainland.

Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center

The Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center is an educational outreach building, supported by St. Joseph's Indian School in Chamberlain, SD. Akta Lakota means “honor the people” in the Lakota dialect. The museum has welcomed thousands of people since opening its doors in 1991 and sits on the banks of the mighty Missouri River. It tells the story of the Lakota people beginning prior to European colonization and ending with contemporary issues facing tribes today.

• The museum is a semi-large modern-looking building made of brick and tilted metal roofing. Large window panes are also featured on the building, approximately 30 feet tall. A picturesque brick water fountain is in the front of the building as well. Inside, many different displays can be seen showcasing the local Lakota heritage. Authentic artifacts such as wooden canoes, animal pelts, traditional clothing, beads, and arrowheads are examples of the many things on display.

Alice Creek Historic District

Alice Creek Historic District is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. After departing Travellers Rest on the return journey, Lewis and his detachment followed the Cokahlarishkit Trail, or “Road to the Buffalo,” to cross the Continental Divide.

• Located within the Helena National Forest, the Alice Creek Historic District still evokes the 1806 landscape experienced by Lewis despite minimal impacts from cattle grazing. Remnants of the Cokahlarishkit Trail remain intact, with features such as rock cairns, marked trees, and travois ruts.

Angel Mounds State Historic Site

Located on the banks of the Ohio River near Evansville, IN, the Angel Mounds State Historic Site boasts a unique combination of nature, history, and archeological wonders sure to entertain all visitors. From 1000-1450 A.D., the area was the site of a Middle Mississippian culture town where the cultivation and storage of corn allowed a permanent community to persist.

• In front of a large, angular building, a sign heading reads “Angel Mounds” with smaller, illegible descriptors beneath. A sidewalk crosses a well-kept lawn to the building entrance.

Annie & Abel Van Meter State Park and Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center

• The Annie & Abel Van Meter State Park is a 1,000-acre expanse of freshwater marshland and forest. Walking and hiking trails wind across the wilderness. An 18-acre fishing lake is available for visitors, its shores lined by trees. Picnic areas and campground areas are shaded by large trees. The Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center is a tan building with green trim and a brown roof. A blue striped sign stretches in front of the building showcasing the words "Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center."

Arrow Rock

Arrow Rock was notable in the journeys that opened the West, beginning with the Lewis and Clark Expedition on June 9, 1804. Clark noted Arrow Rock Bluff and the party's experience in his journal:

• Arrow Rock was a notable mention in the Lewis and Clark expedition, noted as a river within the width of 900 feet surrounded by bluff and prairie called the Prairie of Arrows. Today, the town of Arrow Rock, Missouri, features a historic downtown with brick buildings, the Arrow Rock Jail ( a small 8-foot tall building made of stone, and could hold 4 people comfortably standing), and forested trails on the Arrow Rock State Historic Site.

Arrow Rock State Historic Site Visitor Center

The Arrow Rock State Historic Site visitors’ center opened in 1991 and features nearly 9,000 square feet of exhibit space. The center interprets the history of Arrow Rock and the central Missouri region historically known as “Boone’s Lick Country.” You can watch a 20-minute video “Arrow Rock: Frontier Town of the Boone’s Lick” an introduction and overview of the community.

• The visitor center is a block-and-a-half south of Main Street, nestled in a wooded hollow so as not to dominate the historic landscape of the town. The parking lot entry road is located on Highway 41, one-quarter mile south of Arrow Rock. Site offices are located in the visitor center.

Astoria Column

Located in Astoria, Oregon, the Astoria Column serves as a monument to the history Pacific Northwest. The idea for the column first came about in 1898 when the city thought to build an electrified tower that would rival the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. In 1914, the project began to take its first tentative steps toward becoming a reality when the City of Astoria bought 30 acres of land on Coxcomb Hill.

• Situated on the top of Coxcomb Hill, the Astoria Column rises 125 feet above the ground. A door opens into the base of the tower, allowing visitors access to the sprial staircase that leads up to the observation deck at the top of the tower. Outside the tower, a histogram winds around the tower, providing a pictographic history of the area, starting with the discovery of the Columbia River in 1792 and ending with the arrival of the railroad to Astoria in 1893.

Astoria Riverwalk

• A gravel parking lot sits just off Lagoon Road to the trailhead. A blue and white sign tells visitors of the trail's rules. The trail follows the shore of the Columbia River and the railroad, switching between asphalt and wooden boardwalk depending on where you are on the trail. Interpretive exhibits provide information on the area's history.

Atchison County Historical Museum

Located in the city of Atchison, Kansas, the Atchison County Historical Museum is housed in the historic 1880 Santa Fe Freight Depot. It was here in Atchison that, in 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark of the Corps of Discovery celebrated their first independence day of the expedition in present day Atchison.

• A building made of tan bricks with a red roof. The building consists of two segments, a two-story, thinner segment on the left, and a wider, single floor story on the right. Staircases lead to two separate entrances of the building. There is a sign reading “Atchison Depot Trolley Stop Museum Visitor Center” in front of the structure.

Bad Humored Island

Bad Humored Island was the backdrop of a meaningful exchange between Lewis & Clark and the native tribes that called the region home. As the journals discuss, Black Buffalo and the other chiefs were invited to tour the keelboat, where they were presented gifts. Captain Clark conducted them back to Lilly Park in the pirogue.

• Grass, trees, and interpretive panel. Paved road near RV park.

Bad River Encounter

Tensions were high when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark entered Lakota homelands.

• The site is an open park at the confluence of the Missouri and Bad Rivers. In the center of the park is a grassy lawn with a playground and a few scattered trees.

Bad River Encounter Site

Bad River Encounter Site is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On September 24, 1804, Lewis and Clark reached the confluence of the Bad River.

• The Bad River Encounter Site is located within Fischers Lilly Park, in the city of Fort Pierre. The site is interpreted to the public through a boulder-mounted commemorative plaque, a Lewis and Clark wayside exhibit, and an array of flagpoles.

Baker Bay

It might be surprising to learn that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark weren’t the first Europeans to explore the Columbia River. In 1792, over a decade before the Corps of Discovery set out, a small crew under the command of Lieutenant William Broughton sailed up the Columbia River all the way up to what would become modern-day Vancouver aboard “The Chatham.”

• Baker Bay is the first large indentation located on the Washington state shoreline of the Columbia River. It can be found just past Cape Disappointment. The town of Ilwaco, Washington is inside Baker Bay.

Beacon Rock

Outside Skamania, Washington is the 848-foot-tall Beacon Rock that overlooks a breathtaking section of the mighty Columbia River. Beacon Rock State Park is a 4,464-acre, year-round camping park sitting in the midst of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. The core of an ancient volcano, Beacon Rock is essentially a basalt plug; the Missoula Flood waters eroded away the softer outer material. Captain Clark wrote in his journals, “…a remarkable high rock on Stard."

• Greenish blue river with evergreen trees along the bank. Large shear rock cliff in the center that reaches high above the tree line.

Beaverhead Rock

If the Corps of Discovery had not come across this rock formation they might never have made it to the Pacific Ocean. Sacagawea knew that her relatives were nearby after seeing this landmark.

• Large rock formation coming out of the ground that resembles a beavers head.

Beaverhead Rock State Park

Sacagawea, a young Shoshone Indian guide traveling with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805, recognized this rock formation and knew that she may be in the vicinity of her relatives. The sighting gave the expedition hope that they may be able to find native peoples from which to acquire horses for their trip across the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

• Amongst an open green grassy field with a small winding river there is a large rocky mound that resembles a swimming beaverhead.

Beaverhead Rock, Montana

When the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed Beaverhead Rock, Sacagawea recognized it as close to her Shoshone homelands.

• Narrow and winding stretch of the Beaverhead River with thick, shrubby vegetation on its banks. Rock outcropping on the left side of the river (when facing upstream) with steep, bare rock face and a vegetated cap.

Bellefontaine Cemetery

Bellefontaine Cemetery is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Bellefontaine Cemetery contains the grave site of William Clark, who died in St. Louis on September 1, 1838. Located in the northern part of the cemetery above Meadow Lane and near the Broadway Avenue entrance is a 35-foot tall granite obelisk on a pedestal.

• Large wooden cemetery with gravestones and stone monuments.

Big Bend of the Missouri

Big Bend of the Missouri is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On September 19, 1804, the expedition camped downriver of the Big Bend, an expansive meander of the Missouri River that was already a well-known landmark.

• Roughly 30 miles around the bend. The neck itself is roughly 1.6 miles wide. The shore is full of irregular hills as well as thick sandbars. The hills are covered in a mix of dark brown brush and greenery in trees and other plant life.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

Big Bone Lick State Park is recognized as the key to understanding the life of the Ice Age on the North American continent over 10,000 years ago. The area was well known to local indigenous populations, such as the Delaware and Shawnee, who relied springs for salt and game. A 1744 map Louisiana marks it as the "place where they found the elephant bones in 1739." Early explorers noted that the large bones lay scattered throughout the valley.

• Green, vertiginous land with plenty of trees, natural creeks and salty springs. Abundant wildlife including bison and many varieties of birds. Visitor Center is a gray stone building with brown trim.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Kentucky

Meriwether Lewis stopped at Big Bone Lick in 1803 to collect fossils for President Thomas Jefferson. William Clark returned here in 1807 to do the same.

• Marshy area with dense forest.

Birth of Pomp

On February 11, 1805, Sacagawea gave birth to a baby boy. She and her husband, Toussaint Charbonneau, named him Jean Baptiste Charbonneau.

• The new MHA Interpretive Center sits in an open plain a few hundred feet from banks of the Missouri River. The building’s architecture reflects traditional Mandan and Hidatsa earth lodges.

Blackbird Hill

Blackbird Hill is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Blackbird Hill is a 300-foot-high promontory on the west side of the Missouri River in present-day Nebraska.

• Roughly 300 feet high above the water. Steep slope full of dried brush and small trees. Exposed bedrock sandstone containing a variety of petroglyphs. The top presents a view of the river below for 60 to 70 miles.

Blackbird Hill, Nebraska

When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed here, they paid their respects at the burial site of Omaha leader Wazhiⁿga’ sabe (Blackbird).

• From a gravel parking lot off of U.S. Highway 75, a path leads up the hill to a circular, open-air pavilion designed after the earthlodges used by Omaha people. Looking east from the pavilion, the Missouri River is visible about 300 feet below. The pavilion stands in the center of a mown grass meadow surrounded by trees in a semi-circle. The trees are open to the east to provide a view of the river.

Bow Creek

Bow Creek is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On August 26, 1804, the expedition camped on a sand bar (in present-day South Dakota) across the Mis-souri from the mouth of Bow Creek (in present-day Nebraska).

• The 205-acre property includes a mix of wetlands, grasslands, riparian cottonwood forest, restored prairie and mesic-bur oak forest. Rock and sediment exposures along the Missouri River reveal past geologic events. A mowed grass trail is planned for the property to loop through these environments.

Bozeman Pass

Bozeman Pass is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On July 15, 1806, as Clark’s party traveled from the Gallatin River toward the Yellowstone River valley, they were guided by Sacagawea, who knew the area from her childhood. She led them between the Bridger and Gallatin mountain ranges through Bozeman Pass.

• An automobile highway, the Yellowstone Trail, was first constructed across the pass in 1912. This was replaced in 1926 by US 10, and then in 1956 by Interstate 90. There is a historical marker documenting the expedi­tion’s passage.

Bradford Island Visitor Center at Bonneville Lock and Dam

The Bonneville dam was completed in 1943 and was the first dam built on the Columbia River. The Bradford Island Visitor Center, located adjacent to the dam on the Oregon side of the river, displays exhibits on local history, hydropower, and fish life cycles. The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on Bradford Island on April 9, 1806 upon their return journey.

• A sidewalk leads up to a large turbine on display used for hydroelectric power. To the left, an angled sign reads: Bradford Island Visitor Center. A metal bench sits in the middle of the sidewalk. Beyond the sidewalk is a well-kept lawn and rugged dark mountains rising in the background

Brandenburg Riverfront Park

Brandenburg Riverfront Park’s 15 acres span the width of the downtown area and offer an unparalleled view of the scenic Ohio River, the graceful Matthew Welch Bridge that crosses the river, and the scenic, wooded Indiana shoreline on the opposite side. The park offers a playground for the children, a checkers/chess table, picnic pavilions, bandstand, amphitheater, soccer fields, a river walk, and more.

• Brandenburg Riverfront Park’s 15 acres span the width of the downtown area and offer an unparalleled view of the scenic Ohio River, the graceful Matthew Welch Bridge that crosses the river, and the scenic, wooded Indiana shoreline on the opposite side.

Butte Park

The dramatic landscape that surrounds Hermiston feels almost as if it’s straight out of a fantasy. From the natural features that look like they’ve been sculpted by hand to the peaceful fields full of shrubs and flowers, visitors might think they’ve stepped into a landscape painting. One of the best places to get up close and personal with this beautiful wilderness is Butte Park.

Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail

The Buttermilk Falls Hiking & Biking Trail was initially developed in 1996 by turning 2.5 miles of county road into a trail that connects Riverfront Park, on the banks of the Ohio River in Brandenburg east to Kentucky State Route 933. This riverside trail winds through the wooded, scenic area along Flippins Run Creek. The Buttermilk Falls Trail (2.5 miles) includes a wooden footbridge over one of the many streams and passes Buttermilk Falls.

• The area surrounding the trail is densely forested. The trail consists of wooden, stone, and gravel paths. Wooden bridges/footpaths go across the many creeks and along the trail. Springs and waterfalls ranging in height from almost flat to approximately 30 feet tall spill into pools or the creeks.

Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site

The Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site is located in Cahokia, Illinois. The courthouse now serves as a museum and historic site. Three exhibit rooms depict cases the court handled around 1800 and the French-roots of the structure. A fourth room is refurbished to represent the courtroom of 1790.

• The front of an old building constructed of vertical, weathered logs with rough stone filling in the gaps sits on a lawn overshadowed by a deciduous tree. A porch wraps around the structure, covered by a gray, shingled roof. Two windows with wooden shutters and two double glass-framed doors provide access to the front of the building. A wooden barrel sits on the corner of the porch, and a sidewalk leads to one of the doors on the left-hand side.

Cahokia Courthouse, Illinois

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark used Cahokia as a place to gather information for the journey ahead.

• The courthouse, a square timber building sits on a grassy lawn surrounded by trees. The visitor center is a few hundred yards down a cobblestone path. Across a small street are several split-level homes.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site & Interpretive Center

Ancient civilizations are perhaps the most fascinating groups of people to study throughout human history. It is jarring to imagine how people could co-exist in such large numbers during an era before modern medicine, advanced irrigation, and an overall staggering amount of danger that lurked everywhere back then. It is inspiring that people could put aside their differences and come together to build something greater than themselves.

• A curved street leads towards a brown building with an angular roof. In a patch of grass within the street stands a flagpole bearing what appears to be the Illinois state flag. The entrance of the building consists of glass doors and is covered by a round protrusion from the building.

Cairo Custom House Museum

Less than two miles from Fort Defiance State Park sits the Cairo Custom House Museum. The building, built in 1872, is full of history about the surrounding region, as well as being of historical significance itself. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Cairo Custom House was originally used as the location for collecting tariffs on imports being traded along the Mississippi River.

• Tan brick building with many arched windows. The building is three stories high and four chimneys are visible on the roof. There is also a small lookout building on the roof facing out towards the front, surrounded by a circular guardrail. A brown plaque is visible between the second and third story windows on the front of the building. Two white-globed lights hang to the left and right of the front door. Green grass and large green trees are visible on both sides of the Custom House. A row of hedges surrounds the front walkway leading up to the front door. A flag pole with an American flag sits at the front of the walkway, behind the black, metal fence that surrounds the Custom House grounds. A sidewalk and curb with grass are in the foreground, along with the gray roadway.

Camp Disappointment

Lewis, George Drouillard and Joseph and Reubin Field stayed at Camp Disappointment from July 22 - 26, 1806. It was the northernmost campsite of the Expedition. Jefferson wanted to know if there was a northern tributary of the Missouri River, thus giving the US a claim to a more northern boundary.

• Large expanse of green meadow with tall cottonwood trees dispersed around and lining the creek. To the east is a 300 foot cliff of light brown rock.

Camp Dubois, Illinois

William Clark and many of the men who joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter of 1803–1804 just east of St. Louis, at Camp Dubois.

• From the parking area, a modern interpretive center surrounded by trees is visible. Beyond the building, a cluster of reconstructed cabins sits in an open grassy field. These buildings appear as they would have when Lewis and Clark stayed at the site with their men.

Campus Martius Museum

Founded in 1788 by Rufus Putnam, Marietta, Ohio, was the first settlement established in the Northwest Territory. The original settlement was surrounded by a stockade built by the civilian-run Ohio Company. The stockade was known as Campus Martius, so named because it put settlers and soldiers alike in mind of the Fields of Mars, a training ground once used by ancient Roman legions.  

• The Campus Martius Museum is a red brick building with white stone faux columns between the windows. The windows themselves are trimmed in white. It's situated at the intersection of two tree-lined streets. In front of it, a red brick and tan stone wall has the words "Campus Martius Museum" on it.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Did you know that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived at the Pacific Ocean just before a whale washed up on the Oregon coast?

• Sandy beach with rocky protrusions emerging from the waves. High, tree-covered cliffs both north and south along the coast.

Canoe Camp

Where the North Folk of the Clearwater River enters the main channel of the Clearwater, the Corps of Discovery were exhausted and famished. It was the end of September 1805 and the difficult trek over the Continental Divide was finally behind them. But on this point of land over an 11-day period, they worked incredibly hard. This was Canoe Camp.

• A wooden dugout canoe is the focal point of this site. The canoe is about 20 feet long and 2 feet tall, and is made of a single tree trunk which has been slowly and methodically carved out using hot stones and metal tools. The site is located next to a large flowing river (the clearwater).

Cape Disappointment

Cape Disappointment is a large headland forming the northern portion of the mouth of the Columbia River, as it opens to the Pacific Ocean. Most members of the Corps arrived here on November 15, 1805, where they first saw the Pacific Ocean. Clark camp near Chinook Point while Lewis scouted for a favorable site for a winter encampment.

• 200 foot cliffs rise above dark breaking surf. They are a vibrant green, covered in plant life such as grasses and trees. The beach below is scattered with large rocks and driftwood. A white lighthouse stands on the top of the cliffs. The cape becomes very narrow before opening up into the larger bay.

Cape Disappointment State Park

Located in Ilwaco, Washington, Cape Disappointment State Park was named for Captain John Meares’ first failed attempt to find the Columbia River in 1788. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark would later conduct reconnaissance of this area during their stay at Station Camp from November 15 to November 24, 1805.

• Cape Disappointment is a 2,023-acre camping park located on the Long Beach Peninsula. It is fronted by the Pacific Ocean and looks into the mouth of the Columbia River. The park has an interpretive center and museum. The North Head Lighthouse is also within the park. There are several trails that cross through coastal forests, wetlands, and dunes.

Cape Disappointment State Park-Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

When you visit Cape Disappointment State Park today, you certainly won’t be disappointed in what you find. It’s an amazing park that’s home to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Perched on a cliff 200 feet above the pounding Pacific surf, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center shares the story of the Corps of Discovery’s journey, focusing particularly on their Pacific Coast stay during the winter of 1805-1806.

• Children can try to pack a canoe without tipping it, follow a treasure hunt, and check out what the Corps ate on their journey.  The center features a short film presentation, a nicely outfitted gift shop, and a glassed-in observation deck with fabulous views of the river, headlands, and ocean.  Additional displays focus on local maritime and military history. 

Cape Disappointment, Washington

When Meriwether Lewis and William Clark reached the Pacific Ocean, they were in an area where Chinookan people controlled the extensive trade along the rivers, including trade from ocean-going European ships.

• High cliffs overlook the ocean and the wide mouth of the Columbia River. Wind-shaped evergreen trees grow atop the cliffs.

Captain William Clark Regional Park at Cottonwood Beach

On March 31, 1806, after learning from native tribes that food was scarce to the east, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark ordered the Corps of Discovery to remain at “Provision Camp,” a location that is today known as Cottonwood Beach in Washougal, Washington. 

• A large sandy beach along the large Columbia River Gorge. The beach is surrounded by dense forests, as well as the other side of the river. A large grey exterior and a red interior wooden replica of the canoe that Lewis and Clark used sits on the beach as well.

Catherine Creek Trailhead

Catherine Creek Trailhead is one of the premier areas for early spring wildflower viewing in the eastern Columbia River Gorge. There is a seasonal waterfall here as well. The trailhead and parking is located on the north side of the county road, leading to a multi-use biker/hiker/equestrian trail.

• Trees, wildflowers, seasonal waterfall, Columbia River, benches, interpretive signs.

Cathlapotle Plankhouse

Located in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge near Ridgefield, Washington, the Cathlapotle Plankhouse is a full-scale replica of structures built by the Chinookan People who made the Columbia River their home for at least 2,300 years.

• The pankhouse measures 37 feet by 78 feet and is constructed mainly from cedar timber donated by local landowners and national forests. The two side walls of the building are low to the ground, standing at roughly shoulder-height. From there, the wooden roof rises to a peak that is approximately 20 feet above the ground and is held up by the front and rear walls of the structure. The peak is supported by a cedar log painted red. The front wall features a round entry hole, the top of which is about shoulder-height. A long painted geometric design in red, white, black, yellow, and gray stretches vertically from the ground around the entrance all the way to the peak. Horizontally, the design is just a few inches wider than the entry hole, outlining the entrance in red and white.

Cave Hill Cemetery & Arboretum

Cave Hill Cemetery is a 296-acre Victorian era National Cemetery and arboretum. It is the largest cemetery by area and number of burials in Louisville. Cave Hill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Cave Hill National Cemetery, containing military graves, is also on the National Register, added in 1998.

• Lakes, ponds, bridges, flowering trees. landscaped lawns, gravestones.

Celilo Falls Portage

Celilo Falls Portage is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On October 22, 1805, the expedition reached Celilo Falls, where the river “divided into Several narrow chanels which pass through a hard black rock forming Islands of rocks at this Stage of the water, on those Islands of rocks [were] great numbers of Stacks of pounded Salmon.”

• Large river with bridge spanning it.

Celilo Falls, Oregon

Celilo Falls and the Narrows of the Columbia River have been the center of major trading networks for millennia. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark stopped here to buy food and get help carrying their boats around the falls.

• Grassy park with picnic tables, trees, and a view of the Columbia River. High barren hills on the opposite bank are visible past the water.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center

• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center
• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters visitor center is located inside the Interior Regions 3, 4, 5 office at 601 Riverfront Drive in Omaha, NE. The visitor center will be closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day each year.

• Water Trails
• Lewis and Clark’s legendary expedition would not have been possible had they not been able to navigate some of North America’s longest rivers. Today, the officially designated water trails of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail are an exciting and iconic way for you to explore the region much as Lewis and Clark themselves would have.

• Fort Clatsop Audio Tour
• Embark on a voyage of discovery as you learn about the historical homelands of the Clatsop people, and the winter that Lewis and Clark spent in the area. This self-guided audio tour will take you to the must-see sights around Fort Clatsop, beginning at the visitor center and ending back in the parking lot. 

• Stargaze at Spirit Mound
• stargaze

• South Slough Trail
• The South Slough Trail is a three mile loop that can be accessed from the Fort to Sea Trailhead or from near the North Netul Landing that features twist and turns and steep changes in elevation among large trees and a boardwalk over the Colewort Creek restoration area.

• Clay Pit Pond Trail
• The Clay Pit Pond is a half mile loop primitive trail with access at the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center picnic area. It is a great trail for those looking for a short but dynamic hike. The trail features a vernal pond surrounded by skunk cabbage and sedges. There are steep steps and lots of trees growing close to the trail so watch out for roots and newts!

• Netul River Trail
• Take an easy approximately 1 mile stroll along the beautiful Netul River Trail. Watch for water birds, eagles and sometimes otters! Along the way you can learn about the history of logging and commerce along the Lewis and Clark River.

• Chief Twisted Hair Statue
• These statues, by Douglas Hyde, depict an interaction between Lewis, Clark, and one of the Nez Perce leaders. This particular leader, known as Walamottinin or Twisted Hair, offered guidance to Lewis and Clark.

• Sacajawea’s Rest Park
• This statue of Sacajawea and her son, Jean Baptiste, was made by artist Jim Demetro. Sacajawea, the only woman involved in the expedition, is an important figure in American history. The statue is located at Sacajawea’s Rest Park, a tiny park located between two buildings in Darby, Montana. The artist also made an identical statue at Fort Clatsop, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, located in Oregon and Washington.

• Explore the Middle Missouri with Lewis and Clark
• Explore the Missouri River through the perspective of Lewis and Clark with these notable places within the MNRR.

• End of the Trail Lewis and Clark Commemorative Statue
• This Lewis and Clark statue is located within the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park in Seaside, Oregon.

• Experience History Come Alive at Fort Clatsop
• Visit the replica fort and visitor center to learn more about the Lewis & Clark expedition and local native culture. If you visit during our Summer or Winter programs you may even get to talk to rangers in costumes and try your hand at 19th century tasks. Experience this incredible story in a tangible way when you lay down on a bed in the fort or take a walk along the Netul river.