tThe Dalles, Oregon to Seaside, Oregon
(244 miles)

Follow the final leg of the Corps of Discovery’s epic journey—through waterfalls, tribal lands, and coastal wilderness—until it meets the Pacific Ocean.
 

From river rapids and massive monoliths to saltworks and whale bones, this section of the Lewis and Clark Trail brings the journey to the Pacific Ocean. Explore where the Corps camped, where they made salt, and where they first saw the ocean. Interpretive sites and state parks on both sides of the Columbia River share the stories of tribal nations, early explorers, and a landscape of monumental natural beauty.

​​​

POINTS OF INTEREST

​​​

📍Cascade Locks, OR – Bridge of the Gods

• Spanning the Columbia River, this is the third-oldest bridge of its kind.

• Inspired by Native legend, the original “Great Stone Bridge” was believed to be a gift from the Great Spirit.

📍Bradford Island & Bonneville Dam Visitor Center

• On April 9, 1806, the Corps camped here on their return trip.

• See interpretive exhibits and a fish ladder where salmon leap upstream.

• 40 miles east of Portland & Vancouver

📍Historic Columbia River Highway (Scenic Hwy 30)

• Hugging the gorge’s cliffs, this iconic route features:

• Multnomah Falls – 620 ft. of cascading beauty

Lewis wrote on April 9, 1806:

📖“We passed several beautiful cascades which fell from a great height…”

• Latourell, Wahkeena, Horsetail, and Bridal Veil Falls

📍Vista House at Crown Point – A 30-mile view of the Columbia River Gorge

​

📍Troutdale, OR – Rooster Rock State Park

Clark wrote, 📖
“we encamped under a high projecting rock” on October 25, 1805

Interpretive signs mark the site

📍Portland, OR – Oregon History Center

• Located in the heart of Portland’s Cultural District

• Engaging exhibits on Oregon’s past

   📍Hoyt Arboretum - A Museum of Living Trees. 

• Nestled near Downtown Portland, Hoyt Arboretum is a vibrant living museum of trees. Home to more than 6,000 trees from around the world and 12 miles of scenic trails, the Arboretum is free and open to visitors year-round. 

📍Vancouver, WA – Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

• Established in 1825 by the Hudson’s Bay Company

• A key hub of commerce and culture for decades following the expedition

📍Astoria, OR – Fort Clatsop National Memorial

• The winter home of the Corps, where they spent 100 days (only 12 were dry!)

• Explore a reconstructed fort and ranger-led programs

• Nearby:

  • Columbia River Maritime Museum

  • Astoria Column with panoramic views

  • Indian Burial Canoe Memorial, dedicated to Clatsop leader Coboway

📍Seaside, OR – End of the Trail Statue

• Bronze monument at the “Turnaround” on Broadway marks the official end of the Lewis and Clark Trail

• Commemorates the 4,000-mile journey from St. Louis to the Pacific

• Nearby:

📍Saltworks Site @ Seaside – Where expedition members boiled seawater to make salt

📍Cannon Beach, OR – Ecola State Park & Whale Park

• On January 7, 1806, Clark, Sacajawea, and others hiked to see a beached whale

• Clark measured the skeleton: “105 feet… this monster on the sand”

• Popular today for Haystack Rock, tidepools, and ocean views

📍Klootchy Creek County Park

• It was the home to the largest Sitka spruce in the U.S. Though no longer rising to its 200-foot height, the tree's 17-foot-diameter trunk and two fallen sections still convey to visitors the giant spruce's massive size.

• Just 2.5 miles east of Hwy 101 on US 26

Notable Sites Across the Columbia River in Washington State

📍Highway 14 – Official Lewis and Clark Trail Highway

• Spans from Clarkston to Ilwaco, marked with official trail signs

📍Beacon Rock State Park

• The second-largest monolith in the world

• Clark mentioned a “Beaten Rock” here while scouting river rapids

📍Lewis and Clark Campsite State Park (WA)

• Site of the historic November 24, 1805 vote

• Every member—including York and Sacajawea—voted on where to winter

📍Ilwaco, WA – Fort Canby & Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

• Cape Disappointment State Park, visited by both Lewis and Clark

• Features original artifacts, interpretive exhibits, and trails to lighthouses

📍Long Beach, WA – Discovery Trail & Sand Dunes

• Clark’s party hiked here; today you can walk or bike the 8.5-mile Discovery Trail

• Claimed as the “World’s Longest Unobstructed Sand Beach” (28 miles!)

​

​Ready to go?  Book your reservations below!