Sacajawea Trail part 2--Traveling down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean

Sacajawea and the Corps of Discovery (Lewis & Clark Expedition) traveled down the Columbia in 1805, and back up it in 1806.  But I am combining the sites for both ways as one trip west down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean:  the Washington side, and the Oregon side.

The Washington Side
https://www.historylink.org/File/5556

• ​Hwy 14 west to Vancouver WA,
• next north on I-5 to Long Beach WA,
• then west to Cape Disappointment 

Plymouth Park, Plymouth WA
Across from Umatilla OR and McNary Dam (near the Hwy 82/395 bridge), Plymouth Park offers drinking water, flush toilets, playground, swimming, camping, fishing & boat ramp, as well as an interpretive sign about the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery, which included  Sacajawea.

• http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/plymouth.html
• https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233587​

Maryhill State Park & Maryhill Museum

• https://www.parks.wa.gov/203/Maryhill-State-Park---at-the-east-end-of
• https://www.parks.wa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Maryhill-State-Park-131
• https://parks.wa.gov/543/Maryhill
• https://www.maryhillmuseum.org

Hwy 14 pull-out above Wishram WA
Some wonderful interpretive signs accompany the Klickitat County Information Center at this wide spot in the road.  Wishram, below, has other interesting historic significance, including a steam engine on display in a pleasant little park.  Surprisingly, this tiny town also has an Amtrak station.

• http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/wishram.html
• https://revisitwa.org/waypoint/wishram/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wishram,_Washington

Avery Park & Road, WA
Between Columbia Hills Historical State Park and Wishram WA is a sign for Avery Park.  Immediately off Hwy 14 on Avery Rd is an inviting winery with orchards as well as vineyards.  Continuing on this road is Avery Park, a treaty fishing access available to the public off-season:  boat ramp, picnic area, vault toilets.  Beautiful views of Mt Hood from here.  An interpretive sign explains the significance of this area from Lewis & Clark to the present.

​Columbia Hills Historical State Park

• https://www.parks.wa.gov/489/Columbia-Hills
• https://www.parks.wa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1851/Columbia-Hills-State-Park---overview-PDF

Intersection Hwy 14 & Hwy 197 from The Dalles OR
Interpretive signs at this junction includes one with Lewis & Clark in desperate need of care.

Murdock, next to Dallesport WA
The connection I saw in March 2022, between Murdock WA and the Corps of Discovery, was a herd of bison.  Nowadays, for the traveler there are a few services and RV camping with great views.

• http://dallesport-wa.org/about-us/

Home Valley Park, WA
For more info and photos, scroll down below "Places further east on Hwy 14" at 

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14

Doug’s Beach

• ​https://www.parks.wa.gov/211/Dougs-Beach-State-Park---the-friendly-v
• https://www.parks.wa.gov/500/Dougs-Beach

Bingen WA
For more info and photos of Bingen, scroll down below “Places further east on Hwy 14” at

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14

Sacajawea sees Mt Hood, mural in the Eat-14 parking lot, Bingen WA

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, Stevenson WA
At first it's easy to confuse the Interpretive Center in Stevenson WA with the Discovery Center in The Dalles OR.  They are both so worth spending a half day, and they have complementary exhibits.  Take a picnic and enjoy the drive to and from.  Below are captioned photos of the parts that highlight Lewis & Clark, the Corps of Discovery.  For more info and photos scroll down at 

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14
• see also https://www.columbiagorge.org/

​Bonneville Dam, Washington Visitor Center, Hwy 14
The Visitors Centers on the north and south sides of the Columbia River are complementary rather than mutually exclusive.  It's worth visiting them both.  Following are photos pertinent to the Corps of Discovery from my 2016 visit on the Washington side.  

•                   https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/bonneville/                                      

​Beacon Rock State Park WA               
By happy accident I discovered the flat part of Beacon Rock State Park, on the south side of Hwy 14 about a mile west of the Ranger Station, Doetsch Ranch Road entrance.  That's where you will find better facilities for the disabled, better views of the Beacon Rock itself, and great informative signs about the Corps of Discovery.  For more info and photos,

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14
• see also   https://www.parks.wa.gov/212/Beacon-Rock-State-Park
• and, https://www.parks.wa.gov/474/Beacon-Rock

​Hwy 14 pull-out east of Washougal WA
On the south side where SE Evergreen Blvd makes a short link with SE Gibson Rd are interpretive signs of historic and present significance.

Capt William Clark Park, just east of Washougal WA
A family and group friendly park right on the Columbia River.  

• https://clark.wa.gov/public-works/captain-william-clark-regional-park-cottonwood-beach
• https://home.nps.gov/places/captain-william-clark-regional-park.htm​

Steamboat Landing, Washougal WA    
This site has a fishing pier that might be accessible when the river is not too low, with a helper--it's rather steep.  Has an interpretive sign; restrooms open seasonally.  Note:  this place was updated summer of 2022, after these photos were taken.

• https://wa-washougal.civicplus.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Steamboat-Landing-Park-19

​Vancouver USA
Lewis & Clark Plaza is an apartment building on 7th & Broadway.  Inside are works of art and monuments celebrating the Lewis & Clark Expedition, including Sacajawea.                                                     

• https://www.quantumresidential.com/lewis-and-clark-plaza/

Lewis & Clark in Clark & Lewis counties, WA

• https://www.historylink.org/File/517

Clark County & Lewis County WA

• https://www.historylink.org/File/5174​

I found out today that the Lewis River was not named after Meriwether Lewis, but a later Lewis, former Hudson's Bay employee.  I found a few other interesting items at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St, Vancouver, WA

Cathlapotle Plankhouse, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield WA
The Corps of Discovery stopped here to trade for supplies going both west and east.  As more Europeans interacted with the native inhabitants they died of imported diseases.  A replica plankhouse stands as a monument to the original peoples.  Getting to the plankhouse on the gravel trail poses some challenges for persons in wheelchairs.  I advise having a helper, even in an electric chair.  Interesting info at

• https://www.nps.gov/places/cathlapotle-plankhouse.htm

Lake Sacajawea Park, Longview WA
“Lake Sacajawea” is right in the midst of Longview.  A beautiful park with playgrounds, picnic & restroom facilities, Japanese garden, Solar System walk, packed gravel paths to walk and wheel, fishing, community events. 

• https://www.mylongview.com/Facilities/Facility/Details/Lake-Sacajawea-12
• https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/locations/lowland-lakes/lake-sacajawea

Note:  the Corps of Discovery didn't travel up to what is now Tacoma WA, but the next 3 places were valuable in reference to their experiences:

Captain Meriwether Lewis Memorial Park, next to JBLM Visitors Center, 5901 41st Division Dr, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), south of Tacoma WA.  I was really excited to happen on to this place!  Aug '22
JBLM Visitor Center

• https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord/index.php/about/Directorates-support-offices/directorate-emergency-services/provost-marshal/gate-information

Lewis Army Museum--4320 Main St. and, Constitution Dr, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), WA 98433, south of Tacoma WA; again, I was so delighted to see!

• https://lewisarmymuseum.com/

Washington State History Museum-- 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402

• https://www.washingtonhistory.org

1905 painting Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia by Charles Marion Russell, from Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Dismal Nitch just east of the Astoria-Megler Bridge
This rest area has a great view of the bridge to the west, and on a clear day a view of Mt St Helens, and further, Mt Adams.  Picnic tables, restrooms (a separate restroom is accessible), paved trail to Lewis & Clark monument make this anything but dismal to current travels. 

•  https://www.nps.gov/places/dismal-nitch.htm
• http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/megler.html

Middle Village/Station Camp--Hwy 101, mouth of the Columbia River north & west of Astoria-Megler bridge
The Corps of Discovery spent 10 days at the Chinook Village here while exploring/mapping the mouth of the Columbia River.  It was here each person of the Corps was invited to give input about where to spend the winter--on the north of the Columbia or the south side.  Most were in favor of the south side, so they built Fort Clatsop west of what is now Astoria OR.

• https://www.nps.gov/places/middle-village-station-camp.htm

Long Beach WA
Capt Clark took a few members of the Corps of Discovery north to explore up the coast, what is now Long Beach WA.  A few monuments to that exploration can be discovered in Long Beach.  For more info and photos about the area, see 

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/wa-long-beach-peninsula-via-longview-wa
• https://www.visitlongbeachpeninsula.com/things-to-do/museums-historic-sites/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark's_Tree

The Oregon Side

• I-84 west to Portland,
• then north & west to Astoria OR,
• and at last south to Seaside OR

Celilo Park
About 8 miles west of Biggs OR (and across the river from Wishram), Celilo Park Recreation Area is the remembrance of Celilo Falls, an historic major fishing site of the natives thousands of years before  Sacajawea and the Corps of Discovery had to pass on their way to the mouth of the Columbia River at the Pacific Ocean.  It's a pleasant green park (though it can be windy, which brings the wind surfers joy) with picnic tables, flushing toilets, boat launch and river access, and camping--no fee, no reservations.  It has some nice informative interpretative signs about the history of the site, including Lewis & Clark and their Corps of Discovery.

• https://www.nps.gov/places/000/celilo-park.htm
• http://www.columbiarivergorge.info/celilo-park.html​

​​The Dalles OR
The Dalles has invested in mural(s) making, and encourages touring them.  They cover Native American history, Lewis & Clark, the Oregon Trail, local history, recreation, and products of the area.  They are fascinating, though some have deteriorated somewhat.  I'll show here the ones about The Corps of Discovery.
   At the Lewis & Clark Festival Park is a sculpture/fountain of Corps members canoeing downriver.
     Under the overpass by the Lewis & Clark Park one can connect with the nicely paved Riverfront Trail, the City Dock (commercial boats), and not far to the NW along the Riverfront Trail from there is the Rock Fort Lewis & Clark campsite.  
The Dalles

• https://explorethedalles.co

​Lewis & Clark Festival Park

• https://www.thedalles.org/how_do_i_/reserve/lewis___clark_park.php\

The Dalles Commercial/City Dock

• https://www.thedalles.org/how_do_i_/reserve/city_dock.php

​Rock Fort Campsite, The Dalles OR

• https://www.nps.gov/places/rock-fort-campsite-or.htm​

Murals

• http://historicthedalles.org/landmarks/the-dalles-mural-society/
• https://www.obbg.org/blog/2022/01/oregon-mural-trail-the-dalles-oregon/
• http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/the_dalles_murals.html

The Dalles Dam Visitor Center (3545 Bret Clodfelter Way, The Dalles, OR 97058) has some reference to Lewis & Clark, as well as an interpretive sign across the river on the Washington side.

   The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center (which shares a building with Wasco County Historical Museum) includes exhibits about the Lewis & Clark expedition, of which Sacajawea was a member.

​Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

• https://www.gorgediscovery.org/

Cascade Locks OR--exit 44 off I-84
   The Bridge of the Gods connects Cascade Locks with Hwy 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River.  There's an interesting story behind that name.  Scroll down to Bridge of the Gods at 

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-wa-hwy-14​
• Trailhead by the mural under the Bridge of the Gods https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=197

   Cascade Locks Marine Park has a statue of Sacajawea and Seaman (Lewis' Newfoundland dog he bought and brought as part of the Corps of Discovery), as well as other amenities:  a history museum (unattainable for persons confined to wheelchairs), the Locks, boat launch, park with a playground and picnic spots (some sheltered), and restrooms (closed for winter when I was there).  From there you can board the sternwheeler to navigate up the Columbia River and back (not wheelchair friendly), or get some food at the grill. 

• ​Sternwheeler https://www.portlandspirit.com/sternwheeler.php
• Locks Grill http://locksgrill.com/

Bonneville Dam, Oregon Visitor Center--I-84 east of Portland OR
After so long of the dam closure, Apr 2022 I was delighted to finally see so much of History, Science, Technology, Scenery; photos below pertinent to the Corps of Discovery.

• https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Columbia.aspx                        

Rooster Rock State Park--exit 25, I-84
This is a great family and group friendly park to spend the day, with swim access to the Columbia River, group sites, picnic tables and grills right on the the river bank, a playground, not necessarily wheelchair friendly restrooms, and historical interpretive signs, including the Lewis & Clark expedition.  I have reviewed the park and included photos and links (see link here), but I'm including a few pertinent photos below.
Scroll down to item #3 at

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-or-i-84  

Lewis & Clark State Recreation Site,
and the Sandy River        
There's a popular access to the fairly shallow Sandy River right across from the Lewis & Clark State Recreation Site.  A bit further down that road is a bridge across the Sandy River, where you'll see more interpretive signs about the Lewis & Clark adventure--sandwiched between British Explorers sailing up the Columbia River from the Pacific Ocean earlier, and travelers of the Oregon Trail later.  I have reviewed these at the website below, but I'll include some photos here as well.

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/columbia-gorge-or-i-84

Portland OR
   Two miles west of downtown Portland is Washington Park, over 400 acres that includes a zoo, rose garden, Japanese garden, playground, picnic tables & grills, restrooms, tennis courts, archery range, arboretum, and lots of steep hills and tall trees.  Among the monuments in the park is a statue of Sacajawea, the "Lewis & Clark Column", and a statue of Native Americans imagined witnessing "The Coming of the White Man".  Entry to the park is free, but to park in the park requires a fee; the zoo and gardens have entry fees as well.  More info, links, and captioned photos at 

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/greater-portland-or

• see also   https://explorewashingtonpark.org/​

Portland and Mt Hood from Portland Japanese Garden, Washington Park, Portland OR

Lewis and Clark Botanical Memorial sign by Ankeny Plaza, Ankeny St & SW Naito Pkwy, across from Tom McCall Waterfront Park, where Portland Saturday Market happens

Lewis & Clark College, Portland OR
With such a name, I was disappointed not to find more about the Corps of Discovery, but probably there was more for the Bicentennial.  Nevertheless, I was gratified to find a statue of Sacajawea and of York.  It's a small college on a beautiful, historic campus, but steep hills--I could not have managed without my electric wheelchair.  The people there were very nice.

• https://www.lclark.edu/​

​   An entry about the Lewis & Clark Expedition in the Oregon Encyclopedia:  text is rather generalized and nothing new (disappointingly little about the expedition in the area of Sandy/Portland OR), but there are some great accompanying pictures.

• https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/lewis_and_clark_expedition/#.YkZdr3rMK3A

Corps of Discovery explores the Clackamas River

• https://lewis-clark.org/day-by-day/2-apr-1806/

Mt Jefferson from Timberline Lodge, Mt Hood

---

Oregon Historical Society Museum, Portland OR
The third floor of the Oregon Historical Society has the permanent exhibit, including a corner about the Corps of Discovery/Lewis & Clark Expedition.  You can also access information on their site online.  Also, note the huge mural on the The Sovereign apartment tower; the side facing the west in view of the front of the Oregon Historical Society Museum depicts the most well-known members of the Corps of Discovery.

A few of the 1273 items from a search of “Lewis and Clark Expedition” on the Society's website:

• https://www.ohs.org/search-results.cfm

Picturing the Corps of Discovery:  The Lewis and Clark Expedition in Oregon Art

• https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/oregon-historical-quarterly/upload/Uecker_Picturing-the-Corps-of-Discovery_OHQ_103_4_Winter_2002.pdf

“York of the Corps of Discovery:  Interpretations of York’s Character and His Role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition” OHQ 2003, includes some great pictures

• https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/oregon-historical-quarterly/upload/104_3_Millner_York.pdf

Lewis and Clark Traveling Trunk for grades 4, 5, and 8

• https://www.ohs.org/education/traveling-trunk-program/lewis-and-clark.cfm
• https://www.ohs.org/education/traveling-trunk-program/upload/Lewis-Clark-Traveling-Trunk.pdf

Two Centuries of Lewis and Clark, book by Carl Abbott and William L. Lang—brief description

• https://www.ohs.org/shop/museum-store/books-and-publications/two-centuries-of-lewis-and-clark.cfm

“This proposal is to change the name of Big Squaw Mountain, a 4,849-foot summit in Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County, to Sacagawea Peak.” 

• https://www.ohs.org/about-us/affiliates-and-partners/oregon-geographic-names-board/upload/Sacagawea_Mountain_rename-proposal-07Aug2020.pdf

“Chronological listing of articles and authors in Oregon Historical Quarterly
Volume 1, 1900 – Volume 118, No. 4 (Winter 2017)”

• https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/oregon-historical-quarterly/back-issues/upload/Oregon-Historical-Quarterly-Contents-001_118_4_w-links.pdf

About the Oregon Historical Society

• https://www.ohs.org/about-us/history.cfm​

Astoria, Fort Clatsop, and Seaside OR
After such places as named Dismal Nitch and Cape Disappointment, a poll among the members of the Corps of Discovery favored wintering on the south side of the mouth of the Columbia River.  Their winter quarters of 1805-6 was named Fort Clatsop.  From there they explored down the coast of the Pacific Ocean as far as what we call Seaside OR, where they built a salt works (imagine eating exclusively foods without salt, esp meat and fish!).  For more info, links, and captioned photos, check out 

• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/astoria-fort-stevens-fort-clatsop
• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/coffenbury-lake-astoria-2
• https://www.travelpacificnw.com/accessible-travel-blog/seaside-or
• https://www.nps.gov/lewi/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

Lewis & Clark Saltworks, Seaside OR

• http://lewis-clark.org/lc-by-air/seaside/
• https://www.nps.gov/places/the-salt-works.htm
• https://www.seasideor.com/seaside-history/episode-two-the-lewis-clark-salt-works/

The Faces of Sacajawea

• https://lewis-clark.org/people/sacagawea/the-faces-of-sacagawea/

Painting Valley images of Sacajawea

• https://paintingvalley.com/sacagawea-sketch

​Points West magazine issue with articles/pictures of artists depicting members of the Corps of Discovery

• https://centerofthewest.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Points-West_2009.06.pdf

Down the Columbia, from Discover Lewis & Clark website

• https://lewis-clark.org/the-trail/down-the-columbia/

Winter at Fort Clatsop, from Discover Lewis & Clark website

• https://lewis-clark.org/the-trail/fort-clatsop/

Return to the Clearwater:  Fort Clatsop to Long Camp

• https://lewis-clark.org/the-trail/return-to-the-clearwater/

On the Road to the Buffalo:  Weippe to White Bear Islands (including a Synopsis of Part 5, Fort Clatsop to St. Louis}

• https://lewis-clark.org/the-trail/road-to-the-buffalo/

Sakakawea by Bruno Zimm, exhibited at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Missouri. Public Domain. https://picryl.com/media/sakakawea-by-bruno-zimm-1904-1af4cd

Lewis & Clark cruise adventure offered by American Cruise Lines.

​Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Cape Disappointment State Park, WA
An illustrated timeline and exhibits about the Corps of Discovery, and a few other displays pertinent to the area.  Click on the photos below to enlarge them.  Navigate through them by clicking arrows forward and backward.  Note:  Lewis & Clark didn't name Cape Disappointment, shipboard explorers before them did.

• https://www.parks.wa.gov/187/Cape-Disappointment
• https://www.nps.gov/places/cape-disappointment-state-park.htm?utm_source=place&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=experience_more&utm_content=small
• https://www.nps.gov/places/cape-disappointment-state-park-lewis-and-clark-interpretive-center.htm