Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park spans multiple sites across Oregon and Washington, following the exact route where the Corps of Discovery spent their challenging winter of 1805-1806. The replica Fort Clatsop sits in the same coastal rainforest where the expedition received an average of 70 inches of rain annually and saw the sun only six times during their 106-day stay. Families can explore authentic canoe landing sites along the Lewis and Clark River, walk the Fort to Sea Trail that leads 6.5 miles to Sunset Beach, and visit the Salt Works in Seaside where expedition members boiled seawater to preserve meat for their return journey. What sets this park apart from other Lewis and Clark sites is its focus on the expedition's most challenging period and its integration with living Chinook and Clatsop tribal history.
Junior Ranger Program at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
The Junior Ranger program here combines outdoor exploration with historical discovery as kids complete activities about expedition life, Native American culture, and Pacific Northwest wildlife. Children earn their badges by participating in ranger-led programs and exploring exhibits that showcase the challenges and triumphs of this legendary journey.
- Explore a replica of Fort Clatsop where the expedition wintered
- Learn traditional skills like candle making and writing with quill pens
- Discover local wildlife including elk, sea lions, and migrating whales
Program Details
Best Ages for Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
Ages 4–8
Young explorers love the hands-on exhibits at Fort Clatsop and trying out the bunks where expedition members slept during that long, wet winter. The short Clay Pit Pond Trail offers plenty of newt and salamander spotting opportunities that capture their attention. The replica fort feels like stepping into a real adventure story they can touch and explore.
Ages 9–12
This age group connects deeply with the survival challenges the expedition faced and enjoys comparing their own outdoor experiences to life in 1805. They appreciate the Netul River Trail for wildlife watching and can handle longer walks like the Fort Clatsop Audio Tour. The living history demonstrations during summer programs really bring the expedition's daily struggles to life for them.
Ages 13+
Teens and adults can tackle the full Fort to Sea Trail and appreciate the complex relationships between the expedition and local tribes. They're drawn to the navigation challenges Clark faced mapping this coastal region and the political implications of reaching the Pacific. The program encourages deeper exploration of how this expedition shaped American expansion and Native American history.
Planning Your Visit
Getting There
The Fort Clatsop Visitor Center offers the most accessible parking for families, located just south of Astoria off Highway 101. Entry fees are $10 per person collected at the visitor center, with multiple satellite sites accessible by car. Brown directional signs throughout the area guide you to each Lewis and Clark location.
Van & RV Notes
Our 22-foot Sprinter fits comfortably in the Fort Clatsop visitor center parking area, which accommodates RVs and larger vehicles well. The nearby Fort Stevens State Park offers full hookup camping about 10 minutes away, making it an ideal base camp. Most trail access points have adequate parking, though the Salt Works site in Seaside has more limited space.
Best Time to Visit
Summer months offer the best weather for outdoor activities with temperatures in the 60s and less rain, plus extended visitor center hours and living history programs. Spring and fall can be quite wet but offer fewer crowds and dramatic coastal storm watching. Winter visits work well for indoor exhibits, though expect frequent rain and shorter daylight hours.
How Long to Spend
Plan a full day to experience the main sites properly, especially if you're hiking any portion of the trail system. The visitor center and fort replica alone take 2-3 hours, and the Salt Works in Seaside makes a natural afternoon stop.
Don't Miss
The living history demonstrations during summer programs truly bring expedition life to life as rangers in period dress demonstrate candle making, flintknapping, and other survival skills. Walking the actual Netul River Trail where expedition members gathered food and materials creates an authentic connection to their daily challenges that kids remember long after visiting.
Fun Facts for Kids
During their 106-day winter stay, it rained every day except 12, and the expedition saw the sun only 6 times
The expedition had to travel 15 miles south to Seaside to make salt because the nearby rivers weren't salty enough
This park sits in the foggiest location in the Lower 48 states, averaging 70 inches of rain annually
Sacagawea voted alongside the men on where to build their winter fort, making it one of the first recorded instances of a woman and Native American participating in a democratic decision in American history
Plan Your Stay
Save on park entry with the America the Beautiful Pass — $80 for unlimited access to all 400+ National Park sites for a full year.
Where to Stay
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Nearby Parks to Earn More Badges
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Olympic National Park offers incredible rainforest hikes and tide pooling just across the Columbia River in Washington, perfect for extending your Pacific Northwest adventure
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site showcases earlier Pacific Northwest history with reconstructed Hudson's Bay Company buildings and active archaeological digs kids can observe
Olympic National Park
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument provides dramatic evidence of geological forces that shaped the region Lewis and Clark explored, with visitor centers explaining the 1980 eruption
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