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Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

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Astoria, OR
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Welcome to the official Facebook of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. in the summer and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. after Labor Day.
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Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is a National Park Service site that preserves, protects, and shares our nation's special places and stories. While this is an open forum, please keep your comments and wall posts professional. Learn more at www.nps.gov/lewi/learn/news/social-media.htm

Visitation:

We are open from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Most of the 200,000 visitors per year come to see the reco

nstructed Fort Clatsop, home of the Corps of Discovery during the winter of 1805-1806. During the summer we offer living history talks on candle making, black powder demonstrations, and many other programs. There are plenty of recreational opportunities at the park including hiking trails and kayaking on the Lewis and Clark River. Free paddle tours and guided walks are offered throughout the summer months. Our most popular hike is the 1.5 mile Netul River Trail. It is a one-way, gentle, down and back trail that is three miles long and follows the Lewis and Clark River. For more information about recreational opportunities, historical reenactments, wildlife, educational field trips and special events like fun runs and ranger led programs, go to: www.nps.gov/lewi

Natural Resources:

The park preserves a variety of ecosystems from coastal dunes, estuarine mudflats and tidal marshes to shrub wetlands, temperate rainforests and swamps. Situated within the Sitka spruce vegetation zone, its forests are dominated by conifer trees and carpeted with a great diversity of understory shrubs, ferns and wildflowers. Extensive wetlands in the park include fringing saltmarshes on the lower Columbia River, the tidally-influenced lower Lewis and Clark River and many low-gradient brackish sloughs and marshes. Freshwater streams and springs are numerous in park forests, and freshwater ponds are found in various habitats. These wetlands provide valuable habitat for a diversity of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. To learn more about the natural resources of the park, check out www.nps.gov/lewi/learn/nature/index.htm

07/27/2026

Visit Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and discover one of the most fascinating pieces of technology carried by the Corps of Discovery: the Girandoni air rifle. Unlike anything many people had seen before, this repeating air rifle could fire up to 30 shots on a single charge, which was an incredible feat for the early 1800s. As the Corps traveled west, demonstrations of the rifle amazed the many communities they encountered. Invented by Bartolomeo Girandoni and later used by the Austrian Army, the rifle operated without gunpowder. Instead, air was pumped by hand into a reservoir attached to the weapon. Preparing the rifle required serious effort—about 1,500 strokes of a hand pump to fill its air reservoir. Today, only a small number of Girandoni rifles remain, and one is on display at the Fort Clatsop visitor center museum. Stop by and see this remarkable piece of history that was part of the Corps of Discovery.

NPS Collection Photo

07/23/2026

🚧From July 27–August 12, 2026, we’re replacing a failing culvert to improve road safety and enhance fish habitat connectivity at Lewis and Clark NHP. For Netul Trail access, please park at the North Netul bus shelter. Parking remains open for kayak launch and picnic shelters at South Netul. Thank you for your patience as we work to protect both visitors and our environment!

05/15/2026

Seeing a bear is a memorable experience, but your safety greatly depends on your actions. Bears are wild animals, and public lands are their home. The recent incidents in other national parks are a serious reminder that visitors must stay alert, give bears space, store food properly and know what to do before entering bear country.

1. Bears are active now
Spring and early summer bring increased bear movement as bears search for food, move through habitat and, in some areas, protect cubs.

2. Most encounters can be prevented
Visitors can reduce risk by hiking in groups, making noise, staying alert, storing food correctly and never approaching bears.

3. Bear safety protects people and bears
Food-conditioned or habituated bears are more likely to approach people, damage property or require management action. Improper food storage puts both visitors and bears at risk.

4. Be prepared to handle bear encounters no matter where you are.
Every park, refuge and BLM land is different– bear species, behavior, terrain and rules vary by park and public lands area. Visitors should check current web alerts and bear safety guidance before arrival.

Bear Aware. Stay Wild. Stay Safe.
Give Bears Space. Give Yourself a Chance.
Your Food. Your Trash. Your Responsibility.
Bear Country Starts Before the Trailhead.
A Selfie Is Not Worth a Negative Bear Encounter.
Wildlife Safety Is Visitor Safety.

Photo 1: NPS photos of adult black bear with two cubs foraging.
Photo 2: NPS photo of adult black bear walking with two cubs.

02/25/2026

This time every year a little fish with many names returns to the waters of the Columbia River.

Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) also known as Columbia River smelt, candlefish, or hooligan — are members of the smelt family (Osmeridae).

The nickname “candlefish” comes from their incredibly oily bodies. When these small fish return to spawn, they become so rich in oil that they can be dried, strung on a wick, and lit like a candle!

The word eulachon (also spelled oolichan, ooligan, hooligan, oulachon, and uthlecan) originates from the Chinookan language. On March 25, 1806, Meriwether Lewis recorded:
“Clatsops came to us in a canoe loaded with dryed anchovies, which they call Olthen’.”
In some regions, they’re known as “halimotkw,” meaning “savior fish” or “salvation fish.” Each year, eulachon arrive at the end of winter — a crucial time when stored food supplies were often running low for many Indigenous communities.

One fascinating theory suggests that the name Oregon may stem from the historic “Oolichan Trail” — a Native trade route used to transport prized oolichan oil.

The southern distinct population segment (DPS) of eulachon, or "Columbia River smelt," is popular for recreational dip-net fishing. Listed as a threatened species under the ESA in 2010, their fisheries are tightly regulated and not held annually. When allowed, they are usually brief, sometimes just a single day or a few hours, with confirmation given only a few days ahead.

Small fish. Big history. Powerful cultural legacy.

Photo: NOAA Fisheries
Alt text: Underwater view of dozens of small, silvery fish swimming and clustering over mossy river rocks in shallow, greenish water, with sunlight filtering through the surface above.

02/24/2026

Around this time every year, a small but remarkable fish returns to rivers along the Pacific Coast — from Northern California to Alaska — including the Columbia River watershed.

On February 24, 1806, Meriwether Lewis recorded a detailed description of this fish in his journal after a visit from Chief Comowooll of the Clatsop and members of his nation, who brought large quantities of the fish they had caught about 40 miles away using skimming nets.
Lewis carefully described its bluish back, silvery belly, smooth abdomen, tiny scales, toothless mouth, and delicate white fins. He even drew a life-sized likeness in his journal. He noted how fatty it was — so rich it required no sauce when roasted on a wooden spit — and declared it superior to any fish he had ever tasted.

Just days later, on March 2, 1806, Sgt. Patrick Gass recorded that three men returned with thousands of the fish purchased from a Clatsop village.

So, what was this extraordinary fish? Its Chinook name is ulxən. More commonly, it’s known as eulachon.

A small fish. A vital food source. A powerful seasonal signal of renewal along the Columbia.

Photo from American Philosophical Society digital collection

Alt text: Sepia-toned vintage illustration of a long, slender fish drawn in ink on an aged manuscript page, surrounded by handwritten cursive notes. The fish is shown in profile with a pointed head, large eye, small fins, and a forked tail, resembling a herring.

01/23/2026

Huzzah! The Netul River Trail has reopened. The amazing facilities team at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park have fixed the boardwalk again, after a second windstorm and tree crushed the walk this winter. A few finishing touches left but the boardwalk is safe and passable.

Currently all Lewis and Clark NHP trails are cleared of fallen trees and open. Happy hiking! 🥾🌿

Alt text: NPS photo of a newly reconstructed wooden boardwalk path with metal grates winds through a sunlit, mossy forest with trees and fallen logs, offering a clear walking trail.

01/22/2026

Lewis and Clark NHP is hosting a Scientist-in-Parks Intern for the summer of 2026!
This Natural Resource Management Assistant will support forest restoration by collecting, analyzing, and reporting data. They will work with the natural resource team at Fort Clatsop to monitor restoration efforts, analyze trends, and summarize findings in a report to guide future management actions.
✏️Duration: 12 Weeks (May 18, 2026 - August 10, 2026)
📌Weekly Stipend: $700.00 per week
🎓Education Award: $1,956.35 upon successful completion
📆 Application Deadline: February 15, 2026, or 60 complete applications whichever occurs first.

To learn more about the position and apply, www.scientistsinparks.org

Alt text: A park ranger and intern conduct forest monitoring in a dense, moss-covered forest, measuring a small tree among twisted branches and ferns, with one person wearing a bright yellow rain jacket and the other an orange safety vest, surrounded by old-growth trees, fallen logs, and lush green understory in a temperate rainforest.

01/15/2026

🌲✨ The word on the street (or should we say trail?) is that the amazing Olympic NP Fire crew has been hard at work! They’ve cleared 33 trees from the Fort to Sea Trail, Kwis Kwis, South Slough, and Netul River Trail. 🌳 Let’s give a huge shoutout for keeping our trails accessible! Huzzah! 📣

01/14/2026

🌲✨ Exciting news from Lewis and Clark National Historical Park! We’re part of the amazing North Coast Cascade Network, and this week, the awesome crew from Olympic National Park is here helping us clear the trails! 🌄🚧 Please respect barricades & signage as they work their magic. Stay tuned for stunning pics as we clear and open up those trails! 📸💚

01/13/2026

In previous posts, we have been writing as if the captains were creating social media posts. This approach makes the journals more accessible. However, some sections or phrases can be challenging to interpret.
For instance, on January 13, 1806, Captain Lewis writes about collecting seven elk shot by George Drouillard the day before and notes that the wolves, which are scarce in the area, had left the elk untouched. He also mentions they had run out of candles but thanks to foresight and planning, they brought wicking and molds to make more candles from the elk tallow.

Lewis continues to discuss trade ships at Baker’s Bay near Cape Disappointment, mentioning that the bay is a good place for ships to repair and trade with the Chinookan people. He writes, “the nations who repare thither are fist, those of the sea coast S. E. of the entrance of the river...”

What do you think he meant by “the nations who repare thither are fist…”? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

👉 Full journal entry link is in the comments.

Alt text: Artwork by P. Landquist depicting a trade ship anchored in a bay as Chinooks in canoes paddle out to the ship. Cape Disappointment hills in the background and in the foreground is a Chinook village with people stand on the shore looking out at the ship.

Address

92343 Fort Clatsop Road
Astoria, OR
97103

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15038612471

Website

http://www.nps.gov/lewi

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