Fort Clatsop

Fort Clatsop is the winter encampment used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and is located on the south side of the Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon. It is best known for its role during winter 1805-1806 when the Corps of Discovery sheltered there.

A full-scale wooden stockade reconstruction, a visitor center with exhibits, and a network of trails are the main draws. The reconstructed fort features period-style blockhouses and regular living-history demonstrations; interpretive panels and museum exhibits explain the expedition, Native peoples, and local ecology.

The original fort was built and occupied by the Lewis and Clark party in December 1805 and dismantled after they departed in spring 1806; the present reconstruction and park facilities interpret that period. Over time the site has been preserved and incorporated into the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.

The memorial sits in coastal northwest Oregon near the mouth of the Columbia River, just outside Astoria, surrounded by temperate rainforest and tidal estuary habitats.

• Historical significance: Part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park and marks the winter encampment of the Corps of Discovery from December 1805 to March 1806.
• Visiting tips: Interpretive programs and living-history demonstrations are concentrated in summer months, while the site is otherwise accessible year-round with variable weather.
• Climate note: The site sits in a temperate coastal forest close to the Columbia River estuary, so expect wet conditions and muddy trails in fall and winter.

What to See #

• Replica Fort: A reconstructed log stockade representing the winter quarters built by the Corps of Discovery; contains replica blockhouses and firing ports used for living-history demonstrations.
• Visitor center and exhibits: Administrative and interpretive facilities that house exhibits about the Lewis and Clark expedition and the local environment.
• Trails (including the Fort-to-Sea route): A signed trail system through coastal Sitka spruce and western redcedar forest that leads from the memorial toward the Columbia River and the Pacific coast.