Rock Fort Campsite

Photos: NPS

Along the Columbia River at The Dalles, Oregon, you’ll find some naturally reinforced rugged hills high on the southern embankment. It’s easy to see why the Captains named this campsite Rock Fort.

The Corps of Discovery stayed here twice. Their first visit was from October 25-27, 1805 during the westward journey. Captain Clark wrote in his October 25, 1805 journal entry, “we formed our Camp on the top of a high point of rocks, which forms a kind of fortification in the Point between the river & Creek, with a boat guard, this Situation we Concieve well Calculated for defence, and Conveniant to hunt under the foots of the mountain to the West & S. W.” They remained there three nights, making observations, repairing canoes, hunting, and interacting with Native peoples.

The Corps stopped here again for a few days in April 1806 on the return voyage, with the primary focus of negotiating with tribes for the acquisition of horses and goods.

Rock Fort Campsite is a High Potential Historic Site of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The 5.5 acre property is located adjacent to West 1st Street in The Dalles.