Frequently Asked Questions

Visiting Fort Clatsop and want to know some general information about the site? These answers may help you with some frequently asked questions.

If you're looking for more detailed information about the members of the expedition, check out the articles of different expeditionary members found here.

More in depth information can be found under the Plan Your Visit, Learn About the Park, and Get Involved drop down lists

About the Park

1. When was the park established?

May 29th, 1958, would mark our introduction as Fort Clatsop National Memorial. As the park grew it would become Lewis and Clark National Historical Park on October 30th, 2004.

2. How large is the park site?

Comprising a combined total of 3,409.28 acres over our entire park, our park's main site, Fort Clatsop, is the largest while we also own land at Netul Landing, the Salt Works, Dismal Nitch, Middle Village, the Fort to Sea Trail, and a small amount at Cape Disappointment.

3. What are the operating hours and seasons of the park?

Different parts of the park site have differing hours. Check our Operating Hours & Seasons page for up to date information. Generally our park is open year round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Otherwise our seasonal hours are 9 - 5 during our Winter Season and 9 - 6 during our Summer Season.

4. What is the annual visitation to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park?

The park averages 250,000 visitors to the main Fort Clatsop and Netul Landing sites.

5. How can I report a lost item?

Check out our Lost and Found page for an online reporting form. Otherwise if you believe you lost something at the park site, please call 503-861-4414 to talk to a ranger or leave a message. If leaving a message, please detail the item in question, where you believe it was lost, and a phone number or email for contacting you if the item is found.

6. Can I donate artifacts, photographs, or items to the park site?

The park is currently not accepting donations. For information and more about donating to the park e-mail us.

Activities and Recreation at the Park

1. Is there camping?

There is no camping or overnight stays available at Fort Clatsop. The Dismal Nitch site offers parking up to 8 hours for cars and R.V.s to rest and does not close. Other sites close at times listed on signs by their entry gates. Check out our Eating & Sleeping page for more information on local camping sites.

2. Are dogs allowed?

Yes! Dogs are allowed to follow in the pawprints of Seaman. Dogs are allowed on leash most places in the park site except for carpeted areas, inside the rooms of Fort Clatsop, and at Middle Village. Your pet must be on a leash (not more than 6 feet long) and under your control at all times and may not be staked. Check our pet page for up to date information.

3. Can I ride my bike in the park?

Short answer: Mostly no. The use of bicycles (including "mountain bikes" and e-bikes) are prohibited on all park trails except the portion of the Fort to Sea trail running from the Trailhead on Fort Clatsop Road to the Overlook. Bicycles are prohibited in all areas closed to motorized vehicles unless authorized by permit. For more information please check the superintendent's compendium under closures for bike rules and regulations.

4. Can I fly my drone in the park?

No. Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft from or on lands and waters administered by the National Park Service within the boundaries of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is prohibited except as approved in writing by the superintendent. For full information check the Closures of the superintendent's compendium.

5. Can I fish in the park?

Yes. All of the streams and rivers in the park are open to sport fishing. Everyone twelve years of age and older fishing in Oregon must have a fishing license. In Washington, the age is fifteen years or older. For full information check the fishing page.

6. Are there any audio tours of the site?

Yes! On the official NPS app we have two audio tours available. The first tour takes you to Fort Clatsop, and the second down the Netul River Trail.

Lewis and Clark at Fort Clatsop

1. Why did they name it Fort Clatsop?

They named it after the local first nation's people, the Clatsop.

2. How much of the original fort exists?

Nothing. The fort rotted away very quickly after they left.

3. When was this exhibit built?

The original exhibit was built 1955 although it would burn down due to an accidental fire October 3rd, 2005. This new exhibit was rebeuilt in 2006.

4. Who stayed at Fort Clatsop?

Thirty-three: the two captains, three sergeants, twenty-three privates and five civilians: York, the enslaved personal servant of William Clark; interpreter George Droulliard, interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau (Sacagawea’s husband), and interpreter Sacagawea (Toussaint’s wife); Sacagawea and Toussaint’s baby Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. There was also one dog: Lewis’ Newfoundland, Seaman. For more information about the members of the expedition check out the articles found in our People's pages.

5. Why did the expedition camp here?

They had to camp somewhere west of the Cascades until the snow melted enough for their return trip, and they decided that this was the best spot. After camping nearly two weeks in miserable conditions on the north (Washington) shore of the Columbia River, the party mutually decided to look for a campsite on the south side of the river as some visiting Clatsop people had advised. On this side of the Columbia River Lewis led a scouting party up the Netul River (Lewis and Clark River) where Lewis found everything they needed for a good campsite:

• Trees for building and for firewood,
• Flat ground above the high tides,
• Elk for hunting to supply food and skins to replace their rotting, worn out clothing
• Freshwater springs,
• Easy river access, away from the ocean and its winter storms,
• Near to the ocean for making salt (which they ran out of on January 13th)
• Near to the mouth of the Columbia in case a trade ship came by. With a letter of credit, they were hoping to replenish their severely depleted supply of trade goods (which never happened).

6. How do we know this is where they made Fort Clatsop?

Clark’s maps are so detailed that with only his map, the site could be easily determined to within a mile. Five years after the explorers’ winter here, Astoria was started as a fur trading post and one of the early fur trappers wrote of seeing the dilapidated campsite in 1813. Carlos Shane got the Donation Land Claim that included the fort ruins about 1850 and was able to later describe the layout of the rotten rooms. In 1901 the Oregon Historical Society put up a marker on the site based on the oral histories by Carlos Shane and others who had seen the remains.

You can read reports of the Archaeological Research done from 1957-1998 here.

7. Has the weather changed much since that winter of 1805-1806?

Although weather patterns cycle and climate change has made wet regions more wet, the winter of 1805-06 does not seem to have been much “worse” than a typical winter in this area. Sergeant Patrick Gass wrote that of the 106 days they were here it rained all but 12, and of the 12 dry days, 6 were sunny. Today, during the same time period as the Expedition was here, this area averages 55-65 days of precipitation, an average of 3 clear days each winter month and the rest of the time clouds. That winter did have more snow than usual: one morning there was 8.”