Fresh Water Spring at Fort Clatsop

The boardwalk brings viewers directly over the freshwater spring.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Amenities

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Accessible Sites, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Out of all of the neccesities of survival water is one of the most important, and despite being on the Columbia River as well as the Netul River surprisingly was one of the more difficult items to find. Specifically fresh water was difficult to find, as the rivers of this area are tidally influenced and are brackish water which the expedition soon learned was undrinkable. 

One of the likely reasons they chose the spot they did for Fort Clatsop was proximity to this fresh water spring. The spring is rainfed, being filled and beautifully flowing in the fall, winter, and spring while being almost entirely barren and dry in the summer.