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| Hiking | 3.94 Miles |
621 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.94 Miles | 2 Hrs 45 Mns | | 2.25 mph |
| 621 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This flat, gravel and dirt trail follows the part of the historic river traversed by Lewis & Clark in December 1805 as the Expedition Corps searched for winter quarters. They found a small spot and called it Fort Clatsop after a small tribe of Indians in the area. The river's name was changed in 1925 from Netul (nettle) to Lewis & Clark.
The TH is at the Fort Clatsop Visitors Center in Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, about 8 mi S of Astoria. A replica of the fort was erected on the west side. The trail itself runs about 1.2 mi to Netul Landing on the river. Once we left the many tourists at the Visitors Center there were few others on the trail. It was an idyllic amble through heavy forest with many wildflowers and berries along the way. We nibbled on juicy blackberries until we reached the new cement Landing with its historical plaques and clean pit toilets.
Taking a steeper route back to the VC via the forested hills of the South Slough and Upper trails, the tranquility was broken by three park workers with machines spreading gravel on the trail and tamping it into solid footing. It was hard to imagine the expedition trying to negotiate the low, swampy areas of the slough where now hikers use boardwalks and wood bridges to pass through. Once away from the machines, it was utter silence except for our own noises. A short jaunt back in history and an enjoyable one. This is a "long" trail of several shorter ones around the VC, and I put the longest one on my "Next Time" list, the Fort to Sea Trail, followed by the expedition to Sunset Beach on the Pacific, 13 mi round trip. So nice to be far away from the ovens of Arizona. |
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