State Parks & Recreation Sites
Lewis & Clark National and State Historical Park
Explore the timeless rainforests and majestic coastal vistas. Discover the rich heritage of the Native people. Unfold the dramatic stories of America's most famous explorers. The Park encompasses sites along the Columbia River and the Pacific Coast. Follow the explorer's footsteps and have an adventure in history.
Clatsop Spit
The spit lies wholly within Fort Stevens State Park. The hike begins at Parking Lot D and walk to the wildlife viewing blind overlooking the tidal flats of Jetty Lagoon, also called Trestle Bay. The 6 1/2 mile South Jetty stretches from Point Adams across the lagoon and is accompanied by the ruins of a wooden trestle, which carried the trains used in the jetty's construction.
Fort Stevens State Park
Fort Stevens was in service for 84 years, beginning during the Civil War and closing at the end of World War II. Today, Fort Stevens has grown into a 4,200 acre park offering exploration of history, nature, and many recreational opportunities. Camping, beach-combing, freshwater lake swimming, wildlife viewing, a historic shipwreck, and a historic military fort make Fort Stevens a uniquely diverse park.
Tillamook Head
Tillamook Head rises 1000 feet from the ocean, with jagged capes and rocky islands. The Lewis and Clark expedition crossed this formidable headland in 1806 to buy the blubber of a stranded whale from Indians at Cannon Beach. At a viewpoint along the way, Clark marveled, "I behold the grandest and most pleasing prospect which my eyes ever surveyed".
Astoria Column
Modeled after the Trajan Column in Rome, the Astoria Column features a hand-painted spiral frieze that would stretch more than 500 feet if unwound. The monument was dedicated in 1926, and has since undergone several restorations.
