All about Fort Clatsop - Detailed Guide
Just 15 minutes south of Astoria, Oregon, you’ll find Fort Clatsop, one of the most unique parks near the Oregon Coast. Set within a forest of towering Sitka spruce, this site explores the history of the Pacific Northwest with a focus on the arrival of the Corps of Discovery at the end of the Oregon Trail. Fort Clatsop also serves as a trailhead for miles of hiking trails through the surrounding coastal forests. Here is everything you need to know about the things to do at Fort Clatsop.
Entrance to Fort Clatsop
Know before you go:
There is an entrance fee to enter the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center and see the fort. It is $10 per adult. Admission is valid for 7 days.
You can use the America the Beautiful pass to waive admission for yourself and up to 3 other people. The Annual Oregon Pacific Coast Passport will waive admission for one person.
Children 15 and under can visit Fort Clatsop for free.
There is a parking lot outside the Visitor Center. It does not require a pass or permit.
Minimal walking (several hundred yards) is needed to reach Fort Clatsop from the Visitor Center. There are hiking trails nearby if you are looking for more activity. See below.
Leashed dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas of Fort Clatsop, including the trails and courtyard of the fort. Only service animals are allowed inside the Visitor Center and the interior rooms of the fort.
Restrooms are available in the Visitor Center.
Fort Clatsop courtyard
Things to do at Fort Clatsop
Tour the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center. There is a museum area with information about life at Fort Clatsop and the Oregon Trail.
Browse the bookstore and gift shop.
Watch movies in the Visitor Center theater. They play every hour and delve into the history of the fort as well as the native peoples of the area.
Tour the replica of Fort Clatsop.
Hike on the trails.
Learn to identify plants of the coastal Pacific Northwest. Signs in the forest around Fort Clatsop label the major plants there, including Sitka spruce, hemlock, Oregon grape, and huckleberry bushes.
Watch for wildlife like Roosevelt elk, bald eagles, osprey, hawks, herons, frogs, and salamanders.
Have a picnic in the woods.
Inside a room at Fort Clatsop
History of Fort Clatsop
The original Fort Clatsop was built in December of 1805 as a winter shelter for the Corps of Discovery, led by Meriweather Lewis and William Clark, at the end of the Oregon Trail. For several months, the fort housed 34 people, including the Corp’s Shoshone interpreter, Sacagawea, and her infant son.
The Corps remained at Fort Clatsop until March of 1806 when they began their return journey east. The original fort has long since been lost to mildew and decay over the years. The hewn log fort that stands there today is a skilled replica, built in 2006 based on a sketch by William Clark.
The displays and exhibits at Fort Clatsop provide a lot of rich detail about what life was like there. The overwhelming impression is that it was pretty miserable. It rained nearly every day. Members of the Corps would have spent most of their time inside the cramped and dimly lit rooms of the fort. Illnesses were common and spread easily. Food was scarce and relied heavily on what the Corps could procure by hunting.
Despite the drawbacks, Fort Clatsop also had some advantages that made it a good choice for a winter shelter. It was close to the ocean and its critical supply of salt while still being protected from storms. There was plenty of fresh water and game to hunt. The Corps also benefited from trade with the Clatsop and Chinook, which helped them procure supplies they needed to make it through the winter.
Bridge over the Lewis and Clark River
Hiking trails near Fort Clatsop
Netul River Trail is a flat, easy 2.4-mile out-and-back stroll from Fort Clatsop along the Lewis and Clark River out to Netul Landing. It begins in a dense forest of Sitka spruce and hemlock that reaches a boardwalk overlooking the river. Continue through a tranquil forest of red alder until you reach Netul Landing. There is more interpretive information about the Oregon Trail and picnic tables at the landing. Look for birds like mallards, herons, and egrets in the water along the way.
Overlook onto the Lewis and Clark River
The South Clatsop Slough Loop is a 3.2-mile trail that includes most of the Netul River Trail but also has a branch to the west that makes the hike into a loop and adds more wetland habitat along the way. It is a great hike for birdwatching.
Fort Clatsop begins the Fort-to-Sea Trail, a 13-mile out-and-back trail that winds through coastal forests until its ending point at Sunset Beach. Although long, there is little elevation gain and the trail is fairly easy throughout. Rather than heading back the way you came, you can take the Kwis Kwis Trail which runs parallel to the Fort-to-Sea Trail.
Sunset Beach
Beaches near Fort Clatsop
I know you wouldn’t drive all the way to Fort Clatsop without stopping to see the Pacific Ocean. There are several beaches just down the road from Fort Clatsop that are easy stops on your way to or from Portland.
Sunset Beach at the end of the Fort-to-Sea trail is a long sandy beach bordered by grassy dunes. On a clear day, you can see Tillamook Head to the south and Cape Disappointment to the north.
Gearhart Beach to the south of Sunset Beach is another sandy beach that tends not to get very crowded. There is a small market in town as well as a McMenamins restaurant and bar overlooking the golf course (alas, not the ocean). The neighborhoods there are great places to look for Roosevelt elk.
Seaside is a classic beach town with a promenade along the dunes and many access points along the way to reach the ocean. It is much more developed than the other two beaches on this list and has the most dining and lodging options. There is plenty of silliness to explore there like arcades, ice cream shops, candy stores, and giant swan-shaped paddle boats.
Bronze statue of Sacagawea
Getting there
To reach Fort Clatsop from Portland, take Highway 26 West until Highway 101. Continue on Highway 101 North for about 15 miles, then turn right onto Ensign Lane. After about 2 miles, turn right onto Fort Clatsop Road and follow signs for the parking lot. The drive will take about 2 hours.
Enjoy your trip to Fort Clatsop and the Oregon Coast!
With love,
Emma
Boardwalk on the Netul River Trail
Looking for more to do at the Coast? From north to south, here are trip suggestions and travel tips for:
Also, check out my guides to the wildlife of the Oregon Coast and Oregon geology.
