John M. Vincent/The Oregonian

On October 16, 1805, Lewis and Clark finally reached the Columbia River, entering the Pacific Northwest on the final stretch of what would become one of the most famous expeditions in American history.

While it’s a bit tricky to retrace the Corps of Discovery’s canoe trip down the Columbia River today, you can still follow their path by car, stopping off at the many waysides, museums, campgrounds and viewpoints dedicated to their audacious adventure.

It also happens to be one of the most scenic drives in the region, going from Washington’s Tri-Cities across the Columbia Plateau, then through the Columbia River Gorge and Portland on the way to the Pacific Ocean.

The scenery isn’t quite as wild or majestic as it was when Lewis and Clark first passed through (notably, Celilo Falls is no longer visible), but beauty certainly still abounds. Aside from the sites specific to Lewis and Clark, there are dozens of state parks in both Oregon and Washington on the route that allow you to explore the forests, mountains and waterfalls that surround the Columbia River.

It might just be enough to fill you with the same awe and wonder that the corps surely felt as they paddled their way across the new world, a place of sheer breathtaking beauty.

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Sacajawea Historical State Park

When the Corps of Discovery arrived at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers, they camped for two nights among several thriving Nez Perce villages. Today the site is managed as Sacajawea Historical State Park in Kennewick, Washington, named in honor of Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who traveled with the expedition as an interpreter and guide.

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Sacagawea Heritage Trail

Another Tri-Cities landmark named in honor of Sacagawea, the Sacagawea Heritage Trail is a 23-mile paved pathway that runs along either side of the Columbia River between the three towns. Designed for both pedestrians and cyclists, the trail isn't tied specifically to Lewis and Clark, but includes interpretive signs on a variety of natural, cultural and historical topics.

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Maryhill

Located at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Maryhill is a tiny community best known for its art museum, state park and Stonehenge replica. Standing on the hills above the Columbia River, the gardens at the Maryhill Museum of Art also include the Lewis and Clark Overlook, where interpretive signs tell of the Corps of Discovery's three-day stay in the area. It also houses a collection of American Indian artifacts, including baskets, beadwork and rock carvings.

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Beacon Rock

When the Corps of Discovery first passed through the Columbia River Gorge, Clark noted "a remarkable high detached rock … about 800 feet high and 400 paces around, we call the Beaten Rock" (that may have been a spelling error, as they subsequently called it Beacon Rock). Beacon Rock remains a great landmark to visit on a trip through the gorge, today managed as a Washington state park, with a walkway leading up the side of the rock.

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Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

Based in The Dalles, the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is dedicated to the cultural and natural history of the gorge, which of course includes the arrival of Lewis and Clark. In addition to displays about geology, native inhabitants and more recent history, there's an interactive exhibit that shows what kind of cargo the Corps of Discovery carried with them, from camping supplies to natural specimens.

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Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center

The Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center is located in Stevenson, Washington, where visitors can find exhibits dedicated to the Native American tribes in the gorge, the arrival and impact of the Corps of Discovery, and the changes the area underwent over the following two centuries. There are also outdoor exhibits, a theater and a spiritual quest gallery, which includes the world's largest rosary collection.

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Lewis And Clark State Recreation Site

An Oregon state park site along the Sandy River in Troutdale, the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site consists of grassy areas, interpretive displays and fishing spots beside what the two explorers named "Quicksand River" as they paddled by in 1805. They picked the name after noting the treacherous sand bar at the confluence with the Columbia River. Over time it was shortened to "Sandy."

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Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge

North of Portland on the Washington side of the Columbia River, the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge was a campsite for the Corps of Discovery on their way to the Pacific. Clark was not a fan of the spot, complaining about geese and swans who made "horrid" noise all night. It was also where the duo encountered and traded with Chinookan people at a village called Cathlapotle. Today, visitors to the refuge can see a Cathlapotle plankhouse, which opens to the public on weekends between May and October.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Cape Disappointment

When the Corps of Discovery finally reached the mouth of the Columbia River at the Pacific Ocean, they stayed on the north side of the river at what today is Cape Disappointment, a Washington state park. There's a lot to see in the park, but you'll want to stop by the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center as well as McKenzie Head, which served as the duo's first oceanside campsite.

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Clark’s Tree

The northernmost point of the corps’ journey was to present-day Long Beach, Washington where Clark carved his name and the date into a tree by the ocean. That tree is long gone, but a bronze statue now stands in its place, found near the northern terminus of the paved Discovery Trail that runs alongside the ocean.

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John M. Vincent/The Oregonian

Lewis And Clark National Historical Park

After more than a week on the coast, the Corps of Discovery decided to leave their campsite on the north side of the river to go south and build a fort for the winter. For three months they stayed at Fort Clatsop, which they named after the local tribe. The Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in present day Warrenton not only has exhibits on the corps, but also a replica of the fort that gives a more intimate look into the life of the explorers.

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The Salt Works

By the time the Corps of Discovery reached the Pacific, they had run out of salt to season their food and preserve meat. The corps built a stone furnace at a site about 15 miles southwest of Fort Clatsop, where they boiled ocean water and came away with some 28 gallons of salt. A recreated salt works is found in downtown Seaside today, and is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Seaside Turnaround

One of the most recognizable landmarks on the Oregon coast, the Turnaround at the Seaside Promenade features a statue of Lewis and Clark, commemorating their arrival at the Pacific Ocean. It also happens to be a perfect spot to end the road trip, where you can enjoy the ocean view before turning around and heading back home.

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Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

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Find the places where Oregon gold rush miners found gold

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB