Lewis and Clark Portage

Located off Interstate 84 at Cascade Locks Marine Park. A spectacular Columbia River site portaged by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806. A huge landslide some thousands of years in the past blocked the Columbia Rivers progress downstream, thus forming a cascading waterfall about 6 miles long. The navigable river blocked at what had become known, in Lewis and Clark’s time as "The Cascades" and "Cascade Falls", near the present day Cascade Locks.

The blockage of the river caused great hardship to emigrants on the Oregon Trail. After nearly 7 months of trekking west through the wilderness, they found themselves, sick, exhausted and spent, at this great barrier less than 100 miles from their goal, the end of the Oregon Trail at Oregon City. The river water backed up all the way to The Dalles, about 40 miles.

Even though there was little or no river current to contend with upstream of the Cascades, westerly gale-force winds through the gorge made downstream progress very difficult. The rough and dangerous trail alongside the river also caused great hardship. The trail forced travelers to climb and descend many ridges on their way to the Cascades. Eventually, Samuel Barlow created a toll-road, The Barlow Road that bypassed the arduous river route.

Today’s visitors may experience the history of the Columbia Gorge and Mt Hood and learn about the Lewis & Clark Expedition at the Cascade Locks Historical Museum and on a cruise aboard the Sternwheeler Columbia Gorge. Visitors board from Marine Park at Cascade Locks, in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge Nat'l Scenic Area. Visitors may also relax and picnic in Marine Park or on Thunder Island. Travel the famous Bridge of the Gods between Cascade Locks, Oregon and Stevenson, Washington. RV accommodations and a marina are available.