Montage of Washington State Park scenes
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Cape Disappointment State Park – Clark's Trip to the Ocean

1805 – On the Cape

Clark and his party of 11 men hiked from Station Camp to Cape Disappointment on Nov. 18. The last mile of their hike to the ocean was through present-day Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby State Park).

As Clark and his party reached the narrow part of the cape, Clark wrote, "I crossed the neck of Land low and ½ of a mile wide to the main Ocian."

View of Cape Disappointment's Waikiki Beach - rocky outcropping into the Pacific Ocean

They reached the open ocean at today's Waikiki Beach, near the main entrance to the park. After climbing to the top of a "high open hill projecting into the ocian" (today's McKenzie Head), they camped for the night on the beach.

With obvious contentment, Clark wrote, "Men appear much Satisfied with their trip beholding with estonishment the high waves dashing against the rocks & this emence ocian."

In the morning, the party hiked "through ruged Country of high hills and Steep hollers" to explore more of the landscape now in the state park, and then to the long "Sandy coast" that stretched to the north. During Clark's journey to Cape Disappointment, he realized that the exposed north shore would not serve for a winter encampment.


Trading Beads for Fur

After returning to Station Camp, trade was lively between the Corps of Discovery and the Chinook Indians.

Close up photo of actual sea otter pelt

"One of the Indians had on a roab made of 2 Sea Otter Skins" noted Clark, "the fur of them were more butifull than any fur I had ever Seen." Desiring this robe, the Captains traded away Sacagawea's belt with blue beads on it.

Cape Disappointment State Park is a large park that offers many amenities. If you are interested in history, the newly renovated Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center should be first on your list of stops.




History of the journey through Washington The Corps of Discovery Enters Washington Sacajawea State Park – Reaching the Columbia River at Last! Proceeding Down the Columbia Maryhill State Park – At the East End of the Gorge Columbia Hills State Park – Between the Long and Short Narrows Doug's Beach State Park – The Friendly Village Beacon Rock State Park – A Remarkable Rock Approaching the Coast Station Camp State Park – End of the Voyage Fort Columbia State Park – Over the Rocky Point Cape Disappointment State Park – Clark's Trip to the Ocean A Shortcut on the Way Home Lewis and Clark Trail State Park – On the Overland Shortcut

  1. History of the journey through Washington
  2. The Corps of Discovery Enters Washington
  3. Sacajawea State Park – Reaching the Columbia River at Last!
  4. Proceeding Down the Columbia
  5. Maryhill State Park – At the East End of the Gorge
  6. Columbia Hills State Park – Between the Long and Short Narrows
  7. Doug's Beach State Park – The Friendly Village
  1. Beacon Rock State Park – A Remarkable Rock
  2. Approaching the Coast
  3. Station Camp State Park – End of the Voyage
  4. Fort Columbia State Park – Over the Rocky Point
  5. Cape Disappointment State Park – Clark's Trip to the Ocean
  6. A Shortcut on the Way Home
  7. Lewis and Clark Trail State Park – On the Overland Shortcut


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