Catherine Creek Trailhead - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

509.493.3630

Dogs on leash in Catherine Creek planning area year round. Dogs on leash in Coyote/Bourdian planning areas December 1st through June 30th. Horses may use Coyote/Bourdian planning areas May 1st through November 30th. Horse party size can't exceed 8 horses. Catherine Creek planning area closed to mountain bikes. Mountain bikes and horses must stay on designated trails.

lat: 45.7105172 long: -121.3620813

This is one of the premier areas for early spring wildflower viewing in the eastern Columbia River Gorge. There is a seasonal waterfall here as well. The trailhead and parking is located on the north side of the county road, leading to a multi-use biker/hiker/equestrian trail.

Visitors can carefully cross the county road to reach the south side Catherine Creek Trail #4400, an accessible one mile paved loop trail with incredible views of the Columbia River. Benches and interpretive signage are scattered along the path.

The site was once a ranch before being acquired by the Forest Service to protect native plants, the unique arch formation, and other sensitive resources after the creation of the National Scenic Area.

(Discover Pass is required for parking.)

Catherine Creek from viewpoint

Catherine Creek from viewpoint

Wildflowers and scenic drives

Wildflowers and scenic drives

Wildflowers at Catherine Creek

Wildflowers at Catherine Creek

Mt. Hood in Oregon over the river

Mt. Hood in Oregon over the river

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Syncline Winery

Syncline Winery

Syncline Winery, Balch Road, Lyle, WA, USA
Distance: 1.55 Away

Food and Drinks Wineries

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Analemma Wines

Analemma Wines

Analemma Wines, State Road, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 1.99 Away

Food and Drinks Wineries

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Root Orchards

Root Orchards

Root Orchards, Root Road, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 2.46 Away

Food and Drinks Farms

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Brenna’s Mosier Market

Brenna’s Mosier Market

Brenna's Mosier Market, 1st Avenue, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 2.56 Away

Food and Drinks Shopping

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COR Cellars

COR Cellars

Cor Cellars, Old Highway 8, Lyle, WA, USA
Distance: 2.92 Away

Food and Drinks Wineries

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Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: Twin Tunnels

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail: Twin Tunnels

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail, Rock Creek Road, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 3.06 Away

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Runcible Cider

Runcible Cider

Runcible Cider, Quartz Drive, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 3.55 Away

Food and Drinks Breweries and Distilleries Farms

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Rowena Crest Viewpoint

Rowena Crest Viewpoint

Rowena Crest Viewpoint, Historic Columbia River Highway, Mosier, OR, USA
Distance: 3.59 Away

Outdoor Experiences Viewpoints

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Lopez Farm

Lopez Farm

1120 Gem Lane, Mosier, Oregon 97040, USA
Distance: 3.65 Away

Food and Drinks Farms

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Tribal Salmon – Lyle, WA

Tribal Salmon – Lyle, WA

Lyle, WA, USA
Distance: 3.80 Away

Food and Drinks Tribal Experiences

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The Lyle Hotel Restaurant & Bar

The Lyle Hotel Restaurant & Bar

The Lyle Hotel, Seventh Street, Lyle, WA, USA
Distance: 4.02 Away

Food and Drinks Bars Lodging

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The Society Hotel

The Society Hotel

The Society Hotel Hood River - Bingen, Cedar Street, Bingen, WA, USA
Distance: 4.81 Away

Food and Drinks Shopping Lodging

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Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota