Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Oregon, Washington. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Lewis and Clark
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Lewis and Clark. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Lewis and Clark the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 67° in summer but only 20° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:55 AM | 8:43 AM | 4:09 PM | 4:57 PM | 240° | 9h 01m |
| February | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:42 PM | 253° | 10h 22m |
| March | 7:29 AM | 8:09 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:22 PM | 268° | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:30 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:23 PM | 8:03 PM | 285° | 13h 33m |
| May | 5:44 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:42 PM | 299° | 14h 58m |
| June | 5:24 AM | 6:11 AM | 8:23 PM | 9:10 PM | 306° | 15h 46m |
| July | 5:40 AM | 6:25 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:05 PM | 303° | 15h 25m |
| August | 6:16 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:27 PM | 292° | 14h 11m |
| September | 6:55 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:29 PM | 275° | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:34 AM | 8:15 AM | 5:50 PM | 6:31 PM | 259° | 10h 57m |
| November | 7:18 AM | 8:04 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:45 PM | 244° | 9h 27m |
| December | 7:53 AM | 8:43 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:31 PM | 236° | 8h 38m |
Computed for the park's reference point (46.2118, -123.9639); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Lewis and Clark, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 5:32 AM – 5:42 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| April | 3:34 AM – 4:34 AM | 1.0 | 14° |
| May | 1:28 AM – 3:18 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| June | 11:55 PM – 2:35 AM | 2.7 | 15° |
| July | 11:35 PM – 1:25 AM | 1.8 | 15° |
| August | 10:26 PM – 11:16 PM | 0.8 | 14° |
| September | 9:12 PM – 9:22 PM | 0.2 | 11° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
We see an average of 70 inches of rain a year and we are the foggiest location in the Lower 48 states. Summer months are usually nice with days ranging from 55-70 degrees. Winters are wet and mild, usually 40-55 degrees. During the 106 days the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered at Fort Clatsop in 1806 it rained all but 12 days and they saw the sun 6 times. While we are usually not so dreary make sure to prepare for rain or shine.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show July as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (81%). August is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $10.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
The main site of Fort Clatsop is located south of Astoria just over Youngs Bay, east of the town of Warrenton, and approximately 14 miles north of Seaside. Our satellite sites include: Netul Landing, located 1.25 miles south of the main Fort Clatsop site. Middle Village, located on the 101 left off the Astoria-Megler Bridge. Dismal Nitch, located on the 401 right off the Astoria-Megler Bridge. The Salt Works, located off the Lewis and Clark Way in Seaside, Oregon. Keep an eye out for brown signs.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Hunting and Gathering
- Gathering and Foraging
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
OR/WA
WA
WA
WA
WA