In the Wake of Lewis and Clark

Day-to-Day Itinerary

DAY 1 — Portland, Oregon/Embark Ship

In the late afternoon, embark the ship and cruise the lower part of the Willamette River, passing under the many bridges and through the center of picturesque Portland, before reaching the Columbia River.

DAY 2 — Eastern Washington’s Wine Country

Awake this morning to the colorful plateaus east of the sweeping Cascade Mountains, an area famous for its expanding wine industry. As we travel on, the Columbia completely changes character. A well-watered landscape gives way to gracefully taperedbuttes and semi-arid steppes. A series of locks will lift the ship higer and higher into desert-hued canyons. At the entrance to the Snake River, we pass between banks formed by the largest basalt flow in the world.

DAY 3 — Clarkston

At Clarkston, we find ourselves at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. Today, we have two choices of activities. One option is to travel by comfortable jetboat up the Snake River, into Hell’s Canyon. We stop to take in the old homesteads and the ever-changing geology of the river, and look for Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep. At Buffalo Eddy we see petroglyphs etched by the Native Americans. Or you can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Clearwater River, visiting several of their actual campsites. Led by our local historian, we learn about their relationship with the Nez Perce. We observe the rocks exposed in the shallow waters, recognizing them as the dangerous obstacles that nearly sunk one of the Corps of Discovery’s newly hewn canoes.

DAY 4 — Exploring the Palouse River

The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off on our morning Zodiac cruises and kayak adventures in a dramatic, cliff-laden landscape formed 12,000 years ago by the "Bretz Flood," a catastrophic natural event. Later, travel by motor coach to Palouse Falls, where cascading waters plunge into pools below. As we travel, we search for the mule deer, American coots, western grebes, great blue herons and graceful cormorants that are often seen here. This evening, we sail down the Snake River, enjoying a barbecue on deck.

DAY 5 — Columbia River Gorge and Hood River

Venture through the Columbia River Gorge. Here we encounter the 620-foot high Multnomah Falls. These are the most popular scenic attraction in Oregon and it’s easy to see why. The Corps of Discovery wrote in the journals about the many falls along this Gorge. At the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, we learn about the cataclysmic geological origins of the gorge, the region’s diverse ecology and its 10,000-year-old rich human history. This area was once home to Celilo Falls where Lewis and Clark described a gathering of some 10,000 natives who came to fish and trade from the far corners of the Pacific Northwest. When the river was harnessed for hydropower, navigation, irrigation and flood control, the Celilo Falls were drowned. Hood River, one of the towns we pass through, is the windsurfing capital of the world because of its almost constant gusts.

DAY 6 — Astoria

We end our journey in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark by navigating the Columbia to the mouth of the river at Astoria. At Fort Clatsop, where explorers hunkered down for the wet winter of 1805-1806, we walk through the full-scale reconstructed fort. The Columbia River Maritime Museum chronicles the history of river navigation and this port town, the epicenter of the fur trading empire in the early 1800s. A series of fascinating displays about the many shipwrecks in the area is especially intriguing. The beautiful scene here is so at odds with the descriptions Lewis and Clark gave of their terrible winter. For an even better view, we can climb the 160 steps to the top of Astor Column.

DAY 7 — Portland/Disembark

Our modern day expedition ends in Portland. After breakfast onboard, we travel to the airport for homeward-bound flights.

Dates & Rates

*Private Balcony

Map

Ships

National Geographic Sea Bird

National Geographic Sea Bird can reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to its small size, yet each comfortably accommodates 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. The feeling, we’re told, is often compared to that of a large private yacht, with everyone integral to the adventure. Accessibility means freedom. Our captains have decades of sailing experience in the regions we explore. They know when and where to navigate so that you feel the places we visit are all ours. View ship details...

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