SAUVIE ISLAND. Just north of Portland's grandiose St. John's Bridge, along Highway 30, you'll find this enormous park. The Corps of Discovery explored this island a little as they came down the Columbia. It holds the distinction of being the only L&C site that has a nude beach.

COLUMBIA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM. Learn about the Corps' campsite and activities along the Columbia. 511 E Bridge Street, Vernonia. 503-429-3713.

PRESCOTT BEACH COUNTY PARK. The Corps spent the night near here on Nov. 5, 1805, just upstream from present-day Rainier - and about a mile from St. Helens. Their campsite of November 6, 1805, was near Cape Horn in Wahkiakum County, Washington.

JULIA BULTER HANSEN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. On the Washington side, Lewis & Clark notated scientific descriptions of various wildlife here. On Highway 4, in Cathlamet, Washington.

ASTORIA AND ASTORIA COLUMN. There are no actual Lewis & Clark sites in this charming and ultra-atmospheric town, but it's full of numerous other time-traveling opportunities. The Astoria Column has a mural that talks about the Corps' time here, and the hill it resides on is also the birthplace of cable TV. There are several historical museums and loads of Victorian mansions. www.oldoregon.com.

MEGLER REST AREA. The Corps was trapped here by a winter storm for five miserable days in late November of 1805, nicknamed Clark's Dismal Nitch. Highway 401, Washington.

STATION CAMP. This park, near Chinook, Washington, was where they settled down to camp and spotted the ocean for the first time - or so they thought - with Clark writing "Ocian in view! O! the joy" on November 7. In fact, what they were seeing was the limitless horizon, unbounded by any more bends in the river. The ocean was still 20 miles away. This was also where the famous vote was taken later in November - the first to include votes by a woman and a black man.

FORT COLUMBIA STATE PARK and CAPE DISAPPOINTMENT. Lewis was the first to romp up this headland and spot the ocean. Later, on November 18, Clark and a handful of men come here and spot the ocean for the first time. Clark carves his name next to Lewis' on a tree. Highway 101, Chinook, Washington.

ILWACO HERITAGE MUSEUM. An interpretive center with loads of L&C information. Ilwaco, Washington.

FORT CLATSOP NATIONAL MEMORIAL. Just south of Astoria, this is where the Corps established winter camp from December 1805 to March 1806. The replica of the fort burned down recently, but the visitor center is still opening and providing a huge amount of information. Of the 112 days they stayed here, only 12 were without rain. Off Highway 101, east of Warrenton.

SEASIDE SALT WORKS. From January to February 1806, one group from the Corps went to the beaches of Seaside and boiled sea water for salt. The site is considered to be the exact spot by historians. Look for Lewis & Clark Way to find the replica of the boiling structure. Seaside.

TILLAMOOK HEAD. Clark and a party of 13 meandered over the headland to check out a beached whale in Cannon Beach. Clark flowered over one viewpoint here in his journals, blessed with clear, sunny weather. There is a monument to him along this six-mile trail to Cannon Beach.

ECOLA STATE PARK. Wander the same trail as Clark, his men and Sacagawea on their way to the creek and the beached whale. Incredible views are to be had here. Cannon Beach.

LES SHIRLEY PARK. At the northern end of Cannon Beach, just north of downtown and the bridge, you'll find this park commemorating the spot with the beached whale - which was on the north side of Ecola Creek. It's considered to be the southernmost point the Corps traveled.

WHALE PARK. A gazebo-like structure at the entrance to downtown Cannon Beach, close to the beach, features a whale sculpture, commemorating the whale on the other side of the creek.

NEHALEM BAY. Or did the Corps of Discovery stop at Cannon Beach? There is a rogue (and convincing) theory Clark and the 13 came to 45 miles south of Fort Clatsop and not 25 miles, which would've brought them to the mouth of the Nehalem Bay. Come explore this stunning area and check out the insistence of the natives they were the Corps' last stop. Call Garry Gitzen for more at (503) 368-7959.