Portland, Oregon Area Loop
City of Roses

On May 8, 2010, Lewis & Clark College dedicated a 6′ brass sculpture, York: Terra Incognita, created by artist Alison Saar. It is located near the Aubrey Watzek Library on campus. The library is a major repository of Lewis & Clark Expedition books, housing the Dr. Eldon Chuinard collection and archives, which the author of “Only One Man Died: The Medical Aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition” donated in 1986; the collection of construction worker, reenactor, and Lewis & Clark bibliophile Roger Wendlick, acquired by the library in 1998; Lewis & Clark Expedition scholar Irving Anderson’s collection, donated by his family in 2000; and that of George H. Tweney, a book seller and collector. All four gentlemen were very active in the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, now the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance.

The Oregon Historical Society Museum contains many items of great historical value. Its logo is based on the peace medals that Lewis & Clark once bestowed on native chiefs. The actual Portland Penny, used in a coin flip to determine the name of the largest city of Oregon, is prominently displayed. Indian artifacts and crafts play a significant role in the museum’s collection. But the Meriwether Lewis branding iron that was found in the Dalles area in the 1890s is what makes a stop here truly special.

Lewis & Clark called it Wapato Island after an edible plant that grew there in profusion. Modern maps label it Sauvie Island after a French fur trader who exploited the animal resources found there. No matter what it’s called, a modern visitor can enjoy outdoor activities on the largest island in the Columbia River.

Catch US 30 north out of downtown Portland and in a few miles take the Wapato bridge to access the island. You’ll find farmstands offering fresh produce as well as a paradise for birdwatchers, beach-goers, kayakers, hikers, and bikers. Collins Beach near the north end of the island is clothing-optional. A parking permit is required on Sauvie Island at all non-commercial spots, including trailheads and the beaches. A day-use permit is $10. (Mt. St. Helens as seen from Sauvie Island. Photo credit: Mark Graves – The Oregonian)

If you want a close-up experience with nature but would prefer to stay in your car, drive the four-mile loop at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. This one-way, four-mile scenic loop will give you the chance to see a variety of wildlife up close in their natural habitat. While the scenic drive is open all year round, if you are visiting between October 1 and April 30 you will have to stay in your vehicle. In that season though, the wildlife gets used to cars and you will be able to watch them from the comfort of your vehicle. From May 1 to September 30, you are allowed to get out of your vehicle and hike any of the trails along this route. The refuge is home to many birds including ducks, geese, swans, hawks, and even eagles. You may even see deers, coyotes, otters, beavers and nutrias.

Lewis & Clark met with the local tribes on both the outgoing and homebound journey, Today, the Cathlapotle Plankhouse plays an important role in the life and community of the Cathlapotle Nation and other Chinookan tribes. It also serves as an outdoor education center and is used by tribal members for special events throughout the year. If you would like to see inside the plankhouse, find an Cathlapotle Plankouse event at https://ridgefieldfriends.org/plankhouse/.

Curving over WA 14 and connecting Fort Vancouver National Historic Site with access to the Columbia River, the Vancouver Land Bridge is the most prominent of the works in the Confluence Project. Maya Lin created the overall design but she also relied on the contributions of two skillful collaborators. It was dedicated on August 23, 2008.

Architect and landscape architect Johnpaul Jones, designer of the Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, designed the bridge. Visitors first arriving from the river side encounter the Entry Grove and sculptural Welcome Gate. Native hardwood trees represent the original riparian forest, the first of four native ecosystems planted in a continuum from one side of the Bridge to the other. Two crossed cedar canoe paddles atop cedar logs form the Welcome Gate, created by Native artist Lillian Pitt. A cast-glass face of a Lower Columbia River woman is set into the blade of each paddle.

As pedestrians ascend the ramp onto the curved Bridge, they find the first of three overlooks, which each contain a steel Spirit Basket also created by Lillian Pitt. The River Overlook features a view of the river and the land beyond. Native shrubs obscure the highway underneath. Images reminiscent of ancient petroglyphs from the Columbia River Gorge area are cut into the Spirit Basket. The word “River” is inscribed on steel panels in nine different Native languages.

The Prairie Overlook next features plants that represent a dry prairie native ecosystem. Another Spirit Basket by Pitt with different petroglyphic images makes an appearance and the Language Walk contains the word “Land” written in nine different languages.

The Village Overlook likewise boasts the word “People” in nine languages. It looks down on an unexcavated area that contained a village where different ethnic groups dwelt, traded, and mingled.

See the Confluence Inspiration Trip for more ideas of things to see and do in the town of Vancouver or hop onto I-5 South and head back into Portland.