Above the Bridge of the Gods, the expedition paddles down a Columbia River made gentle by relatively recent geologic events. They see waterfalls, California condors, two trees new to science, and a sunken forest. Lewis visits a Watlala village, and they camp on an island above the Cascades of the Columbia.
Cascade on the Left Bank (1857)
James W. Alden
Northwest Boundary Commission, NARA-NWDNC.
Landslides
after eating a partial brackfast of venison we Set out passed Several places where the rocks projected into the river & have the appearance of haveing Seperated from the mountains and fallen promiscuisly into the river, Small nitches are formed in the banks below those projecting rocks which is comon in this part of the river
—William Clark
Four Waterfalls
Saw 4 Cascades caused by Small Streams falling from the mountains on the Lard. Side
—William Clark
Submerged Forest Opposite Stevenson, Washington
G.K. Gilbert, photographer, U.S. Geological Survey.
A Sunken Forest
a remarkable circumstance in this part of the river is, the Stumps of pine trees are in maney places are at Some distance in the river, and gives every appearance of the rivers being damed up below from Some cause which I am not at this time acquainted with
—William Clark
California Condors
this day we Saw Some fiew of the large Buzzard Capt. Lewis Shot at one, those Buzzards are much larger than any other of ther Spece or the largest Eagle white under part of their wings &c.
—William Clark
Cascades of the Columbia (1929)
To see labels, point to the image.
Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Label text:
- Canal and lock (1896)
- Bridge of the Gods (1926)
- Toe of Bonneville Landslide
- Portage
- Upper rapids
- 1805 Island Camp?
Cascades of the Columbia
I took two men and walked down three miles to examine the Shute I found by examonation that we must make a portage of the greater perpotion of our Stores 2½ miles, and the Canoes we Could haul over the rocks
—William Clark
Watlala Villagers
Cap L. informed me that he found the [Watlala] nativs kind, they gave him berries, nuts & fish to eate; but he could get nothing from them in the way of information. The greater part of the inhabitants of this village being absent down the river Some distance Colecting roots Capt. L. Saw one gun and Several articles which must have been precured from the white people.
—William Clark
Bridge of the Gods
The Bridge of the Gods refers to the natural land bridge created by the Bonneville Slide. Klickitat lore explains how brothers Wy’east (Mt. Hood) and Pahto (Mt. Adams) battled over the beautiful Loowit (Mt. St. Helens) and a subsequent earthquake created the Cascades of the Columbia, a temporary land bridge, and the sunken forest.[1]“Bridge of the Gods (land bridge),” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_the_Gods_(land_bridge) accessed 16 June 2024.a
New Species of Ash
a wet disagreeable evening, the only wood we could get to burn on this little Island on which we have encamped is the newly discovered Ash, which makes a tolerable fire. we made fifteen miles to daye.
—William Clark
Weather Diary
Day of the month Wind State of the Weather 30th S E. rain after rain rained moderately all day. arrived at the Grand rapids. Saw a different Species of ash
—William Clark[2]Some abbreviations have been spelled out.
Notes
| ↑1 | “Bridge of the Gods (land bridge),” Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_of_the_Gods_(land_bridge) accessed 16 June 2024.a |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Some abbreviations have been spelled out. |
Experience the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Lewis and Clark Trail Experience—our sister site at lewisandclark.travel—connects the world to people and places on the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
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- Yellowstone Public Radio
Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).