Accessibility

Rangers at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park are committed to improving accessibility of trails and facilities so they can be enjoyed by all visitors. If you have questions or suggestions about accessibility, please e-mail us, or call us at [phone].

Service Animals

Qualified service animals trained to assist people with disabilities are allowed in throughout the park and in all park facilities. Service animals must be leashed. For the definition of a service animal please visit the Department of Justice ADA webpage.When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person's disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

Accessible Media

The park has large print brochures, braille brochures, and an audio description of the brochure available for use.

All the park's films are available in open caption format. Assisted listening devices (ALDs) are also available. Please ask at the front desk for this service.

Accessible Features

There are scooters and wheelchairs available for loan that can be utilized within the visitor center and to take from the visitor center to the fort replica and to the historic canoe landing. Please inquire about availability at the front desk.

Program Accessibility

Interpretive Rangers at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park strive to make programs as accessible to the public as possible through describing their actions and providing tactile elements to their programs. If you would like to request an ASL interpreter for a scheduled program, please e-mail your request and include your program, date and time at least one week in advance of the program. You may also mail your request to ATTN: Interpretation, 92343 Fort Clatsop Rd. Astoria, OR 97103. Please ensure if sending by mail that it is sent in advance of the one week.

Access Pass

The free Access Pass is available for all U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. This pass covers admission at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, BLM sites, and more. The Access Pass also provides a discount on some federal facilities and services fees, such as camping. The pass generally does not apply to special recreation permit fees or fees at businesses in the parks. To get your pass, ask at the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center front desk or purchase one online. You’ll be asked to sign a form confirming your eligibility. Medical documentation is not required.

 

 

Fort Clatsop Visitor Center

Physical/mobility access:

• Scooter and wheelchair loans
• Seating in the front lobby and exhibit hall

Deaf/ loss of hearing access:

• Open captions on two park films and one display video
• Assisted Listening Devices can be borrowed fromt he front desk for use during park films and for interpretive programs given by rangers.

Blind/low vision access:

• Large print and braille park brochures are available at the front desk.
• Tactile elements in the exhibit hall include the Arrival Statue and an animal hides exibit. A small model of Fort Clatsop can also be requested at the front desk.

Noises and quiet spaces:

• The Fort Clatsop Visitor Center though not usually loud can become crowded and noisy, particularly in the Spring when school field trip visitation is high.
• The Netul River Room though sometimes in use for meetings throughout the year and the site for Kid Corps every Wednesday during the summer can be utilized as a quiet space.

 

Fort Clatsop Exhibit

Physical/mobility access:

• An accessible route of poured concrete and bark chips exists between the visitor center and Fort Clatsop Exhibit.
• Motor Scooters and wheel chairs can be borrowed from the front desk of the Fort Clatsop Visitor Center.
• Wheel chair and motor scooters are able to access the Orderly Room of the fort which looks in to the captain's quarters.

Deaf/ loss of hearing access:

• See information under program accessibility at the top of the page.

Blind/low vision access:

• Descriptions of and information about the fort and its rooms can be accessed through a cell phone audio tour or from our multimedia page.

Noises and quiet spaces:

• Though not typically noisy the Fort Exhibit can be crowded in the Spring and Summer.
• During Summer and Winter ranger programs flintlock muzzle loading demonstrations happen three times a day. A warning will be given about the loud noise if you are taking part in the talk, but the sound can be heard from across the park.
• The spring loop behind the fort will take you to a small platform over a freshwater spring. This area is typically calm and quiet.
• Early morning right at opening and later in the day tend to be quieter and less crowded.

 

Netul Landing

Physical/mobility access:

• Parking lots at both the North and South Netul Landing have accessible parking spaces.

 

Middle Village

Physical/mobility access:

• Accessible parking is available.
• Ramps are provided for elevated area and the small trail is level and stable.

Blind/low vision access:

• Tactile raised reliefs of historical items and maps at some waysides.

 

Salt Works

No parking is provided at Salt Works which is right off Lewis and Clark Way. The trail leading up to the exhibit and wayside is poured concrete.

 

Dismal Nitch

Physical/mobility access:

• Accessible parking available
• Small loop trail of poured concrete of less than 2% slope.

Blind/low vision access:

• Tactile bronze relief depicting the Expedition at Dismal Nitch and a canoe of Chinook navigating the rough waters in a high prow canoe.

 

Trails

Although no trails at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park are designated accessible, individuals with physical mobility disabilities often enjoy the trails using sport wheelchairs and motor scooters. Please see accessibility information at the bottom of each trail page for specifics of the trail including substrate, steep slopes, hazards and rest areas.

Clay Pit Pond Primitive Trail
Fort to Sea Trail
Kwis Kwis Trail
Netul River Trail
South Slough Trail

For specific inquiries please e-mail the Lewis and Clark NHP Accessibility Contact or call [phone]. We also advise you stop in at the front desk to show your pass and hear any trail condition updates.