South Clatsop Slough Scramble

ASTORIA ­ As Tough as Lewis and Clark, and the People They Met!

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park celebrates the community's newest trail with a free fun run & hike Saturday, September 25th. The trail overlooks the recently restored historic South Clatsop Slough. Runners and hikers will cover the kind of steep terrain the explorers wrote about in their journals, terrain that the native Clatsop people covered with agility and speed.

"We want our trails to let people experience the northwest coast the way people have experienced it for thousands of years ­ on footpaths"� said park Superintendent David Szymanski. "This new trail is a great addition to the Fort to Sea Trail and the accessible Netul River Trail and, in fact, connects the two."

Park maintenance employees put the finishing touches this week on the South Clatsop Slough Trail, which was constructed during the summer with Recovery Act funds. The project allowed the park to hire eight Youth Conservation Corps employees and two trail workers. The local teens helped to cut, grade and gravel the new hiking trail and will be invited to participate in the opening event Sept. 25.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. at the north end of the Netul Landing and travels a roughly three mile loop through the park. Though the Clatsop went barefoot and the explorers wore only moccasins, modern-day runners and hikers might want more raction. Wear the shoes you would wear for a challenging trail run or hike. Hikers are welcome to carry walking sticks.

The event will be held rain or shine.

Registration forms for the scramble are available online, or at the Visitor Center. You can also register at the race start on the day of the scramble, from 9 to 9:45 a.m. While there is no cost to participate, T-shirts will be available for sale for $16 the day of the event. The route is not accessible for a wheelchair or stroller. Please, no pets.


The Scramble is sponsored by the Lewis & Clark National Park Association, which supports park education and interpretative activities. For more information, please go to the park website, or call (503) 861-2471, Ext. 214.