Lewis and Clark's Columbia River
Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Lake River, Washington"
Includes ... Lake River ... "Vancouver Slough" ... Ridgefield ... Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge ...
Image, 2003, Lake River from Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River from Ridgefield, Washington. Lake River looking downstream, as seen from the Kayak Launch, Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken, September 13, 2003.


Lake River ...
Lake River is an 11-mile-long channel on the Washington side of the Columbia River running parallel to the Columbia. Lake River originates at Vancouver Lake to the south at Columbia River Mile (RM) 98, and then merges with the Columbia at the northern tip of Bachelor Island at RM 88. Sections of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge border the entire length of Lake River and the community of Ridgefield lies along the ridge to the east. Lake River flows past Campbell Lake, Post Office Lake, Green Lake, and Shillapoo Lake. It is named after its source, Vancouver Lake.

Lewis and Clark and Lake River ...
On November 5, 1805 Lewis and Clark passed an island which they called the island "Green Bryor Isd" (today's Bachelor Island), separated from the shore by a "narrow Chanel". Today the upper end of this channel is known as "Bachelor Island Slough" and the lower end is "Lake River".

"... N.30oW. 3 miles    to the South West Side of an Island Seperated from the Stard. Side by a narrow channel    river widens to about 1 1/2 miles    Green bryor Isl.. [Clark, November 5, 1805, first draft]

"... passed an Isld. Covered with tall trees & green briers Seperated from the Stard. Shore by a narrow Chanel at 9 miles    I observed on the Chanel which passes on the Stard Side of this Island a Short distance above its lower point is Situated a large village, the front of which occupies nearly 1/4 of a mile fronting the Chanel, and closely Connected, I counted 14 houses in front    here the river widens to about 1 1/2 miles." [Clark, November 5, 1805]

Campsite of March 29, 1806 ...
On their return in 1806, Lewis and Clark camped on the banks of Lake River, in a beautiful meadow upsteam of a village of 14 houses, today referred to as the "Cathlapotle village". Lewis and Clark's camp is known as "Wapato Portage".

[Wapato Portage]
[Cathlapotle Village]


Cathlapotle Village and Plankhouse Replica ...
Lewis and Clark first pass by the Cathlapotle Village on November 5, 1805, and then on March 29, 1806, on their return, they stop to visit and camp nearby. Today a 37 by 78-foot replica of a Chinook plankhouse has been built at the Ridgefield Refuge. Two hundred and fifty-six logs split into 305 planks went into building the house. The plankhouse foundation was prepared during Summer 2003 and the house was completed with opening ceremony on March 29, 2005, the 199th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's visit.

[Cathlapotle Village]
[Plankhouse Replica]


Image, 2009, Ridgefield NWR, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Cathlapotle Village plankhouse location, Ridgefield NWR, Washington. Portland State University professor talking about Village history. Flagged tree shows the location of the northeast corner of the early plankhouse. Image taken, October 10, 2009.
Image, 2005, Cathlapotle Plankhouse click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Front, Cathlapotle Plankhouse replica, Carty Unit, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Image taken, April 27, 2005


Charles Wilkes and Lake River ...
In 1841 Charles Wilkes of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, visited Vancouver and the surrounding areas. He called today's Lake River the "Callepuya".
[More]

"... One afternoon, we rode with Mr. Douglass to visit the dairy-farm, which lies to the west of Vancouver, on the Callepuya. This was one of the most beautiful rides I had yet taken, through fine prairies, adorned with large oaks, ash, and pines. ... " [Wilkes, May 1841]

"... At Warrior Point we entered the Callepuya, for the purpose of avoiding the current of the river. At this time of the year this branch forms and extensive range of lakes, which reaches to within a mile of Vancouver. The river was now high enough to make it convenient for us to take his route. Shortly after entering the Callepuya, we were obliged to encamp, which we did in rather an inauspicious-looking place; but the bank had not yet absorbed sufficient moisture tomake it even wet or damp. ... On the approach to Vancouver, we passed one of the dairies, and some rich meadow-land, on which were grazing herds of fine cattle. We afterwards saw some flocks of sheep of the best English and Spanish breeds. ... It becoming necessary to make a short portage within a mile of Vancouver, we concluded to walk thither by the road ... " [Wilkes, May 1841]

Early Lake River and Ridgefield, Washington ...
Throughout history Lake River has had many names, including "Calapuya Creek", "Calipaya Inlet", "Vancouver Slough", and "Lake River".

On March 29, 1806, Lewis and Clark camped on the mainland shore of Lake River just upstream of the location where the Lewis River and Lake River meet the Columbia. Today this campsite is known as Wapato Portage.

In 1841, Charles Wilkes, of the U.S. Exploring Expedition called Lake River "Calapuya Creek" or the "Callepuya" (see above).

The 1854 cadastral survey (tax survey) for T4N R1W, shows "Columbia Island" (Bachelor Island) and "Vancouver Slough" (Lake River). The Carty homestead is located on the east bank of Lake River, south of the junction of Lake River and Bachelor Island Slough, at the location of today's lower tip of Carty Lake. Carty Lake is presumed to be the small unnamed lake near the Carty homestead.

The 1860 and 1862 Washington Territory's cadastral surveys for T3N R1W, also call Lake River "Vancouver Slough".

The 1881 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey's Chart No.5, "Kalama to Fales Landing" and the 1888 Chart No.6, "Fales Landing to Portland" have Lake River listed as "Lake River". Carty Lake is depicted but unnamed, and closer to the location of today.

The 1888, U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey's "Columbia River Sheet No.6, Fales Landing to Portland" (Chart No.6145) shows "Post Office Lake", "Lake River", and "Shallowpool Lake" (Shillapoo Lake). Between Shillapoo Lake and the Columbia River is a stretch labeled "Upper Willow Bar" which runs from "Knapp's Landg" (Knapp Landing) on the north to "Hewlett's Pt." (Hewlett Point) on the south. This corresponds to today's Caterpillar Island and Frenchmans Bar.

An 1888 Plat Map of "Clarke County" has Lake River named "Lake River" and a Post Office at today's Ridgefield called "Union Ridge". Donation Land Claims (DLC) were F. Shobart (DLC) south of town, A. Quigley (DLC) north of town, and J. Carty (DLC) in the are of today's Carty Lake.


Views from NW Krieger Road ...

Image, 2015, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River (upper water) as seen from NW Krieger Road, Ridgefield, Washington. Swampy ponds are visible in the middleground. Image taken February 13, 2015.
Image, 2015, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River (middle water) as seen from NW Krieger Road, Ridgefield, Washington. Swampy ponds are visible in the foreground and Campbell Lake is behind the trees. Image taken February 13, 2015.


Views from Ridgefield ...

Image, 2013, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River as seen from Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken October 6, 2013.
Image, 2013, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River recreation, Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken October 6, 2013.
Image, 2013, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River gage house, Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken October 6, 2013.
Image, 2013, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River as seen from Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken October 6, 2013.
Image, 2013, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River looking upstream, as seen from Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken October 6, 2013.
Image, 2013, Lake River, Ridgefield, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River looking downstream, as seen from Ridgefield, Washington. Image taken October 6, 2013.


Views from Ridgefield Refuge Bridge ...

Image, 2006, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Bridge across Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. Looking west, River "S" Unit. Image taken, November 25, 2006.
Image, 2006, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. Looking upstream from wooden bridge, at Ridgefield NWR River "S" Unit. Image taken, November 25, 2006.
Image, 2006, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. Looking downstream from wooden bridge, at Ridgefield NWR River "S" Unit. Image taken, November 25, 2006.
Image, 2006, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Reflections, Fall colors, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. View at Ridgefield NWR River "S" Unit. Image taken, November 25, 2006.
Image, 2006, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Fall colors, Lake River, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Washington. View at Ridgefield NWR River "S" Unit. Image taken, November 25, 2006.


Lake River, etc.

  • Buckmire Slough ...
  • Lake River Post Office ...
  • Salmon Creek ...


Buckmire Slough ...
Buckmire Slough is a three-mile-long slough of the Vancouver Lake Lowlands and follows on the west side of Vancouver Lake. The slough enters Lake River at Lake eleven miles up from its confluence with the Columbia River.
[More]

Image, 2018, Buckmire Slough, Vancouver Lake Lowlands, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Buckmire Slough looking downstream, Vancouver Lake Lowlands, Washington. Image taken February 24, 2018.


Lake River Post Office ...
The 1859 "Official Register of the United States" (U.S. Government Printing Office) lists the "Lake River" Post Office with M.R. Hathaway as Postmaster (2 quarters) and Jeremiah S. Hathaway Postmaster (2 quarters).

According to Cark Landerholm's 1960 publication "Vancouver Area Chronology, 1784-1958", the April 10, 1861 "Morning Oregonian" listed the post offices of Clarke County as Fisher's Landing, Lake River, Vancouver, and Washougal.

The 1862 and 1864 "Official Register of the United States" (U.S. Government Printing Office) lists the "Lake River" Post Office with S.R. Whipple as Postmaster.

The 1866 "Official Register" does not have Lake River listed.



Salmon Creek ...
Salmon Creek merges with Lake River at Lake River Mile (RM) 9. Salmon Creek Regional Park/Klineline Pond is located six miles up Salmon Creek. The park features 35 acres of developed parkland and 368 acres of undeveloped green space featuring bottomlands, wetlands, and forested hillsides.
[More]

Image, 2018, Salmon Creek, Vancouver, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Salmon Creek drainage, Vancouver, Washington. View looking east from NW 36th Avenue, at approximately Salmon Creek Mile 2.5. Image taken, September 3, 2018.


From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, November 5, 1805 ...



Vancouver PlainsReturn to
Menu		  





*River Miles [RM] are approximate, in statute miles, and were determined from USGS topo maps, obtained from NOAA nautical charts, or obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website, 2003

Source:
  • Hitchman, 1985, Place Names of Washington, Washington State Historical Society;
  • NOAA Office of Coast Survey website, 2005, Historical Map and Chart Collection;
  • Oregon Bureau of Land Management website, 2005;
  • "Rootsweb.com" website, 2005;
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, website, 2005, "Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge";
  • U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) database, 2006;


All Lewis and Clark quotations from Gary Moulton editions of the Lewis and Clark Journals, University of Nebraska Press, all attempts have been made to type the quotations exactly as in the Moulton editions, however typing errors introduced by this web author cannot be ruled out; location interpretation from variety of sources, including this website author.
/Regions/Places/lake_river.html
September 2008