The Ultimate Guide to Adventuring in Walla Walla

Walla Walla, Washington, and its surrounding area provides adventures and activities that are sure to engage and entertain all. Adventuring in Walla Walla can combine a blend of history, camping, and nature. Exploring part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a perfect way to experience adventuring in Walla Walla, where part of the almost 5,000 miles of trail is located.

Check out more options here that will detail what the Lewis and Clark Trail State Park offers to adventurers!

Details about the Park

Sixteen states are connected from east to west following the expedition of Lewis and Clark in the early 1800s. Situated along the shores of the Touchet River, the 37-acre park is shrouded in old-growth forest. Some of the same species of trees, ponderosa pines and cottonwoods, that Lewis and Clark described in their journals from 1805 and 1806 can be found.

When Lewis and Clark traveled through the West, they were assisted by members of the Nez Perce. Years after their encounter, the Nez Perce were forced from their homeland. Also located within this same park are parts of the Nez Perce National Historic Trails, which are sections of the trails used by the Nez Perce as they sought to escape.

The Bateman family is also another part of the park’s history. In 1864, the Bateman family assumed the land as part of homesteading. When you explore the site, you can find elements of the homesteaders.

Available Accommodations

There are amenities for those who want to visit for a day, and for those who would like to camp. 10,000 stones from the Touchet River were used to build the 1934 restrooms. The day-use kitchen shelter was also constructed during the Great Depression, but it does have electricity. At least fifty picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Overnight accommodations include two 16-foot in diameter teepees, which can be used from early April until October. You can make reservations for the structures that sleep up to eight. If you are traveling with a large group, there are two areas for up to fifty people in each. Tents are needed for Group Camp 1, or you can use a mix of RVs and tents in Group Camp 2. However, there are not any hookups available. Otherwise, there are twenty-four standard campsites that can fit RVs at the Lewis and Clark Trail State Park.  

Adventures Awaiting the Park’s Visitors

In addition to absorbing the history that occurred at the site, the park offers a respite from everyday living with its outdoor features. Hiking or walking trails will provide access to views of the incredible array of wildlife and birds that call the area home. Or you can sit and listen to the sounds of geese, ducks, and tundra swans. Keep an eye out for bald eagles who have more than thirty nests.

Since the park is along the Touchet River, fishing for rainbow trout is a popular activity for the anglers who visit. Be sure that you have a current Washington state fishing license! Swimming, tubing, and kayaking are also a perfect way to spend an afternoon on the water.