Eagle Cliff in Wahkiakum County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
"bold rockey Shore"
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 10, 2026
1. "bold rockey Shore" Marker
"Camped on a Bed of Stones"
On November 6, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition paddled down this section of the Columbia River in search of a suitable location to make the evening camp. The rocky shore, dense forests, and "high and rugid" terrain made it difficult to find a "suffcently large and leavil" area for 33 people to camp.
After traveling 29 miles that day, the explorers found a spot on this side of the river, just downstream from here. William Clark wrote: "Encamped under the hill on Stones Scarcely land Sufficent between the hills and river Clear of the tide for us lie. Cloudy & rain all wet and disagreeable."
Fanny's Namesake
Lewis and Clark named many rivers, rocks, and places after people they knew. Near here, the explorers passed an area they named "Fanny's Island and bottom' presumably in honor of Clark's sister Frances. Fanny's bottom became "Fanny's Valley" on Clark's map, perhaps because he had second thoughts. (in geographic terms, a bottom is low land along a river) "Fannyt;s Island" is now known as Crims Island.
The Indians leave us in the evening, river about one mile wide hills high and Steep on the Std. no place for several Miles suffcently large and leavil for our camp we at length Landed at a place which by moveing the Stones we made a place Sufficently large for the party to lie leavil on the Smaller Stones Clear of the Tide Cloudy with rain all day we are all wet and disagreeable, had large fires made on the Stone and dried our bedding and Kill the flees,
this page online
{The rest of this marker is too damaged to transcribe.}
Erected by Washington Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 6, 1805.
Location. 46° 10.442′ N, 123° 13.135′ W. Marker is in Eagle Cliff, Washington, in Wahkiakum County. It is on Ocean Beach Highway (Route 4 at milepost 45), on the right when traveling east. The marker is located at County Line Park. The marker is located at Lower Columbia River Water Trail, River Mile 51. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2076 Ocean Beach Highway, Cathlamet WA 98612, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Washington State. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, on the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 10, 2026
2. "bold rockey Shore" Marker
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 10, 2026
3. "bold rockey Shore" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
