Recreational Activities
1. Sacajawea Memorial Camp
 Headwaters
of the Missouri Spring at Sacajawea Memorial Camp
Located several miles below the present interpretive sign at Sacajawea
Memorial Camp, Lewis wrote in his journal of August 12 about the
headwaters of the Missouri River, "...Here
I haulted...and rested myself. two miles below McNeal had exultingly
stood with a foot on each side of this little rivulet and thanked
his god that he had lived to bestride the mighty & heretofore
deemed endless Missouri."
 Sacajawea
Memorial Camp is located at Mile 0.02 of the Lewis and Clark Back
Country Byway, in Montana. Facilities include informal camping sites,
toilets, picnic tables, interpretive signs, and a wildflower interpretive
trail.
2 - Lemhi Pass - Continental Divide
 View
of the "Barrier Mountains" (Lemhi Range) from Westward
Overlook north of the Lemhi Pass.
The Advance Party were the first white men to cross Lemhi Pass
(7,339'), a Shoshone Indian hunting trail, on August 12, 1805.
 Located
at Mile 26.0 of the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway this site
has informal picnicking opportunities, a trail head that accesses
the upper portion of the trail, and interpretive signs. The trail
is steep and rough, cutting along an old wagon road in some places,
side-hilling across sagebrush covered slopes, and weaving through
thick willow and cottonwood thickets in others.
For
more information on the Lemhi Pass, click here.
3 - First Taste of the Columbia River
 View
of trail along Agency Creek decending from Lemhi Pass near "first
taste of the Columbia".
Lewis records their entry into Idaho "...I
now descended the mountain about 3/4 of a mile which I found much
steeper than on the opposite side, to a handsome bold running Creek
of cold Clear water. here I first tasted the water of the great
Columbia river..."
 Located
at Mile 27.5 of the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway this site
has informal picnicking opportunities along Agency or Flume Creeks.
There are no facilities at this location.
4 - Lewis & Clark Trail Route
 View
of trail from Agency Creek road heading toward first camp site.
Captain Lewis, leading the Advance Party of three men, passed through
this area
August 12. Captain Clark with 11 men, Sacajawea and her husband
Charbonneau, followed on August 19, 1905.
The interpretive sign for first Idaho campsite and trail access
is located at Mile 29.5 of the Motor route. The hike is 0.75 miles
to the campsite, which is on private land. Please ask permission
or hike around the property. There is also potential for nearby
informal picnicking and vehicle drop- off for upper trail route.
5 - First Idaho Campsite
 General
Area of the first Idaho campsite.
"...we found a sufficient quantity of
dry willow brush for fuel, here we encamped for the night having
traveled about 20 Miles." — Lewis, August 12,
1805
The camp is located on private land, please ask permission before
you enter or hike around the property.
6 - First View — Valley Floor
 First
view of valley floor from promintory above trail.
On August 13, Lewis writes in his journal, "...a
deep valley appeared to our left at the base of a high range of
mountains which extended from S.E. to N.W. (Lemhi Range) having
their sides better clad with pine timber than we had been accustomed
to see the mountains and their tops were also partially clad with
snow."
There is trail access at Mile 29.5 of the Motorway.
7 - Clark Camp
 General
area of Clark's campsite on Patte Creek.
Captain Clark, with the Reconnaisance Party, headed for the Salmon
River to make canoes. He camped on Pattee Creek on August 19, 1805.
"...passed over a second hill of a verry steep assent & thro
a hilley Countrey for 8 miles and Encamped on a Small Stream."
— Clark
 Trail
access at Mile 29.5 of the Motorway.
8 - Meeting of Two Cultures
 Alkali
Flat area near where Lewis met the Shoshone .
Lewis describes the historic and dramatic meeting of the two cultures
for the first time as he was approaching their encampment near Kenney
Creek.
As Lewis' Advance Party traveled along the plain parallel to the
river bottom he writes, "...we saw two women,
a man and some dogs on an eminence immediately before us...two of
them after a few minutes set down as if to wait our arrival we continued
our usual pace...when we had arrived within a half a mile of them
I directed the party to halt and leaving my pack and rifle I took
the flag which I unfurled and advanced singly toward them the women
soon disappeared behind the hill, the man continued untill I arrived
within a hundred yards of him and then likewise absconded."
When Lewis surprised Shoshone women later that day, he describes
the encounter. "I now painted their tawny cheeks
with vermillion which this nation is emblamatic of peace."
At a latter meeting with about 60 warriors, he tells of the welcome,
"...these men embraced me very affectionately...by puting their
left arm over you wright sholder clasping your back, while theyapply
their left cheek to yours..."
There are hiking and interpretive sign activities
at Mile 4.1 - 0.2 miles on the Alkali Flat Road.
9 - Motor Tour Kiosk
 Kiosk
parking area.
This site welcomes you to Sacajawea's birthplace and serves as
the jump-off point for the 39-mile loop road commemorating the expedition,
this is the meeting place of two vastly different cultures which
were to be forever changed.
 The
kiosk is located at Mile 3.7 of the Motorway. Interpretive panels
provide information about the Lewis and Clark Back Country Adventure
Byway and the Expedition.
 The
Byway consists of relatively rough and steep dirt roads that wind
through the foot hills of the Beaverhead Mountains to Lemhi Pass
and back down Agency Creek Road. High clearance vehicles are not
necessary, but may be helpful. Always make sure you take emergency
gear and be ready for any kind of weather, including intense lightning
storms, snow, sleet, hail, and rain. Rocks puncturing tire sidewalls
or tread is extremely likely, so be sure to have a spare in good
working order. There is no potable water and bathrooms may only
be found at the kiosk site and Agency Creek Campground, located
on Agency Creek, along the Motorway.
10 - Flag Unfurling Sign
 Photo
Left: Flag unfurling sign.
Upon reaching Lemhi Pass, 12 miles east of here, Lewis unfurled
the American flag for the first time west of the Rockies on August
13, 1805. Sparked by Lewis and Clark crossing the Continental Divide,
westward expansion brought a great influx of explorers, missionaries,
miners, and settlers and with them great changes for those people
already here.
Photo Right: Original
stage stop at Tendoy.
 The
sign is located at Mile 115.8 of State Highway 28, just south and
across from the Tendoy Store. Tendoy is the entrance to the
the Agency Creek Road, which leads to Lemhi Pass. The road is generally
rough, narrow and steep not maintained for winter travel and is
generally impassable all winter. Please call ahead to find out current
conditions.
 Agency
Creek campground, a small campground operated by the BLM, is located
about half-way up the road. Otherwise, there are no toilets or other
developed facilities until you reach Sacajawea Memorial Camp on
the Montana side. There is gas at Tendoy, but the next nearest gas
station is Dillon, Montana, about ? miles from Tendoy.
11 - Upper Village I
August 13, Lewis and his Advance Party arrived at this site after
their dramatic meeting with the Shoshone. Escorted by Chief Cameahwait
and about 60 warriors, Lewis writes, "...on
our arrival at their encampmen on the river...at a distance of 4
Ms. from where we had first met them they introduced us to a londge
made of willow brush and an old leather lodge which had been prepared
for our reception by the young men..."
The interpretive sign is located at Mile 120.5, State Highway 28.
Look to the northeast along the river to see where the village was
located. The village is located on private property, please respect
the property owners wishes and stay on the highway.
12 - Upper Village II
August 20, Clark and Reconnaisance Party reached this village.
Sergeant Gass, an expedition member, chronicles, "We...traveled...to
a village of the Indians on the bank...At this place there are about
25 lodges made of willow brushes. They are the poorest and most
miserable nation I ever beheld; having scarcely anything to subsist
on, except berries and a few fish...They have a great many fine
horses, and nothing more; and on account of these (the horses) they
are much harassed by other nations." Gass continues,
"Here we procured a guide Old
Toby and lef t our interpreters to go on with the natives, and
assist Captain Lewis and his party to bring on the baggage..."
Link
to discussion of Lemhi shoshone.
The sign is located at Mile 120.2, State Highway 28. Look north
toward the Lemhi River to see where the camp was located. This camp
site is located on private land, please follow the landowner's wishes
and remain on the highway.
13 - Wayside Sign
 Stone
monument commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Located at Mile 120.0, State Highway.
14 - Sacajawea
 Sacajawea,
the Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition,
provided many of the Indian language translations. At times this
could be quite combersome. When they reached her homeland she translated
from Shoshone to Blackfoot for her husband, the French trapper Charbonneau,
who would translate Blackfoot to French for expedition member Labiche,
who would then translate French to English for Lewis and Clark.
The monument is located about 0.5 miles north from Highway 28 at
Mile 120.5. Turn opposite the K Mountain signs.
15 - Famed Interpreter
 Area
near Sacajawea Sign and her possible birthplace.
Sacajawea returned to her homeland in the Lemhi Valley in 1805
as a member of the Lewis and Clark party. She was reunited with
her family after being abducted by an Assiniboine war party and
served as liason between her people and the expedition.
 The
sign is located at Mile 122.5, Sate Highway 28. See point 14 for
the actual monument.
16 - Withington
 Area
Near Withington Creek Camp
Clark with an Indian guide crossed over the Lemhi River and camped
at Withington Creek. Sergeant Gass recalls "...Captain
Clarke...proceed ed...about 8 miles and encamped on a fine spring.
Five of the Indians cam and stayed with us during the night."
 The
sign is located at Mile 125.9, State Highway 28. The camp is located
on private land, please respect the landowner's wishes and remain
at the highway pullout.
17 - Fish Weir Village
Site of fish weir across the Lemhi River where the Shoshone were
able to trap enough Salmon for their subsistence and provide the
expedition with as much broiled and dried salmon as they could eat,
as well as dried chokecherries.
Clark stopped here the 21st And writes, "...Those
Indians are mild in their disposition appear Sincere in their friendship,
puntial, and decided kind with what they have, to Spare...the women
are held more Sacred...and appear to have an equal share in all
Conversation,...their boeys & Girls are also admited to Speak
except in Councils, the women doe all the drugery except fishing
and takeing care of the horses, which the men apr. to take upon
themselves."
"...I went to see the place those people take
the fish, a wear [weir] across the creek in which there is stuk
baskets set in different derections so as to take the fish either
descending or assending..." -- Clark, August 21, 1805
 "...water
was conducted to this basket, which was so narrow at it's lower
extremity that the fish when once in could not turn itself about,
and were taken out by untying the small ends of the longitudinal
willows, which formed the hull of the basket."
--Lewis, August 21, 1805
18 - Forks of Louis's River
Later at Tower Bluff's Clark reflects, "...I
shall in justice to Capt. Lewis who was the first white man ever
on this fork of the Columbia Call this Louis's river." As
in this case, Clark often spelled Lewis's name in different ways.
His description continues, "...The Westerly
fork of the Columbia River [the present Salmon River] is double
the size of the Easterley fork [the present Lemhi River] & below
those forks the river is ...100 yards wide, it is verry rapid &
Sholey water Clear but little timber." Clark goes on, "the
forks of this river is famous as a gig fishery and is much resorted
by the Natives."
This site is located at Mile 306.0, US Highway 93. You can view
the confluence of the Lemhi and Salmon Rivers from the highway or
boat to it from the Island Park boat launch, however, the actual
land is private. Please respect the landowner's wishes and do not
cross from the highway to the mouth.
19 - Sammon Creek
 Looking
down Carmen Creek (once called Sammon creek) from Highway bridge.
Clark in his August 21, 1805 journal entry describes Sammon Creek
[present Carmen Creek], "...Passed a large
Creek which fall in on the right Side 6 miles below the forks a
road passed up this Creek & to the Missouri." Sargeant
Gass adds, "In this branch we shot a salmon
about 6 pounds weight."
 There
is an interpretive sign at Mile 309.9, US Highway 93. Carmen Creek
is located just to the north and crosses under the highway.
20 - The Bluff
 Bluffs
Mentioned by Clark
On August 21, Clark and party first reached the Salmon River and
camped near this spot by the bluff near the mouth of Tower Creek.
"...This Clift is of a redish brown Colour.
the rocks which fall from it is a dark flint tinged with that Colour.
Some Gullies of white Sand Stone and Sand fine & white as Snow..."
 There
is an interpretive sign and campground at Mile 315.1, US Highway
93. Tower
Rock campground, a BLM campground has full facilities for a
small fee.
21 - Tower Creek — Pirimids
 "pirimids"
from Tower Creek Road
On August 31 the Expedition traveled up Tower Creek. Clark wrote,
"...We proceeded on the road which I had decended
as far as the 1st run below & left the road...& Encamped
in Some old lodjes at the place the road leaves the Creek and ascends
the high Country...pased remarkable rock resembling pirimids on
the Left side."
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 315.7, US Highway 93.
22 - Four Mountain Spur Crossing
 View
of four Spur Crossing from Kriley Gulch
Encountering rugged terrain, Lewis serves as scribe for Clark's
account of the ordeal: "we set out early and
passed...the points of four mountains which were high and steep
and rocky. the mountains are so steep that it is almost incredible
to mention that horses passed them. our road in many places lay
over the sharp fragments of rocks which had fall from the mountains
and lay in confused heaps for miles together; yet notwithstanding
our horsed traveled barefoot over them as fast as we could..."
There are no interpretive signs or facilities at Mile 319.1, US
Highway 93.
23 - Fourth of July Creek
 View
of four spur crossing from 4th of July Creek.
Looking south, you can see the descent from the mountain spur is
an easy route compared to the northern spur. Faced with the proposition
of swimming the river, the Reconnaisance Party climbed out of the
canyon again over the difficult route you can see. Clark writes
in his journal August 22, 1805, "...it is incrediable
to describe the rocks in maney places loose & sliped from those
mountains and is a (Solid) bed of rugid loose white and dark brown
loose rock for miles."
There are no interpretive signs or facilities at Mile 321.0, US
Highway 93.
24 - Wagonhammer Springs
Trail up Little Tompson Gulchand into Burns
Basin country.
Looking west from Trail gulch toward
North Fork of the Salmon river and trail head
Wagonhammer Springs Picnic area was built by the Civilian Conservation
Corp. in the mid 1930's. The trail Lewis and Clark took can
be reached by walking approximately two miles up Wagonhammer Creek
to the mouth of Thompson Gulch; follow marked trail to left. The
trail is marked from that point to its return to the North Fork
of the Salmon River at Trail Gulch, a distance of approximately
six miles. You can hike a portion of the trail that remains virtually
as it was when traveled by the expedition. This day hike is best
in cooler weather.
There are picnic and toilet facilities at Mile 324.4, US Highway
93.
25 - River Reconnaissance Sign
 Salmon
River near North Fork, Idaho
Hoping for a navigable route to the Pacific, Clark explored the
first few miles of the rugged Salmon River Canyon below here (North
Fork) late in August. His small advance party camped near this location.
 This
sign is located at Mile 326.2, US Highway 93, North Fork, Idaho.
26 - Fish Creek Village
Mouth of North Fork of the Salmon River
Fish Creek, now known as the North Fork of the Salmon River, was
the site of a Shoshone village which is described by Clark in his
journal for August 22, 1805, "...Several families
of Indians were encamped and had Several Scaffolds of fish &
buries drying we allarmed them verry much as they knew nothing of
a white man being in their Countrey, and at the time we approached
their lodges which was in a thick place of bushes — my guiedes were
behind. — They offered everything they possessed (which was verry
little) to us, Some run off and hid in the bushes...I gave a fiew
Small articles to those fritened people which added verry much to
their pasification..."
 This
site is located at Mile 326.4, US Highway 93 near the North Fork
Ranger Station. There are no interpretive or other facilities here
at this time. The actual site is on private land. Please respect
the wishes of the landowner and view the site from the North Fork
Store or Ranger Station.
27 - Dreadful Narrows
 Salmon
River narrows.
August 23, Seargeant Gass writes in his journal, "We
proceeded down the river through dreadful narrows, where the rocks
were in some places breast high, and no path or trail of any kind..."
Deadwater Picnic Area
28 - Sore Horse Feet Camp
 Primitive
camp site near Sore Horse Feet Camp.
Clark writes in his journal, "...I deturmined
to delay the party here with my guide and three men proceed on down
to examine if the river continued bad or was practible..."
Seargeant Gass writes August 24, 1805, "...The
river at this place is so confined by the mountains that it is not
more than 20 yards wide, and very rapid. The mountains on the side
are not less than 1000 feet high and very steep. There are a few
pines growing on them. We caught some fish to- day, and our hunters
killed 5 prairie fowls. These were all we had to subsist on. At
1 o'clock Captain Clarke and his party returned after having been
down the river about 12 miles..."
Lewis recalls Clark's journey, "...at the
distance of four miles he arrived at the river and the rocks were
so steep and juted into the river such a manner that there was no
other alternative but passing through the river, this he attempted
with success tho' water was so deep for a short distance as to swim
the horses and was very rapid; he continued his rout one mile along
the edge of the river under this steep Clift to a little bottom..."
Sore Horse Feet Camp is located at Mile 6.0, Forest Road 30. There
is an informal camp spot here with no constructed facilities. An
interpretive sign is in place here.
29 - Injured Leg Canyon
Example of steep rock slopes along Salmon River
August 23, 1805, Clark writes in his journal, "...The
River from the place I left my party to this Creek is almost one
continued rapid...the passage of either with Canoes is enterely
impossible, as the water is Confined between hugh Rocks & the
Current beeting from one against another...at one of those rapids
the mountains so Close So Clost as to prevent a possibility of a
portage with great labour...the others may be passed by takeing
every thing over Slipery rocks, and smaller ones Passed by letting
down the Canoes empty with Cords, as running them would certainly
be productive of the loss of Some Canoes..." While returning
to camp, Captain Clark fell from a rock and injured one of his legs.
Injured Leg Canyon is located at Mile 7.3, Forest Road 30. There
are no interpretive signs or other facilities.
30 - Berry Creek
Indianola Ranger Station was built in 1909.
Lewis' journal reflects Clark's journey; August 23, 1805
"...a plain indian road led up this (present day Indian) creek which
the guide informed him (Clark) led to a large river that ran to
the North, and was frequented by another nation who occasionally
visited this river for the purpose of taking fish...Cap. C...caught
some small fish, on which, with the addition of some berries, they
dined...after dinner Capt. C. continued his rout down the river
and at ½ a mile pased another creek (present day Squaw Creek)...leaving
the creek on the wright he passed over a ridge, and at the distance
of a mile arrived at the river where it passes through a well timbered
bottom of about eighty acres of land..."
Berry Creek is located at Mile 10.8, Forest Road 30. The Indian
Creek Guest Ranch is located a short distance up Indian Creek Road.
The Indianola Forest Service Ranger Station adjacent to Berry Creek
was originally built in 1909, remodeled by the Civilian Conservation
Corp in the 1930s, and is now one of the oldest helicopter fire
attack bases in the United States. There are no interpretive or
other public facilities at Indianola.
31 - Final Observation of River
  Ridge
from which Clark took his final
observation of the River Canyon is in the midground.
Pine Creek rapids, showing the fury of the
Salmon River Toby warned Clark against.
August 23, Clark recalls, "...passed over
a gap in the Mounts. from the top of which I could See the hollers
of the river for 20 miles to a verry high Mountain on the left,
at which place my guide made Signs that the bad part...of the river
Comsd. And much worst than any I saw..."
Lewis in his journal, reviews why Clark decided to abandon his
pursuit of the river route, "...after the river
reached this mountain it continued it's rout to the North between
high and perpendicular rocks, roling foaming and beating against
innumerable rocks which crouded it's channel; that then it penetrated
the mountain through a narrow gap leaving a perpendicular rock on
either side as high as the top of the mountain which he beheld.
that the river here making a bend they could not see through the
mountain, and as it was impossible to decend the river or clamber
over that vast mountain covered with eternal snow, neither himself
(Toby) nor any of his nation had ever been lower in this direction..."
From this point, one can see the ridge about one mile to the northeast
where Clark was standing when he determined it was truly an impassable
canyon.
The ridge Clark took his final observation of the canyon is located
at Mile 16.5, Forest Road 30, just above the large flat where Salmon
River Estates is located. There are no interpretive signs or other
facilities here, however, an interpretive sign is in place at the
Pine Creek Rapids bridge, located several miles below Shoup, Idaho.
Spring Creek Campground
is located 16.9 miles west of the North Fork Ranger Station along
Forest Road 30 (Salmon River Road). It is fee campground providing
5 trailer or tent sites, drinking water, toilets and a boat ramp.
Fishing, swimming and rafting opportunities are available locally.
32 - Gibbonsville
 Rocky
slopes and dense vegetation near Gibbonsville.
Clark writes, September 2, 1805, "...Crossed
a large fork from the right and one from the left; and at 8 mile
left the roade on which we were pursuing and which leads over to
the Missouri (along present day Dahlonega Creek); and proceeded
up a West fork...thro' thickets in which we were obliged to Cut
a road, over rockey hill Sides where our horses were in pitial danger
of Slipping to Ther certain destruction..."
Gibbonsville, a mining town founded in the 1880s, is located at
Mile 337.2, US Highway 93. There are no interpretive signs, however,
food and lodging may be found in the area.
33 - Deep Creek
North Fork River at Deep Creek
September 2, Lewis and Clark proceeded with much difficulty up
the North Fork. Some authorities believe this may have been the
most difficult terrain encountered by the Expedition. They camped
on the west side of the river in this vicinity.
Twin Creek Campground is
located 16.3 miles north of the North Fork Ranger Station along
Highway 93. It is a fee campground providing 40 trailer or tent
sites, drinking water, toilets, stock ramps, and picnic tables.
Fishing and hiking opportunities are available locally.
34 - Lewis & Clark— Last Ascent
Example of rocky last ascent area.
Seeking a route through the Idaho's mountain barrier, the entire
Expedition left the canyon and climbed a high ridge reaching the
Bitterroot Valley on September 4. Without a trail, Toby,
their Shoshone guide, led them along a difficult ridge top divide
over high peaks, which were visible to the north.
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 345.5, US Highway 93.
35 - Lost Trail Pass
 The
expedition probably crossed the ridge on the left and camped in the
bottom of the draw before heading over the divide into Montana.
The Corps of Discovery probably descended the
ridge to the right as they passed into the Bitterroot
Valley
The Lewis and Clark expedition likely lost the trail
to this pass. They camped two miles west of here the night of September
3.
From here, the Lewis and Clark Expedition proceeded
down the Bitterroot Valley, back into Idaho and finally down the
Columbia River. They reached the Pacific Ocean November, 1805.
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 351.1, US Highway
93.
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