Great Falls to Townsend
The Mountain Gates Part 1

Explore the story of the people, animals and landscape of the prehistoric buffalo culture.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park is an archaeological site that tells the story of one of the largest prehistoric bison kill-sites in North America, capturing a portrait of Montana’s First Peoples. Native peoples used this site to hunt buffalo for at least six hundred years. The park has a visitor center, interpretive trail, picnic tables, and a protected black-tailed prairie dog town to help visitors better understand the epic history of hunting on the high plains. The top of the jump offers expansive, panoramic views of the Rocky Mountain Front, the Missouri River valley, and the buttes and grasslands characteristic of the region.

The park offers 3+ miles of hiking trails.

Regarding Tower Rock, Meriwether Lewis wrote:

“This rock I called the tower. It may be ascended with some difficulty nearly to it’s summit and from it there is a most pleasing view of the country we are now about to leave. From it I saw that evening immense herds of buffaloe in the plains below.”
—July 16, 1805

Today, a trail takes the visitor nearly to the summit, but only the first quarter mile is maintained. From there, the “human-engineered” tread continues to the saddle described by Lewis. This is one of the few places along the Historic Lewis and Clark Trail where you can walk in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis!

From Tower Rock, Mountain Palace can be accessed via the old highway—US 91. Besides a great view, this stop has a boat launch and is a great place to throw a line as this stretch of the Missouri is a prime sport fishery.

US 91 will take the traveler nearly to the Gates of the Mountains should you desire to drive the scenic route. Otherwise, continue upriver and you will have several options to enter onto Interstate 15 south.

One of the ultimate Lewis and Clark experiences is the Gates of the Mountains boat tour. Lewis was impressed:

“this evening we entered much the most remarkable clifts that we have yet seen. these clifts rise from the waters edge on either side perpendicularly to the hight of 1200 feet. . . . . from the singular appeaerance of this place I called it the gates of the rocky mountains.”
—July 19, 1805

With only boat access, the scenery and solitude of this canyon gateway remains truly remarkable. The boat tour takes 2 hours, and you can book ahead at https://gatesofthemountains.com/schedule/.

Helena, Montana is full of history and culture—enough for a couple days of exploring. Start your Helena adventure at Parrot Confectionery in Last Chance Gulch, the epicenter of the gold rush that started the city here.

After fueling up, start visiting the many attractions this city offers!

Far above the Missouri River, the Two Camps Vista area commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition and other early pioneers in the area. On July 20, 1805, both Lewis and Clark camped within a mile of this point. Clark had headed out ahead of the main expedition with several men to find the Shoshones while Lewis remained with the boats.

Located near the Clark’s Bay Day Use Site and Devil’s Elbow Campground, enjoy this commemorative historic site accessible via a non-motorized, paved trail. The nearby Clark’s Bay Day Use Site has restrooms, picnic shelters, picnic tables, swimming area, volleyball area, potable water, parking, boat ramp for small boats, and trails.

Crimson bluffs is a favorite among Lewis and Clark fans, and now there is a short trail leading to it! On July 24, Lewis wrote:

“. . . passed a remarkable bluff of crimson coloured earth on Starboard intermixed with Stratas of black and brick red slate.”

Today, there is a fenced parking area on River Road with a short trail leading to the bluffs.

After visiting the bluffs, you may want to head back to Helena or continue south to Three Forks, Montana. Each option is about a half-hour drive.