Lolo via US Highway 12

Lolo via US Highway 12
Trip Summary

Number of stops: 10

Total distance:

Get Directions

Distance Unit:

Due to steep hills and canyons, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was not able to follow the present route of US Highway 12 between Kamiah, Idaho and Lolo, Montana. Their route instead followed the ridgelines roughly 2000 feet above the highway. The Lolo Motorway is a primitive dirt road that follows many of those same ridges, but for many historic travelers, the modern highway is their best option. The highway follows two National Wild and Scenic Rivers—the Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa. Stunning mountain forests and plenty of historical sites await the traveler.

 

Location Image

Stop 1: Kamiah City Park

Kamiah (pronounced KAM-ee-eye) is figuratively and literally the heart of Nez Perce Country, and from 14 May 1806 until 10 June 1806, the expedition waited here at Long Camp for the Bitterroot Mountain snow to melt. City Park has restrooms, picnic tables, and some great murals and other art interpreting life for the nimíipuu here.
Learn more at our educational website, Discovering Lewis and Clark:

Stop 1

kamiah city park, No Kid Lane, Kamiah, ID, USA

Clearwater 12 Motel

Clearwater 12 Motel, 3rd Street, Kamiah, ID, USA

Kamiah, Idaho

Kamiah, Idaho, USA

Hearthstone Lodge

Hearthstone Lodge, U.S. 12, Kamiah, ID, USA

Nez Perce Tribe

P.O. Box 305 Lapwai, ID 83540

Nez Perce National Historic Trail

Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center, U.S. 95, Lapwai, ID, USA

Traveling up Lolo Pass

JCP9+3X Lolo Hot Springs, MT, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Clearwater 12 Motel
Clearwater 12 Motel

Clearwater 12 Motel, 3rd Street, Kamiah, ID, USA

View Listing
Kamiah, Idaho
Kamiah, Idaho

Kamiah, Idaho, USA

View Listing
Hearthstone Lodge
Hearthstone Lodge

Hearthstone Lodge, U.S. 12, Kamiah, ID, USA

View Listing
Nez Perce Tribe
Nez Perce Tribe

P.O. Box 305 Lapwai, ID 83540

View Listing
Nez Perce National Historic Trail
Nez Perce National Historic Trail

Nez Perce National Historical Park Visitor Center, U.S. 95, Lapwai, ID, USA

View Listing
Traveling up Lolo Pass
Traveling up Lolo Pass

JCP9+3X Lolo Hot Springs, MT, USA

View Listing

Location Image

Stop 2: Heart of the Monster (Nez Perce National Historic Park)

Almost immediately after leaving downtown Kamiah, the Nez Perce National Historic Park contains the Heart of the Monster. "There is a creation story at the center of every culture. For the nimíipuu, or Nez Perce, the story of their people begins at the landmark near present day Kamiah, Idaho called timʼné•pe, or Heart of the Monster, where Iceye'ye (coyote) killed a monster who was eating all of the animals." (from www.nps.gov/nepe/learn/historyculture/heart-of-the-monster-history.htm)

Stop 2

Nez Perce National Historic Park Heart of The Monster, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

Kamiah/Clearwater KOA

Kamiah / Clearwater River KOA Journey, U.S. 12, Kamiah, ID, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Kamiah/Clearwater KOA
Kamiah/Clearwater KOA

Kamiah / Clearwater River KOA Journey, U.S. 12, Kamiah, ID, USA

View Listing

Location Image

Stop 3: Kooskia Gateway

At the turn off for Kooskia (Idaho HW 13) is an old weigh station that has been converted into a area chock-full of tourist information and historical interpretation. Kooskia was a traditional Nez Perce village near the confluence of the North and Middle Fork Clearwater rivers.


Location Image

Stop 4: Colgate Licks

Colgate Licks is named for George Colegate (yes, the spelling is inconsistent) the cook for the ill-fated Carlin Party—a group of young men who came to Idaho to camp and hunt in September 1893. They hired a guide from Spokane, and their cook was George Colegate, a settler from Kendrick, Idaho who was a bit older and not in good health . . . .
This site has a short interpretive trail that includes views of the licks. Wildlife is often encountered by those who make the trek.


Location Image

Stop 5: Lochsa and Selway Confluence

Here the Selway and Lochsa Rivers merge to form the Middle Fork Clearwater River. The names are white man's interpretation of Nez Perce meaning gentle (Selway) and rough (Lochsa). There are quite a few campgrounds along the Selway River which for the first dozen miles has a much more placid nature than the Lochsa River.

Stop 5

49QX+M5 Lowell, Kooskia, ID, USA

Three Rivers Resort

Three Rivers Resort, Selway Road, Kooskia, ID, USA

Wilderness Inn

Wilderness Inn Motel, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Three Rivers Resort
Three Rivers Resort

Three Rivers Resort, Selway Road, Kooskia, ID, USA

View Listing
Wilderness Inn
Wilderness Inn

Wilderness Inn Motel, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

View Listing

Location Image

Stop 6: Fish Creek Trailhead

For the intrepid historic traveler, the trail up Fish Creek will take you to Hungery Creek—perhaps the remotest section of the entire Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. There is a pit toilet at the trailhead and campgrounds along the highway nearby. The trip is 3 miles one way with the typical ups and downs of Forest Service trails that follow mountain streams. At Hungery Creek, there is an old cabin and a nice area to pitch a tent. Expect great views!

See why Hungery Creek was named so by William Clark: Hungery Creek.


Location Image

Stop 7: Locsha Historic Ranger Station

The Locsha Historic Ranger Station offers plenty of historic interpretation from the Lolo Trail to the center's role as the staging area for all of the Forest Service travels for the Clearwater, Lochsa, and Selway forests. The road up the river ended here, so travel was by foot or mule!

Stop 7

Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

Lochsa Historical Ranger Station

Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

River Dance Lodge

River Dance Lodge - Idaho's Outdoor Adventure Resort, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Lochsa Historical Ranger Station
Lochsa Historical Ranger Station

Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

View Listing
River Dance Lodge
River Dance Lodge

River Dance Lodge - Idaho's Outdoor Adventure Resort, U.S. 12, Kooskia, ID, USA

View Listing

Location Image

Stop 8: Powell, Idaho

Lochsa Lodge has a restaurant, cabins, a small grocery, and gas. Just down this hill, you will find the Powell Ranger Station where the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped on an island 14 September 1805. There is also a Forest Service-managed campground in this area.

Learn more: September 14, 1805.


Location Image

Stop 9: Packer Meadows and Lolo Pass Visitor Center

Packer Meadows is a great place to stop and reflect, a mountain meadow crossed by the expedition both coming and going. On the return trip, all the journalists mentioned the “quawmas flatts” and the fine grazing. Indeed Packer Meadows is stunning in mid- to late June when the camas typically blooms there.

Learn more:

Stop 9

Packer Meadows, Idaho, USA

Packer Meadows

Packer Meadows, Idaho, USA

Lolo Pass Visitors Center

Lolo Pass, Idaho, USA

Winter Sports at Lolo Pass

Lolo Pass, Idaho, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Packer Meadows
Packer Meadows

Packer Meadows, Idaho, USA

View Listing
Lolo Pass Visitors Center
Lolo Pass Visitors Center

Lolo Pass, Idaho, USA

View Listing
Winter Sports at Lolo Pass
Winter Sports at Lolo Pass

Lolo Pass, Idaho, USA

View Listing

Location Image

Stop 10: Travelers' Rest State Park

The final stop, Travelers' Rest State Park is an ancient camping site for Native Nations and in 1805 and 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition slept here. A short nature trail, historical interpretation, and a museum can be found here.

Learn more at Discovering Lewis and Clark.

Stop 10

Travelers' Rest State Park, U.S. 12, Lolo, Montana, USA

Lolo Creek Distillery

Lolo Creek Distillery, Lolo, MT, USA

Lolo Hot Springs

Lolo Hot Springs, MT, USA

Places to Visit (Sorted by Distance)

Lolo Creek Distillery
Lolo Creek Distillery

Lolo Creek Distillery, Lolo, MT, USA

View Listing
Lolo Hot Springs
Lolo Hot Springs

Lolo Hot Springs, MT, USA

View Listing

Instagram Feed