On August 9, 1805, Lewis departed the main group with a scouting party that included Drouillard, Shields, and McNeal. Their objectives were to âfind a portage if possibleâ and make contact with the Shoshone Tribe in order to acquire horses. A few days later, on August 12, Lewis crossed the continental divide through Lemhi Pass. This marked the point of departure from both United States-controlled territory and the MisÂsouri River watershed. Lewis wrote:
âtwo 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. after refreshing ourselves we proceeded on to the top of the dividing ridge from which I discovered immence ranges of high mountains still to the West of us with their tops partially covered with snow. I now decended the mountain about ž 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 CoÂlumbia river.â
Following successful contact with the Shoshone and acquisition of horses, the full expedition crossed the pass on August 26.
The pass was named in 1855 by Mormon missionaries for King Limhi, a character from the Book of MorÂmon. Located in the Beaverhead Mountains of the Bitterroot Range, it spans about two miles across the boundary between Montana and Idaho. Lemhi Pass is encompassed by two national forests : Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest in Montana, and Salmon-Challis National Forest in Idaho.
NF-185, Salmon, ID, USA
Distance: 6.81 mi (straight line)
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Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center, Main Street, Salmon, ID, USA
Distance: 24.04 mi (straight line)
Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Educational Center, Main Street, Salmon, ID, USA
Distance: 24.04 mi (straight line)
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Bannack, MT, USA
Distance: 25.29 mi (straight line)
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1235 Old Armstead Rd, Dillon, MT 59725, USA
Distance: 25.42 mi (straight line)
Lemhi County Historical Museum, Main Street, Salmon, ID, USA
Distance: 25.73 mi (straight line)
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Camp Fortunate Overlook, Grayling, MT, USA
Distance: 28.18 mi (straight line)
Tower Rock Recreation Site, Carmen, ID, USA
Distance: 31.98 mi (straight line)
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Wagonhammer RV Park, U.S. 93, North Fork, ID, USA
Distance: 37.54 mi (straight line)
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255 Cliff Rd, Dillon, MT 59725, USA
Distance: 41.77 mi (straight line)
Beaverhead Chamber Of Commerce & Agriculture, West Reeder Street, Dillon, MT, USA
Distance: 42.55 mi (straight line)
Beaverhead County Museum, South Montana Street, Dillon, MT, USA
Distance: 42.69 mi (straight line)
Museums and Interpretive Centers
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Clarkâs Lookout State Park, Clarks Lookout Road, Dillon, MT, USA
Distance: 43.37 mi (straight line)
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Big Hole National Battlefield, Montana 43, Wisdom, MT, USA
Distance: 47.02 mi (straight line)
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Lost Trail Ski Area, Sula, MT, USA
Distance: 54.89 mi (straight line)
85Q8M2VX+8W
Distance: 54.92 mi (straight line)
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