The Upper Missouri River Breaks in Eastern Montana is a rugged, yet scenic, stretch of the Lewis and Clark Trail typically accessed by boat. For those traveling the trail by car, this Inspiration Trip gives a glimpse of the Lewis and Clark experience and a full-on view of the Judith Basin, Sulphur Springs with the water given to Sacagawea as medicine, and the Big Fall that so captivated Lewis on June 15, 1805. With all there is to see and do along the way, you may want to do this trip in two days. There are lodging options at the […]
In late-April and May 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s enlisted men were paddling, poling, sailing, and towing their boats up the Missouri River between the mouth of the Yellowstone River and the Fred Robinson Bridge on US Highway 191. Today, this portion of their journey is difficult to access—even by boat—and remains sparsely populated. Yet there are some hidden gems where the average historical traveler can experience what the Expedition saw in 1805—if you know where to look. Generally following the Hi-Line via U.S. Highway 2, this trip provides plenty of Western adventures. You can learn more of the […]
Follow in the footsteps of William Clark’s 1806 return journey as he led his detachment down the Yellowstone River, with hopes to reunite with Lewis at the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. Begin in Billings, where you can visit Pompeys Pillar National Monument, home to the only remaining physical evidence of the expedition—Clark’s signature, carved into stone over two centuries ago. Continue east to Glendive, where the dramatic badlands of Makoshika State Park offer breathtaking scenery and a glimpse into prehistoric history with its rich fossil beds. Experience a trifecta of history at three must-visit sites: Fort Union […]
The Lewis and Clark Expedition left Fort Mandan on April 7, 1805. On that date, Meriwether Lewis penned in his journal (spelling in the orginal): “Our vessels consisted of six small canoes, and two large perogues. This little fleet altho’ not quite so rispectable as those of Columbus or Capt. Cook were still viewed by us with as much pleasure as those deservedly famed adventurers ever beheld theirs; and I dare say with quite as much anxiety for their safety and preservation. we were now about to penetrate a country at least two thousand miles in width, on which […]
The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous, and time consuming travel by land across the continent. Not until after the Civil War was safe, reliable, quick, and relatively inexpensive transcontinental travel available in the form of railroads. The first route through the central part of the country ran well south of the northern area near the Canadian border. Once the final spike was hammered down in the […]
The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous, and time consuming travel by land across the continent. Not until after the Civil War was safe, reliable, quick, and relatively inexpensive transcontinental travel available in the form of railroads. The first route through the central part of the country ran well south of the northern area near the Canadian border. Once the final spike was hammered down in the […]