Retrace the Lewis & Clark Sacajawea Memorial Camp First View – Valley Floor Meeting of Two Cultures Flag Unfurling Sign Lewis Expedition Through 0.2 mile, Motorway, (within Montana) a W R Trail Access at Mile 29.5, Motorway w Mile 4.1 - 0.2 miles on Alkali Flat Road a W R Mile 115.8, State Highway 28, Tendoy W Lemhi County 1 Headwaters of the Missouri River, Lewis writes 6 On August 13, Lewis writes in his journal, “…a 9 Lewis describes the historic and dramatic meet- 10 Upon reaching Lemhi Pass, 12 miles east of in his journal August 12, “…Here I haulted… and rested deep valley appeared to our left at the base of a high ing of the two cultures for here, Lewis unfurled and August 12 to September 3, 1805 myself. two miles below McNeal had exultingly stood range of mountains which extended from S.E. to N.W. the first time as he was ap- the American flag for with a foot on each side of this little rivulet and thanked (Lemhi Range) having their sides better clad with pine proaching their encampment the first time west of his god that he had lived to bestride the mighty & here- timber than we had been accustomed to see the moun- near Kenney Creek. the Rockies on August ppointed by President Thomas Jefferson, Cap- tofore deemed endless Missouri.” tains and their tops were also partially covered with 13, 1805. Sparked tains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were snow.” “…we had proceeded about by Lewis and Clark Clark Acharged with finding a navigable water route Lemhi Pass – Continental Divide four miles a wavy plain…” crossing the Continen- to the Pacific Coast. Departing Wood River, Illinois in Clark Campsite – Lewis, tal Divide, westward May 1804, the expedition traveled for fifteen months to Mile 26.0, Motorway W R w August 13, 1805 expansion brought a reach the headwaters of the Missouri River, then crossed Trail Access at Mile 29.5, Motorway w great influx of explor- Expedition the Continental Divide and entered the Lemhi Valley on 2 The Advance Party were the first white men to As Lewis’ Advance Party ers, missionaries, August 12, 1805. cross Lemhi Pass (7,339'), a Shoshoni Indian hunting 7 Captain Clark, with the Reconnaissance Party, traveled along the plain miners, and settlers The Corps of Discovery faced many perils in trail, on August 12, 1805. headed for the Salmon River to make canoes. He camped parallel to the river bottom and with them great this region. Stricken by limited provisions with winter on Pattee Creek on he writes, “…we saw two changes for those fast approaching, the party transported mountains of can- First Taste of the Columbia River August 19, 1805. women, a man and some people already here. vas, wood and iron gear. After paddling the length of the dogs on an eminence im- W R Missouri River, the treacherous current of the Salmon Mile 27.5, Motorway mediately before us…two River and the steep, crumbly surrounding mountains of them after a few minutes set down as if to wait our Upper Village I proved to be formidable obstacles. 3 Lewis records their entry into Idaho “…I now “…passed over a second arrival we continued our usual pace…when we had Lewis with three men led an Advance Party decended the mountain about 3/4 of a mile which I found hill of a verry steep arrived within half a mile of them I directed the party to Mile 120.5, State Highway 28, Look Northeast over Lemhi Pass and encountered the Lemhi Shoshoni much steeper than on the opposite side, to a handsome assent & thro a hilley halt and leaving my pack and rifle I took the flag which Nation. Convincing the Shoshoni that the small party bold running Creek of cold Clear water. here I first Countrey for I unfurled and advanced singly toward them the women 11 August 13, Lewis and his advanced party arrived posed no threat to their well being, they agreed to ac- tasted the water of the great Columbia river…” 8 miles and Encamped soon disappeared behind the hill, the man continued at this site after their dramatic meeting with the Sho- company Lewis’ party back over the pass and to assist on a Small Stream.” untill I arrived within a hundred yards of him and then shoni. Escorted by Chief Cameahwait and about 60 war- the main party. Lewis & Clark Trail Route – Clark likewise absconded.” When Lewis surprised Shoshoni riors, Lewis writes, “…on our arrival at their encamp- Clark led the Reconnaissance Party into the women later that day, he describes the encounter. “I now men on the river…at the distance of 4 Ms. from where we R valley to explore the feasibility of navigating the Salmon Mile 27.9, Motorway painted their tawny cheeks with some vermillion which had first met them they introduced us to a londge made River. Faced with the strong possibility of drowning with this nation is emblematic of peace.” At a later of willow brush and an old leather lodge which had been should their flimsy canoes be swept into the rocks by the 4 Captain Lewis, leading the Advance Party of Motorway Tour Kiosk meeting with about prepared for our swift current, the party made a critical decision changing three men, passed through this area August 12. Captain 60 warriors, he tells reception by the W R the course of the expedition and opted for a somewhat Clark with 11 men, Sacajawea and her husband Char- Mile 3.7, Motorway of the welcome, young men...” less hazardous, but equally difficult dry-land route. bonneau, followed on August 19, 1805. “… these men … Encamped in Montana, Lewis sorted supplies 8 This site welcomes you to Sacajawea’s birthplace embraced me necessary for the Portage Party, then joined Clark’s First Idaho Campsite and serves as the jump-off point for the 39-mile loop road very affectionately party. Winter now only weeks away, the Entire Expedi- commemorating that expedition, this is the meeting place … by puting their Lemhi County, Idaho tion grew anxious to get to the Pacific Coast. Trail Access at Mile 29.5, Motorway of two vastly different cultures which were to be forever W R w left arm over you Imagine the hardships faced by these explorers Hike 0.75 Miles changed. wright sholder Near the Shoshoni as they trekked through the Lemhi and Salmon River village site on the USDA Bureau of River of clasping your back, Lemhi River. Forest Land No Return Valleys, and uncover places where you can retrace Lewis 5 “…we found a sufficient quantity of dry willow while they apply Service Management Interpretive and Clarks steps in areas where little has changed since brush for fuel, here we encamped for the night having their left cheek to Association they were here. traveled about 20 Miles.” yours…” – Lewis, August 12, 1805 Please ask permission to cross private property. Motorway Upper Village II Withington Creek Camp Forks of Louis’s River Lewis & Clark Back Country Byway Lemhi Pass Mile120.2, State Highway 28, Look North MP 125.9, State Highway 28 W Mile 306.0, US Highway 93 MONTANA and Adventure Road vide 12 August 20, Clark and the Reconnaisance Party 16 Clark with an Indian guide crossed over the 18 Later at Tower Bluffs Clark reflects, “…I shall l Di reached this village. Sergeant Gass, an expedition Lemhi River and camped at Withington Creek. Sergeant in justice to Capt. Lewis who was the first white man Continenta member, chronicles, “We … travelled …to a village of Gass recalls “…Captain Clarke … proceeded … about 8 ever on this fork of the Columbia Call this Louis’s river.”

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miles and encamped on a fine spring. five of the Indians How do you spell Lewis? Clark apparently forgets. His a the Indians on the bank…At this place there are about l 2

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25 lodges made of willow bushes. They are the poor- came and stayed with us during the night.” description continues, “…The Westerley fork of the e e

3 C Cr est and most miserable nation I ever beheld; having Columbia River (the Salmon River) is double the Size of r ee

e k W 4 e

im k k scarcely anything to subsist on, except berries and a few the Easterley fork (Lemhi River) & below those forks the e

p e Fish Weir Village y S DAHO a r river is …100 yards wide, it is verry rapid & Sholey wa- I C 5 fish…They have a great many fine horses, and nothing C n a r C r e d m e y K e Mile 131.4, State Highway 28 more; and on account of these (the horses) they are much ter Clear but little timber.” Clark goes on, “the forks of e k C e d n K n ir r a C tl e n this river is famous as a gig fishery and is much resorted ey W harassed by other nations.” Gass continues, “Here we r e e C e k y re e e 17 Site of a fish weir across the Lemhi River where k k C 6 procured a guide, (Old Toby) and left our interpreters to by the Natives.”

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go on with the natives, and assist Captain Lewis and his the Shoshoni were able to trap enough Salmon for their a e m k party to bring on the baggage…” subsistence and provide the expedition with as much m Sammon Creek o n 7 broiled and dried salmon as they could eat, as well as C

W r dried chokecherries. Mile 309.9, US Highway 93 e

e

Wayside Sign k

Clark stopped here the 21st. and writes, “… ) a 14 11 9 Mile 120.0, State Highway 28 W Those Indians are mild in their disposition appear Sin- 19 Clark in his August 21, 1805 journal entry de- 8 r) cere in their friendship, puntial, and decided kind with scribes Sammon Creek (now known as Carmen Creek), Rive wis' 15 Le 13 Stone monument commemorating the Lewis and what they have, to Spare … The women are held more “…Passed a large Creek which fall in on the right Side 6 of k k 12 ee or 16 13 r Clark Expedition. Sacred…and appear to have an equal Shere in all miles below the forks a road passed up F y C t nc as e Conversation, …their boeys & Girls this Creek & to the Missouri.” 19 (E W g r i A L e e Le iv t w il mhi R h 10 are also admited to Speak except Sergeant Gass adds, “In i ra i Sacajawea Monument s & lark T n C g in Councils, the women doe this branch we shot 17 t

o

W n Tendoy

Mile 120.5, State Highway 28, North 0.5 Mile all the drugery except a salmon about

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fishing and takeing 6 pounds e e

18 k 14 Metal plaque celebrating the birthplace of care of the horses, weight.” Carmen State Highway 28 Salmon, ID Sacajawea, the Shoshoni woman who accompanied which the men apr. to Y 20 Miles Lewis and Clark Expedition on their expedition. take upon themselves.” Salmon U.S. Highway 93 Famed Interpreter Brochure Key S Scale in Miles a 0 1 2 3 W “… I went to see the lm Mile 122.5, State Highway 28 “…water was conducted to this on place those people take R N basket, which was so narrow at ive r (W the fish, a wear (weir) est Fo Lewis & Clark Trail Access 15 Sacajawea returned to her homeland in the it’s lower extremity that the fish rk o across the creek in which f Lemhi Valley in 1805 as a member of the Lewis and when once in could not turn L R Motorway W Sign wHiking there is stuk baskets set in e Clark party. She was reunited with her family after be- itself about, and were taken w i s different derections so as to ' ing abducted by an Assiniboine war party and served as out by untying the small ends R a Camping c Picnicking i take the fish either descending ve liason between her people and the expedition. of the longitudinal willows, r) or assending…” which frormed the hull of Y National Forest and Public Land Information – Clark, August 21, 1805 the basket.” – Lewis, August 21, 1805 MONTANA The Bluff Fourth of July Creek Salmon River Reconnaisance Sign Mile 315.1, US Highway 93 a W Mile 321.0, US Highway 93 Mile 326.2, US Highway 93 W 35 DAHO 34 I Brochure Key 20 On August 21, Clark and party first reached the 23 Looking south, you can see the descent from the 25 Hoping for a navigable route to the Pacific, Scale in Miles k e 0 1 2 3 Salmon River and camped near mountain spur is an easy route compared to the northern Clark explored the first few miles of the rugged Salmon e Gibbonsville r this spot by the bluff near the spur. Faced with the proposition of swimming the river, River Canyon below here (North Fork) late in August. C N a g Lewis & Clark Trail Access mouth of Tower Creek. “…This the Reconnaisance Party climbed out of the canyon His small advance party camped near this location. ne lo a h Clift is of a redish brown Co- again over the difficult route you can see. Clark writes a Motorway Sign Hiking D 32 R W w lour. the rocks which fall from in his journal August 22, 1805, “…it is incrediable to Fish Creek Village a Camping c Picnicking it is a dark flint tinged with that describe the rocks in maney places loose & sliped from 33 Nor Colour. Some Gullies of white those mountains and is a (Solid) bed of rugid loose white Mile 326.4, US Highway 93 Y th Fo rk o National Forest and Public Land Information f Y Sand Stone and Sand fine & and dark brown loose rock for miles.” S a white as Snow…” 26 Fish Creek, now known as the North Fork of the lm o Salmon River, was the site of an Shoshoni village which

n Wagonhammer Springs

R 4 is described by Clark in his journal for August 22, 1805. i t W

v h Geological formations about two w c e Mile 324.4, US Highway 93 “…Several families of Indians were encamped and had a o

r g f miles up Tower Creek Road on

J o u Several Scaffolds of fish & buries drying we allarmed n l private property. k h y e e a

( C 24 The trail Lewis and Clark took can be reached them verry much as they knew nothing of a white man r T

C F m r o i s e e m s w Hugh e by walking approximately two miles up Wagonhammer being in their Countrey, and at the time we approached h

k e e

Trail r r Tower Creek-Pirimids C Creek to the mouth of Thompson Gulch; follow marked their lodges which was in a thick place of bushes – my C r Gulch C e r r C e e e a W trail to left. The trail guiedes were behind.– They offered every thing they k e e r k Mile 315.7, US Highway 93 ) k m

e is marked from that possessed (which was verry littl) to us, Some run off and n

C point to its return to hid in the bushes...I gave a fiew Small articles to those r K 21 On August 31 the Expedition travelled up Tower e ir e tl 25 Kriley k e the North Fork of the fritened people which added verry much to their pasifi- k y Creek. Clark wrote, “…We proceeded on the road on e ( C e S r Gulch re Salmon River at Trail cation…” C a e which I had decended as far as the 1st run below & left l m k l ONTANA 24 Gulch, a distance u Forest Service Y 23 m the road...& Encamped in Some old lodjes at the place

H 22 o Road 30

n the road leaves the Creek and ascends the high Coun- of approximately

I C nd

i 21 r six miles. You can M a n e try...passed remarkable rock resembling pirimids on the

C e re c 26 20 k hike a portion of the “I Saw to day [a] ek ) Left side.”

a North Fork trail that remains … wood pecker 27 Carmen virtually as it was … which fed on ( B Four Mountain Spur Crossing Pine burs its bill e when traveled by the r Lost Trail Pass and tale white the ry 45 Miles L expedition. This day C Mile 319.1, US Highway 93 r e wings black every e w e i hike is best in cooler k 30 s & other part of a ) S S Clark Trail weather. qu 28 al 22 Encountering rugged terrain, Lewis serves as light brown, and a mo w Cre 29 n ek R ver R scribe for Clark’s account of the ordeal: “we set out about the Size of c i iv hi River ni e m a robin.” ce r Le early and passed … the points of four mountains which S were high steep and rocky. the mountains are so steep – Clark & d State Highway 28 August 22, 1805 l that it is almost incredible to mention that horses had i Vista from the Lewis W Y passed them. our road in many places lay over the sharp al and Clark Trail, looking S ion Clark’s Nutcracker p t fragments of rocks which had fall from the mountains down Trail Gulch. r a U.S. Highway 93 i Nucifraga columbiana n N and lay in confused heaps for miles together; yet not- g C 31 n r o withstanding our horsed traveled barefoot over them as eek c l m Salmon a fast as we could ….” Notice the mountain spurs to the S north and south.

Dreadful Narrows Injured Leg Canyon Gibbonsville Lewis and Clark-Last Ascent For More Information on the Would you lead a string of horses Lewis and Clark Trail across this hillside? W Mile 3.6, Forest Road 30 - Deadwater Picnic Area Mile 7.3, Forest Road 30 Mile 337.2, US Highway 93 Mile 345.5, US Highway 93 in Lemhi County, contact: The Expedition struggled across 27 August 23, Sergeant Gass writes in his journal, 29 August 23, 1805. these crumbly mountainsides on 32 Clark writes, September 2, 1805, “…Crossed a 34 Seeking a route through Idaho’s mountain bar- Salmon-Challis National Forest “We proceeded down the river through dreadful nar- Clark writes in his journal, much of their journey in this area. large fork from the right and one from the left; and at 8 rier, the Entire Expedition left the canyon and climbed a RR2, Box 600 rows, (starts about 1 1/2 miles upstream from this point) “…The River from the place mile left the roadeon which we were pursuing and which high ridge reaching the Bitterroot Valley on September Highway 93 South where the rocks were in some places breast high, and no I left my party to this Creek leads over to the Missouri (Dahlonega Creek); and pro- 4. Without a trail, Toby, their Shoshoni guide, led them Salmon, Idaho 83467 path or trail of any kind…” is almost one continued seeded up a West fork…thro’ thickets in which we were along a difficult ridgetop divide over high peaks, which (208) 756-5100 rapid…the passage of either obliged to Cut a road, over rockey hill Sides where our are visible to the north. Sore Horse Feet Camp with Canoes is entirely horses were in pitial danger of Slipping to Ther certain Bureau of Land Management impossable,as the water is destruction…” Lost Trail Pass Salmon Field Office Mile 6.0, Forest Road 30 Confined between hugh Rocks & the Current beeting Final Observation of the River Canyon RR2, Box 610 Mile 351.1, US Highway 93 W from one against another…at one of those rapids the Deep Creek Highway 93 South 28 Clark writes in his journal, “…I deturmined to Mile 16.5, Forest Road 30 mountains Close So Clost as to prevent a possibility of a Salmon, Idaho 83467 delay the party here with my guide and three men pro- Mile 341.3, US Highway 93 W 35 The Lewis and Clark expedition likely lost the portage with great labour …the others may be passed by (208) 756-5400 ceed on down to examine if the river continued bad or takeing every thing over Slipery rocks, and the Smaller 31 August 23, Clark recalls, “…passed over a gap in trail to this pass. They camped two miles west of here was practiable...” Sergeant Gass writes August 24, 1805, the Mounts. from the top of which I could See the hollers 33 September 2, Lewis and Clark proceeded with the night of September 3. ones Passed by letting down the Canoes empty with For additional information on Idaho call: “...The river at this place is so confined by the mountains of the river for 20 miles to a verry high Mountain on the much difficulty up the North Fork. Some authorities From here, the Cords, as running them would certainly be productive (800) VISIT - ID that it is not more than 20 yards wide, and very rapid. of the loss of Some Canoes…” While returning to camp, left, at which place my guide made Signs that the bad believe this may have been the most difficult terrain Lewis and Clark Expedi- The mountains on the side are not less than 1000 feet Captain Clark fell from a rock and injured one of his part…of the river Comsd. and much worst than any I encountered by the expedition. They camped on the west tion proceeded down the high and very steep. There are a few pines growing on Saw…” side of the river in this vicinity. Bitterroot River Valley, legs. Special thanks to: them. We caught some small fish to-day, and our hunters Lewis, in his journal, reviews why Clark de- back into Idaho and finally River of No Return Interpretive Association killed 5 prairie fowls. These were all we had to subsist cided to abandon his pursuit of the river route “…after down the Columbia River. Berry Creek P.O. Box 661 on. At 1 o’clock Captain Clarke and his party returned the river reached this mountain it continued it’s rout They reached the Pacific Salmon, Idaho 83467 after having been down the river about 12 miles...” Mile 10.8, Forest Road 30 to the North between high and perpendicular rocks, Ocean November, 1805. Lewis recalls Clark’s journey, “…at the distance roling foaming and beating against innumerable rocks of four miles he arrived at the river and the rocks were 30 Lewis’ journal reflects Clark’s journey; which crouded it’s channel; that then it penetrated the Quotes taken from: here so steep and juted into the river such manner that August 23, 1805, “…a plain indian road led mountain through a narrow gap Red Monkeyflower Mimulus lewisii named The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition there was no other alternative but passing through the up this (Indian) creek which the guide in- leaving a perpendicular rock for Captain Lewis. July 28 - November 1, 1805 river, this he attempted with formed him (Clark) led to a large river that ran on either side as high as the Gary E. Moulton, Editor success tho’ water was so to the North, and was frequented by another top of the mountain which he University of Nebraska Press, 1988 deep for a short distance as to nation who occasionally visited this river for beheld. that the river here mak- swim the horses and was very the purpose of taking fish…Cap. C…caught ing a bend they could not see . . . Forever Changed rapid; he continued his rout some small fish, on which, with the addition of through the mountain, and as Findings from the Lewis and Clark Expedition Photo’s courtesy of: one mile along the edge of the some berries, they dined…after dinner Capt. it was impossible to decend the were instrumental to westward expansion. Adventurers Wilmer J. Rigby, Hadley Roberts, Elias Williams, river under this steep Clift to C. continued his rout down the river and at 1/2 river or clamber over that vast and scientists, Lewis and Clark recorded detail descrip- Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management a little bottom…” a mile pased another creek (Squaw Creek)… mountain covered with eternal tions of the plant, animal, geographic, and cultural ele- leaving the creek on the wright he passed over snow, neither himself (Toby) nor ments of their trip. Fish Weir Graphic courtesy of: Brad Pinkerton a ridge, and at the distance of a mile arrived any of his nation had ever been Hoping to find a navigable route down the at the river where it passes through a well tim- lower in this direction…” From Salmon River, Clark was forced to retrace his steps opt- bered bottom of about eighty acres of land…” this point, one can see the ridge ing for a safer, land-based route after viewing the “River As the canyon narrowed, so did (about 1 mile northeast), where of No Return.” Although not “entirely impassable”, the their options. Along with their Clark was standing when he de- horses, they were forced into the As Toby warned of the fury of Pine Creek Rapids and unrelenting Salmon River, to this day, provides adventure to modern- water here by the shear rock walls. Fruit of the chokecherry Prunus virginiana, termined it was truly an impass- a staple food for the Shoshoni. current below, Clark decided to abandon this route. day explorers. able canyon. 23.235.413.07/98