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Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery
The Lewis and Clark expedition entered what is now the Bitterroot National Forest on September 4, 1805, taking a very difficult route to the west what is now Lost Trail Pass. The precise trail is unknown but we know the rugged mountains, bad weather, and hunger were challenges the Corps of Discovery faced. The trail through Lost Trail is one of the most disputed areas of their trip through the mountains. One expert calls the route the single most obscure and enigmatic of the entire Lewis and Clark expedition.
On the morning of September 4, everything was wet and frozen and the ground covered with snow. Their trail took them over the crest and down the other side of the mountain range, passing near the Indian Trees Campground
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After traveling about twelve miles, they met a village of the Salish nation including 33 lodges, and about 440 people and 500 horses. The area, north of the Sula Ranger Station, is now called Ross' Hole. This is where the famous Charles Russell painting Lewis and Clark Meeting the Indians at Ross' Hole was painted. |
Lewis and Clark purchased 13 more horses from the Salish. On Sept. 6, they continued the journey, traveling northwest out of Ross' Hole camping along the river just north of present day Spring Gulch Campground. They traveled north through the Bitterroot Valley until again turning west at Lolo.
Ross' Hole and much of the Bitterroot Valley where Lewis and Clark traveled is private property. For locations of public land please check a forest map or call a forest office.
More details about Lewis and Clark in the Bitterroot Valley and places to visit are included in the brochure Bitterroot Valley Lewis and Clark, a Modern Day Journey (PDF). Like Lewis and Clark's cartography, the map of the Sula area needs some adjustment.
 | Move 7 to the east a bit |
| A is south of 9 |
| B is where A is |
| C is where N is |
| N is where B is |
The brochure is in PDF (Portable Document Format). If your computer doesn't already have Acrobat Reader, download if for free from the link at the bottom of this page.
Also check out Discovering Lewis and Clark.
Other websites include:
The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage
Foundation has information and event listings.
National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council: Announces activities that will be officially sponsored by the council.
National Park Service Lewis and Clark/National Historic Trail:
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation: Includes news, organizations, and events about the foundation; an article on Article on the spelling of "Sacagawea", and a list of available articles.
Lewis and Clark on the Information Super Highway: Contains a bibliography of all the Internet sites that have anything to do with L&C.
Following Lewis and Clark in Beaverhead County
Lewis and Clark in Lemhi County
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free)