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Beaverhead - Deerlodge National Forest

Gibbons Pass: Clark’s Return Route in 1806

This is the route Clark used to return to Camp Fortunate instead of going back into the Lemhi Valley. Itis also the route that Chief Joseph used into the Big Hole Valley during the 1877 Nez Perce War. It is the Continental Divide and is jointly managed by the B-D and the Bitterroot National Forests.

Lost Trail Pass- South Bitterroot Valley

The expedition came down from Lost Trail Pass through the area now occupied by Indian Trees Campground and then into Ross’s Hole (Sula Valley) to trade for horses with the Salish. From there they followed the Indian trail around Sula Peak back to the Bitterroot River.

Gibbons Pass

See Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF description above. From the Bitterroot NF side, Gibbon’s Pass is reached via a very narrow and steep road. Travelers need to check on current conditions prior to driving over the pass.

Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark: via US Highway 12

The Lolo Trail descends from Lolo Pass down to Brushy Fork, back up to Beaver ridge and then down again to the Lochsa River. On this segment of trail there is NO TREAD and travels through harvested timber lands. The best access to L&C sites along the historic Lolo Trail in Idaho from Highway 12 is in the Powell Ranger Station area.

Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark: via The Lolo Motorway

The longest, most primitive continuous segment of the Lewis and Clark NH Trail is accessed from the Lolo Motorway aka The 500 Road on the Clearwater National Forest. During the Bicentennial, use is being managed through a permit system. See the Clearwater’s Website for details.

Lolo Pass Visitor Center and Rest Area

This Visitor Center interprets the historic use of the Lolo Trail Corridor through time. It covers the Nez Perce use of the area, the Nez Perce War of 1877, as well as Lewis and Clark. From the visitor center, visitors can also explore Packer Meadows and Glade Creek.

Dakota Prairie National Grasslands - North Dakota

Birnt Hills Overlook

This is a new interpretive site on the south side of the Missouri River on the Little Missouri National Grasslands. A short walking trail takes the visitor out to an overlook that interprets L&C on the Missouri River in 1805 and 1806.

Gates of the Mountains

On the Missouri River between Great Falls and Helena, accessed by personal boat or commercial boat tour.

Lewis and Clark Pass

This is the route Lewis used to re-cross the Continental Divide back to Great Falls. He was exploring another route across the mountains and the northern extent of the Louisiana Territory. Access Highway 200, 10-mile dirt road to a trailhead. One-mile hike to the top of the pass.

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center

The center is located within Giant Springs State Park and interprets the portage of the Great Falls as well as the Native Americans they encountered during their journey.

Lolo National Forest - Idaho

Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark: via US Highway 12

The historic Lolo Trail is north of Highway 12. It can be followed continuously from Lolo Hot Springs to Lolo Pass. The grade is steep and the path not easily followed in some places. This is the best segment of historic trail that is the easiest to reach from Highway 12. The best place to hike the Trail is at Howard Creek.

Salmon-Challis National Forest (R4) - Idaho

Lemhi Pass National Historic Landmark (See description above for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge)

North Fork of the Salmon River.

Lost Trail Pass

Clark explored the Salmon River to see for himself that was not the way to go through the Bitterroot Mountains. They traveled across the divide between the Salmon and Bitterroot River instead of following the Indian route into the Big Hole and over Gibbon’s Pass into the Bitterroot.