Learn About the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Route

Overview of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail stretches across 3,700 miles of historic landscape, following the route taken by the Corps of Discovery during their famous expedition from 1804 to 1806. This trail begins in Wood River, Illinois, near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and ends at the Pacific Ocean near Astoria, Oregon. The National Park Service officially designated this route as a National Historic Trail in 1978, recognizing its enormous significance to American history and exploration.

The expedition, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory and map the western lands. The journey involved approximately 33 Corps members, plus Sacagawea and her son Jean Baptiste, who became central figures in the expedition's success. The trail today represents one of the most important pathways of American exploration, documenting the first overland journey to the Pacific Ocean by United States citizens.

Understanding this trail provides insight into early 19th-century exploration, Native American cultures, environmental conditions of the time, and the challenges faced by explorers in unfamiliar territories. The trail passes through 16 states, including Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, among others. Each section of the trail reveals different aspects of the expedition's journey and the diverse landscapes they encountered.

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is maintained through partnerships between the National Park Service, state agencies, and local communities. This collaborative effort ensures that visitors can access information, visit significant sites, and understand the historical context of this important journey. Many segments of the trail are open to the public for hiking, driving, and educational visits.

Practical Takeaway: Before planning a visit to any section of the trail, consider which states or regions interest you most. The trail spans such a vast distance that you may want to focus on one or two specific areas rather than attempting to traverse the entire 3,700 miles.

Starting Point: The Wood River Winter Camp and Missouri River Origins

The expedition's journey began at Wood River, Illinois, located where the Illinois River meets the Missouri River, near present-day Hartford. In the winter of 1803-1804, Lewis and Clark and their men established a camp here to prepare for the voyage ahead. This location served as a critical staging area where supplies were organized, canoes and keelboats were constructed and repaired, and the team trained for the challenging journey that lay before them. The Wood River Campground Historic Site is now accessible to visitors who want to understand the beginnings of this historic expedition.

At this starting location, the expedition consisted of a keelboat and two pirogues (flat-bottomed boats). The keelboat was designed for the initial ascent of the Missouri River and was intended to be sent back from the Mandan villages with scientific specimens and reports. The Corps of Discovery included soldiers, French-Canadian boatmen, interpreters, and frontiersmen, all selected for their specific skills. Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, joined the expedition at the Mandan villages with her infant son, becoming invaluable as an interpreter and guide.

The Missouri River, which flows from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River, became the main highway for the expedition's westward journey. The river presented numerous challenges, including swift currents, shifting sandbars, and unpredictable weather. The expedition traveled upstream against the current, a physically demanding task that required skill, strength, and determination. The journey from Wood River to the Mandan villages in present-day North Dakota took approximately four and a half months.

Several historical sites along this initial section of the trail provide information about the expedition's departure. Fort Chartres Historic Site, located not far from Wood River, offers context about the frontier military presence of the time. The confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers remains a geographically significant landmark that can be observed at the Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, located just south of the expedition's starting point.

Practical Takeaway: Visit the Wood River area in late fall or early winter to experience seasonal conditions similar to those when Lewis and Clark prepared their expedition. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is easily accessible and provides an excellent orientation point for understanding where the expedition began their journey up the Missouri River.

The Great Plains Journey: Crossing Present-Day Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota

As the Corps of Discovery moved westward along the Missouri River through the Great Plains states, they encountered vast grasslands, wildlife populations that seemed almost unlimited, and interactions with various Native American tribes. The journey through Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota consumed much of 1804 and the early part of 1805. During this section, the expedition members documented numerous species of plants and animals previously unknown to Eastern science, including the prairie dog, which they even captured and sent back to President Jefferson.

The Great Plains presented both opportunities and challenges. The region offered abundant game animals including buffalo, elk, and deer that provided food for the expedition. However, the Great Plains also brought extreme weather conditions, including violent thunderstorms, intense heat during summer months, and challenging winds that made river travel difficult. The expedition members had to adapt their techniques for hunting, cooking, and traveling to suit the environment they encountered. They built dugout canoes from cottonwood trees found along the riverbanks when their original boats were damaged.

During this phase of the journey, the expedition had its first significant contact with Native American tribes. In August 1804, near present-day Sioux City, Iowa, the Corps held a formal council with leaders of the Oto and Missouri tribes. These encounters were recorded in detailed journals, providing valuable historical information about Native American cultures, trade networks, and diplomatic protocols of the time. The expedition distributed gifts, medals, and other items to demonstrate the authority and goodwill of the United States government.

Modern visitors can follow the Missouri River through these states by vehicle or boat, visiting historic sites that mark significant locations along the expedition's route. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park near Mandan, North Dakota, provides information about the Mandan and Hidatsa villages where the Corps spent the winter of 1804-1805. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn, North Dakota, offers exhibitions about the expedition's time among these tribes. Several state parks and historical markers along the river corridor identify the campsites and significant events from this portion of the journey.

Practical Takeaway: The Great Plains section is best explored by driving along Highway 2 in Nebraska or Highway 212 in South Dakota and Montana, which closely parallel the Missouri River's path. Plan for multiple stops at state historic sites and interpretive centers to understand the diverse environments and cultural encounters this region presented.

Mountain Crossings: Through the Rocky Mountains and the Difficult Passage

After wintering with the Mandan and Hidatsa tribes, the expedition faced its most challenging physical test: crossing the Rocky Mountains. Beginning in spring 1805, the Corps traveled up the Missouri River into present-day Montana, eventually reaching the three forks of the Missouri where they chose to follow the Jefferson River. As the river became increasingly difficult to navigate, they eventually abandoned boat travel and obtained horses from the Shoshone people, with crucial assistance from Sacagawea, who was reunited with her own tribe during this portion of the journey.

The mountain crossing took place between August and September 1805, along a route that crossed what is now the Montana-Idaho border. This section of the journey, known as the Lolo Pass route, proved to be the most arduous of the entire expedition. The path was steep, treacherous, and covered with dense forest. Food became scarce, and the expedition members endured cold temperatures, hunger, and exhaustion. They consumed their horses for food and survived on portable soup and other emergency rations. The Corps lost one canoe and much equipment during this grueling passage through the mountains.

The expedition's records describe the mountain landscape with both appreciation for its grandeur and frustration with its obstacles. The journals mention towering peaks, pristine meadows, and rushing streams, as well as the physical toll the journey took on the men. Some expedition members suffered from injuries, hunger-related illness, and the effects of extreme exertion. However, the party pressed forward, driven by their commitment to reach the Pacific Ocean and complete their mission.

Today, visitors can explore sections of the historic trail through the mountains in both Montana and Idaho. The Lolo Pass National Historic Byway in Idaho roughly follows the expedition's route through the mountains. The Nez Perce National Historical