Exploring the Lewis & Clark Trail

07/10/2025

Idaho's Northwest Scenic Byway, US HWY 12, follows the Native American route over western Montana's Bitterroot Mountains to eastern Washington State. This is the same route that the Lewis and Clark Expedition followed to reach the Pacific Ocean by way of the Columbia River Gorge. Today, the cities along Idaho's Northwest Scenic Byway offer breathtaking scenery, outstanding outdoor recreation, and friendly people. The photo below shows US Hwy 12 at Kamiah, ID. The photo is copyrighted and courtesy Visit Idaho.

08/14/2024

Clifty Falls State Park west of Madison, IN, on the Ohio River, is a hiker's paradise and features waterfalls that change moods with the seasons and a variety of outdoor activities year-round. Nearby Madison is a National Historic Landmark District with more than 130 blocks of historic buildings. For more information, go to: www.LCOhioMiss.org and www.on.In.gov/CliftyFallsSP. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

See more great places and discover the history of the Lewis and Clark Trail

07/19/2024

Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery would not have survived their trek over the Rocky Mountains, or found the river route to the Pacific Ocean, without the help of the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) people. Today's visitors can retrace their route beginning at Lolo Pass, MT on US HWY 12, the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway through breathtaking north-central Idaho. For more information, go to: www.NezPerceTour.org Photo is courtesy of Visit Lewis Clark Valley.

See more great places and discover the history of the Lewis and Clark Trail

07/15/2024

For a Rocky Mountain getaway to remember, consider the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, southeast of Billings on MT HWY 313. There are two visitor centers and visitor facilities for the area that offers great camping, fishing, boating and spectacular views! For more information, go to: www.LCRockyMountain.org and www.VisitBillings.com. Photo is courtesy of Visit Billings.

See more great places and discover the history of the Lewis and Clark Trail

05/09/2024

Spring time is a beautiful time for a riverboat ride on the Ohio River! Below is a photo of a B & B Riverboat from Newport KY with the Cincinnati skyline in the background. Photo courtesy of the Northern Kentucky CVB.

For more info, go to: LCOhioMiss.org or MeetNKY.com

See more great places and discover the history of the Lewis and Clark Trail

07/25/2023

Sawtooth Mountain reflecting on to Sawtooth Lake at Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest, southwest of Butte, Montana. Seeing the wall of the nearly impenetrable Sawtooth Mountains almost broke the spirit of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Fortunately they met a large band of the Salish nation who told them of Lolo Pass over the mountains. The Lolo Pass is today paralleled by US HWY 12. For more information go to www.lcrockymountain.org or www.southwestmt.com.

07/19/2023

Missouri's beautiful and historic state capitol building in Jefferson City features inspiring statues of Thomas Jefferson, and of the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Trailhead Plaza. Inside the capitol is a unique mural by Thomas Hart Benton portraying the state's colorful history. For more information, go to: www.experiencelewisandclark.travel/great-rivers or www.VisitJeffersonCity.com

07/12/2023

Paducah, KY, on the Ohio River was founded in 1827 by Captain William Clark, co-captain of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Today, Paducah has been recognized as one of the world's UNESCO Creative Cities. Paducah's many visitor attractions include the William Clark Market House Museum, 50 Wall-to-Wall Murals on the city's flood walls, and the National Quilt Museum which features an outstanding outdoor statue of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, pictured below. For more information, go to: www.LCOhioMiss.org.

06/26/2023

The Northern Lights can be spectacular in Montana's Big Sky Country. Below is a photo from the Fort Peck Lake and Dam in northeastern Montana. The best time to catch the Northern Lights in Montana is from September to December. For more information, go to: www.lcrockymountain.org and/or www.missouririvermt.com.

04/14/2023

In October of 1803, Captain Meriwether Lewis was reunited with his friend William Clark at the Falls of the Ohio, at present day Clarksville, IN and Louisville, KY. Lewis asked Clark to be the co-captain of the Corps of Discovery to find an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean. Today, visitors can learn all about this history....and enjoy great things to do at the Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center in Clarksville, IN, and across the Ohio River at Louisville. For more information, please go to: https://experiencelewisandclark.travel/ohio-river-valley/

04/07/2023

The Beartooth National Scenic Byway is a breathtaking 68-mile road that runs along the border of Montana and Wyoming, connecting the towns of Red Lodge and Cooke City leading to the Northeast Silver Gate entrance to Yellowstone National Park. For free information, go to: https://experiencelewisandclark.travel/billings-and-the-trailhead-to-yellowstone/

03/03/2023

Cape Disappointment State Park, WA - When the Lewis and Clark Expedition finally neared their their goal of reaching the Pacific Ocean in November, 1805, they first landed on today's Washington-side of the Columbia River. Both Lewis and Clark led separate groups overland to view the coastline. The crew, including Sacagawea and York, unanimously voted to make their winter quarters on the Oregon coast. Today, the Washington coast they viewed is Cape Disappointment State Park and features a Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
For more information, go to: https://www.parks.wa.gov/486/Cape-Disappointment or https://experiencelewisandclark.travel/pacific-northwest/