Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures

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Lewis &  Clark Trail Adventures Sharing the rivers and trails of Montana and Idaho

We offer whitewater rafting trips on the Lochsa, Salmon River and Alberton Gorge, canoe trips on the Upper Missouri River and hiking trips on the Lolo Trail.

Join us for an authentic journey across the island of Cuba. Wayne and Gia have travel extensively through Cuba to curate...
19/05/2025

Join us for an authentic journey across the island of Cuba. Wayne and Gia have travel extensively through Cuba to curate a diverse and inspired itinerary. Travel from Santiago in the east to Havana, an opportunity to see the country side and destinations off the beaten path.

Fort Benton Montana A storied past and rugged cliffs. We love our Missouri River home base.
14/05/2025

Fort Benton Montana A storied past and rugged cliffs. We love our Missouri River home base.

There are many historic places in America, but there aren't many as bursting with history and natural splendor as Fort Benton, Montana, near the Missouri River.

You gotta get there!!!
02/05/2025

You gotta get there!!!

LOCHSA SEASON is just around the corner! Come spend a day with us on one of the rowdiest Wild & Scenic river stretches a...
19/03/2025

LOCHSA SEASON is just around the corner! Come spend a day with us on one of the rowdiest Wild & Scenic river stretches around 🤠 Book your spring adventure today!

We lost a one of kind, Highside Dannie. Always smiling, laughing, always kind, generous and sooo easy going. Dannie has ...
23/02/2025

We lost a one of kind, Highside Dannie. Always smiling, laughing, always kind, generous and sooo easy going. Dannie has been a part of the LCTA family for 35 years. Of course there is a story behind the name... early 1990's, Wayne Fairchild, guiding Dannie and some friends down the Upper Lochsa River. Coming into Triple Hole and Wayne yells "Highside left or we're gonna flip!" well Dannie jumped over the tube and saved the day, no flip. From then on, he was Highside Dannie. Whenever we had a project, building something, fixing something, last minute shuttles, need an extra paddler, Highside Dannie was always there for us. It was privilege to work, paddle and party with him. Rest in peace Dannie, we know you’re riding the big wave on the Highside 💙

Check out our Summer 2025 Missouri River Trip dates! Join us for adventure and history. We have amazing guest speakers o...
05/02/2025

Check out our Summer 2025 Missouri River Trip dates! Join us for adventure and history. We have amazing guest speakers on select trips, see our website for more info.






September 15 was day 1 of our Commemorative Trek, retracing the exact route as the Lewis and Clark Expedition on the exa...
15/09/2024

September 15 was day 1 of our Commemorative Trek, retracing the exact route as the Lewis and Clark Expedition on the exact dates. Those trips had challenges, rain, snow, cold temperatures, lots of downed trees - an adventure that not only retraced their path but allowed us to experience first hand the discomfort and rewards of accompaniments. Who’s in for 2025?
🥾🏔️🏕️📖

219 Years Ago Today: Lewis and Clark Camp at Future Site of Powell Ranger Station

On this day in 1805, the Lewis and Clark struggled through the Lochsa-Powell District of our forests. This was one of the most arduous parts of their trip, as they struggled across rugged terrain, were short on provisions, and tried to make their way across unfamiliar with terrain with little guidance. A week later, they encountered members of the Nez Perce Tribe who provided them with food, friendship, canoes, and guidance that would get them to the Pacific Ocean and attain their long-sought goal. By the end of the day, Clark reported that: “our men and horses [are] much fatigued.”

As the day began at Packer Meadows, near the Idaho-Montana border the party “ate the last of our meat” and began to climb up and down two mountains. Though the day was cloudy, Private Joseph Whitehouse reported “a most delightful prospect of the hills and vallies (sic) which lay before us.” As they traveled, the threat of winter’s cold and arduous conditions loomed, with Clark reporting “it rained and hailed, on top of the mountains Some Snow Fell” and multiple members of the party describing “snow-capped mountains” in the distance. What food the party found was unfortunately inedible, with Patrick Gass recording “service-berry bushes hanging full of fruit; but not yet ripe owing to the coldness of the climate on these mountains” as well as “a number of other shrubs, which bear fruit, but for which I know not names.”

The hunters working for the party tried to alleviate their hunger but were only able to shoot “2 or 3 pheasants,” which were supplemented by “portable soup” a dehydrated ancestor of bouillon, carried as an emergency ration by the party. This food left many hungry and unsatisfied and Gass reported that: “Some of the men did not relish this soup, and agreed to kill a c**t; which they immediately did, and set about roasting it; and which appeared to me to be good eating.” That occurred at Colt-Killed Creek, which is how it got its name.

Throughout their trip, the party reported regularly encountering evidence of the Nez Perce Tribe and their ability to attain food in this area. Whitehouse was impressed by a seasonal Nez Perce fishing camp on the Lochsa River: “ the Natives had here made places across this fork of the Creek, in the form of Weirs to catch fish in, which we found in 2 different parts of this fork, it was worked in with willows very ingeniously & strong, the current running very rapid at where these Weirs were set.— We crossed below this place at where the Creek forked, and proceeded on down the creek and passed several Indian encampments, which the Natives had lately left. Our guide informed us, that the Natives catch great Quantities of Salmon at this place.”

After miles of travel, they reached: “a Small Island at the mouth of a branch on the right side of the river which is at this place 80 yads wide,” where they camped for the night. That place is now where our Powell Ranger Station stands.

Stay tuned for more stories of Lewis and Clark’s time on our forest 219 years ago today.

The Lolo Trail, a native travel route use for thousands of years, today sees very few traverse its route. A select few g...
13/07/2024

The Lolo Trail, a native travel route use for thousands of years, today sees very few traverse its route. A select few guests experience this challenges and rewards of expansive views. Honored to hike, dine and star gaze with you!



Views from American Prairie in June. Montana is vast and wild and every corner is worth exploring. We have a long histor...
29/06/2024

Views from American Prairie in June. Montana is vast and wild and every corner is worth exploring. We have a long history of providing custom hut based experiences.


Need a new hat? We got you… Don’t forget to purchase one for your fun day on the river! 🫶🏼🌊 Shout out to our awesome art...
05/06/2024

Need a new hat? We got you… Don’t forget to purchase one for your fun day on the river! 🫶🏼🌊

Shout out to our awesome artists and designers and and

04/06/2024

Another amazing weekend on the Lochsa River!

Shout out to our paddle captains - running all paddle teams - our guides and guests work together through technical maneuvers and big hits!

Next weekend June 8 - The River will be UP 🌊and the Sun will be OUT ☀️

Meet us just one hour from Missoula at the Lochsa Lodge

Take me to the river!

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