Lewis

and

Clark

Expedition

Lemhi County, Idaho

Retrace the Lewis & Clark

Expedition Through

Lemhi County

August 12 to September 3, 1805

Appointed by President Thomas Jefferson, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were charged with finding a navigable water route 

to the Pacific Coast. Departing Wood River, Illinois in 

May 1804, the expedition traveled for fifteen months to 

reach the headwaters of the Missouri River, then crossed 

the Continental Divide and entered the Lemhi Valley on 

August 12, 1805.

The Corps of Discovery faced many perils in 

this region. Stricken by limited provisions with winter 

fast approaching, the party transported mountains of canvas, wood and iron gear. After paddling the length of the 

Missouri River, the treacherous current of the Salmon 

River and the steep, crumbly surrounding mountains 

proved to be formidable obstacles.

Lewis with three men led an Advance Party

over Lemhi Pass and encountered the Lemhi Shoshoni 

Nation. Convincing the Shoshoni that the small party 

posed no threat to their well being, they agreed to accompany Lewis’ party back over the pass and to assist 

the main party.

Clark led the Reconnaissance Party into the 

valley to explore the feasibility of navigating the Salmon 

River. Faced with the strong possibility of drowning 

should their flimsy canoes be swept into the rocks by the 

swift current, the party made a critical decision changing 

the course of the expedition and opted for a somewhat 

less hazardous, but equally difficult dry-land route.

Encamped in Montana, Lewis sorted supplies 

necessary for the Portage Party, then joined Clark’s 

party. Winter now only weeks away, the Entire Expedition grew anxious to get to the Pacific Coast.

Imagine the hardships faced by these explorers 

as they trekked through the Lemhi and Salmon River 

Valleys, and uncover places where you can retrace Lewis 

and Clarks steps in areas where little has changed since 

they were here. 

Sacajawea Memorial Camp

0.2 mile, Motorway, (within Montana) a W R

 1 Headwaters of the Missouri River, Lewis writes 

in his journal August 12, “...Here I haulted... and rested 

myself. two miles below McNeal had exultingly stood 

with a foot on each side of this little rivulet and thanked 

his god that he had lived to bestride the mighty & heretofore deemed endless Missouri.”

Lemhi Pass – Continental Divide

Mile 26.0, Motorway W R w

 2 The Advance Party were the first white men to 

cross Lemhi Pass (7,339'), a Shoshoni Indian hunting 

trail, on August 12, 1805. 

First Taste of the Columbia River 

Mile 27.5, Motorway W R

 3 Lewis records their entry into Idaho “...I now 

decended the mountain about 3/4 of a mile which I found 

much steeper than on the opposite side, to a handsome 

bold running Creek of cold Clear water. here I first 

tasted the water of the great Columbia river...”

Lewis & Clark Trail Route

Mile 27.9, Motorway R

 4 Captain Lewis, leading the Advance Party of 

three men, passed through this area August 12. Captain 

Clark with 11 men, Sacajawea and her husband Charbonneau, followed on August 19, 1805.

First Idaho Campsite

Trail Access at Mile 29.5, Motorway

Hike 0.75 Miles W R w

 5 “...we found a sufficient quantity of dry willow 

brush for fuel, here we encamped for the night having 

traveled about 20 Miles.”

– Lewis, August 12, 1805

First View – Valley Floor 

Trail Access at Mile 29.5, Motorway w

 6 On August 13, Lewis writes in his journal, “...a 

deep valley appeared to our left at the base of a high 

range of mountains which extended from S.E. to N.W. 

(Lemhi Range) having their sides better clad with pine 

timber than we had been accustomed to see the mountains and their tops were also partially covered with 

snow.”

Clark Campsite 

Trail Access at Mile 29.5, Motorway w

 7 Captain Clark, with the Reconnaissance Party, 

headed for the Salmon River to make canoes. He camped 

on Pattee Creek on 

August 19, 1805.

“...passed over a second 

hill of a verry steep 

assent & thro a hilley 

Countrey for

8 miles and Encamped 

on a Small Stream.”

 – Clark

Motorway Tour Kiosk

Mile 3.7, Motorway W R

 8 This site welcomes you to Sacajawea’s birthplace 

and serves as the jump-off point for the 39-mile loop road 

commemorating that expedition, this is the meeting place 

of two vastly different cultures which were to be forever 

changed.

Meeting of Two Cultures

Mile 4.1 - 0.2 miles on Alkali Flat Road a W R

 9 Lewis describes the historic and dramatic meeting of the two cultures for 

the first time as he was approaching their encampment 

near Kenney Creek. 

“...we had proceeded about 

four miles a wavy plain...”

– Lewis,

August 13, 1805

As Lewis’ Advance Party 

traveled along the plain 

parallel to the river bottom 

he writes, “...we saw two 

women, a man and some 

dogs on an eminence immediately before us...two 

of them after a few minutes set down as if to wait our 

arrival we continued our usual pace...when we had 

arrived within half a mile of them I directed the party to 

halt and leaving my pack and rifle I took the flag which 

I unfurled and advanced singly toward them the women 

soon disappeared behind the hill, the man continued 

untill I arrived within a hundred yards of him and then 

likewise absconded.” When Lewis surprised Shoshoni 

women later that day, he describes the encounter. “I now 

painted their tawny cheeks with some vermillion which 

with this nation is emblematic of peace.” At a later 

meeting with about 

60 warriors, he tells 

of the welcome, 

“... these men ... 

embraced me

very affectionately 

... by puting their 

left arm over you 

wright sholder 

clasping your back, 

while they apply 

their left cheek to 

yours...” 

Flag Unfurling Sign

Mile 115.8, State Highway 28, Tendoy W

 10 Upon reaching Lemhi Pass, 12 miles east of 

here, Lewis unfurled 

the American flag for 

the first time west of 

the Rockies on August 

13, 1805. Sparked 

by Lewis and Clark 

crossing the Continental Divide, westward 

expansion brought a 

great influx of explorers, missionaries, 

miners, and settlers 

and with them great 

changes for those 

people already here.

Upper Village I

Mile 120.5, State Highway 28, Look Northeast 

 11 August 13, Lewis and his advanced party arrived 

at this site after their dramatic meeting with the Shoshoni. Escorted by Chief Cameahwait and about 60 warriors, Lewis writes, “...on our arrival at their encampmen on the river...at the distance of 4 Ms. from where we 

had first met them they introduced us to a londge made 

of willow brush and an old leather lodge which had been 

prepared for our 

reception by the 

young men...”

Upper Village II

Mile120.2, State Highway 28, Look North

 12 August 20, Clark and the Reconnaisance Party 

reached this village. Sergeant Gass, an expedition 

member, chronicles, “We ... travelled ...to a village of 

the Indians on the bank...At this place there are about 

25 lodges made of willow bushes. They are the poorest and most miserable nation I ever beheld; having 

scarcely anything to subsist on, except berries and a few 

fish...They have a great many fine horses, and nothing 

more; and on account of these (the horses) they are much 

harassed by other nations.” Gass continues, “Here we 

procured a guide, (Old Toby) and left our interpreters to 

go on with the natives, and assist Captain Lewis and his 

party to bring on the baggage...”

Wayside Sign

Mile 120.0, State Highway 28 W

 13 Stone monument commemorating the Lewis and 

Clark Expedition.

Sacajawea Monument

Mile 120.5, State Highway 28, North 0.5 Mile W

 14 Metal plaque celebrating the birthplace of 

Sacajawea, the Shoshoni woman who accompanied 

Lewis and Clark Expedition on their expedition. 

Famed Interpreter

Mile 122.5, State Highway 28 W

 15 Sacajawea returned to her homeland in the 

Lemhi Valley in 1805 as a member of the Lewis and 

Clark party. She was reunited with her family after being abducted by an Assiniboine war party and served as 

liason between her people and the expedition.

Withington Creek Camp

MP 125.9, State Highway 28 W

 16 Clark with an Indian guide crossed over the 

Lemhi River and camped at Withington Creek. Sergeant 

Gass recalls “...Captain Clarke ... proceeded ... about 8 

miles and encamped on a fine spring. five of the Indians 

came and stayed with us during the night.”

Fish Weir Village

Mile 131.4, State Highway 28

 17 Site of a fish weir across the Lemhi River where 

the Shoshoni were able to trap enough Salmon for their 

subsistence and provide the expedition with as much 

broiled and dried salmon as they could eat, as well as 

dried chokecherries. 

Clark stopped here the 21st. and writes, “...

Those Indians are mild in their disposition appear Sincere in their friendship, puntial, and decided kind with 

what they have, to Spare ... The women are held more 

Sacred...and appear to have an equal Shere in all 

Conversation, ...their boeys & Girls 

are also admited to Speak except 

in Councils, the women doe 

all the drugery except 

fishing and takeing 

care of the horses, 

which the men apr. to 

take upon themselves.”

Forks of Louis’s River

Mile 306.0, US Highway 93

 18 Later at Tower Bluffs Clark reflects, “...I shall 

in justice to Capt. Lewis who was the first white man 

ever on this fork of the Columbia Call this Louis’s river.”

How do you spell Lewis? Clark apparently forgets. His 

description continues, “...The Westerley fork of the 

Columbia River (the Salmon River) is double the Size of 

the Easterley fork (Lemhi River) & below those forks the 

river is ...100 yards wide, it is verry rapid & Sholey water Clear but little timber.” Clark goes on, “the forks of 

this river is famous as a gig fishery and is much resorted 

by the Natives.”

Sammon Creek

Mile 309.9, US Highway 93 W

 19 Clark in his August 21, 1805 journal entry describes Sammon Creek (now known as Carmen Creek), 

“...Passed a large Creek which fall in on the right Side 6 

miles below the forks a road passed up 

this Creek & to the Missouri.” 

Sergeant Gass adds, “In 

this branch we shot 

a salmon about 

6 pounds 

weight.”

“...water was conducted to this 

basket, which was so narrow at 

it’s lower extremity that the fish 

when once in could not turn 

itself about, and were taken 

out by untying the small ends 

of the longitudinal willows, 

which frormed the hull of 

the basket.”

– Lewis, August 21, 1805

“... I went to see the 

place those people take 

the fish, a wear (weir) 

across the creek in which 

there is stuk baskets set in 

different derections so as to 

take the fish either descending 

or assending...”

– Clark, August 21, 1805

Near the Shoshoni 

village site on the 

Lemhi River.

Please ask permission to cross private property.

USDA

Forest

Service

Bureau of

Land

Management

River of

No Return

Interpretive

Association

Agency Creek

Flume Creek

Wade Creek

Salmon

Carmen

Carmen Creek (Sammon

Creek)

Kirtley Creek

Kenney

Creek

Sandy Creek

Wimpy Creek

Withington

Creek

State Highway 28

U.S. Highway 93

Pattee Creek

Motorway

Lewis & Clark Back Country Byway

and Adventure Road

Lemhi River (East Fork of Lewis' River)

Tendoy

Lewis & Clark Trail

Salmon, ID

20 Miles

Lemhi Pass

10

1 2

3

4

5

6

7

9

8

12 13

14

15

16

17

18

19

11

Y

MONTANA

IDAHO

Continental Divide

Salmon River (West Fork of Lewis' River)

a

Brochure Key

 Lewis & Clark Trail Access 

R Motorway W Sign wHiking

a Camping c Picnicking

Y National Forest and Public Land Information

0 1 2 3

Scale in Miles

N
Dreadful Narrows 

Mile 3.6, Forest Road 30 - Deadwater Picnic Area

 27 August 23, Sergeant Gass writes in his journal, 

“We proceeded down the river through dreadful narrows, (starts about 1 1/2 miles upstream from this point) 

where the rocks were in some places breast high, and no 

path or trail of any kind...”

Sore Horse Feet Camp

Mile 6.0, Forest Road 30

 28 Clark writes in his journal, “...I deturmined to 

delay the party here with my guide and three men proceed on down to examine if the river continued bad or 

was practiable...” Sergeant Gass writes August 24, 1805, 

“...The river at this place is so confined by the mountains 

that it is not more than 20 yards wide, and very rapid. 

The mountains on the side are not less than 1000 feet 

high and very steep. There are a few pines growing on 

them. We caught some small fish to-day, and our hunters 

killed 5 prairie fowls. These were all we had to subsist 

on. At 1 o’clock Captain Clarke and his party returned 

after having been down the river about 12 miles...”

Lewis recalls Clark’s journey, “...at the distance 

of four miles he arrived at the river and the rocks were 

here so steep and juted into the river such manner that 

there was no other alternative but passing through the 

river, this he attempted with 

success tho’ water was so 

deep for a short distance as to 

swim the horses and was very 

rapid; he continued his rout 

one mile along the edge of the 

river under this steep Clift to 

a little bottom...”

As the canyon narrowed, so did 

their options. Along with their 

horses, they were forced into the 

water here by the shear rock walls.

Injured Leg Canyon

Mile 7.3, Forest Road 30

 29 August 23, 1805. 

Clark writes in his journal,

“...The River from the place 

I left my party to this Creek 

is almost one continued 

rapid...the passage of either 

with Canoes is entirely 

impossable,as the water is 

Confined between hugh Rocks & the Current beeting 

from one against another...at one of those rapids the 

mountains Close So Clost as to prevent a possibility of a 

portage with great labour ...the others may be passed by 

takeing every thing over Slipery rocks, and the Smaller 

ones Passed by letting down the Canoes empty with 

Cords, as running them would certainly be productive 

of the loss of Some Canoes...” While returning to camp, 

Captain Clark fell from a rock and injured one of his 

legs. 

Berry Creek 

Mile 10.8, Forest Road 30

 30 Lewis’ journal reflects Clark’s journey; 

August 23, 1805, “...a plain indian road led 

up this (Indian) creek which the guide informed him (Clark) led to a large river that ran 

to the North, and was frequented by another 

nation who occasionally visited this river for 

the purpose of taking fish...Cap. C...caught 

some small fish, on which, with the addition of 

some berries, they dined...after dinner Capt. 

C. continued his rout down the river and at 1/2 

a mile pased another creek (Squaw Creek)...

leaving the creek on the wright he passed over 

a ridge, and at the distance of a mile arrived 

at the river where it passes through a well timbered bottom of about eighty acres of land...”

Fruit of the chokecherry Prunus virginiana,

a staple food for the Shoshoni.

Final Observation of the River Canyon

Mile 16.5, Forest Road 30

 31 August 23, Clark recalls, “...passed over a gap in 

the Mounts. from the top of which I could See the hollers 

of the river for 20 miles to a verry high Mountain on the 

left, at which place my guide made Signs that the bad 

part...of the river Comsd. and much worst than any I 

Saw...” 

Lewis, in his journal, reviews why Clark decided to abandon his pursuit of the river route “...after 

the river reached this mountain it continued it’s rout 

to the North between high and perpendicular rocks, 

roling foaming and beating against innumerable rocks 

which crouded it’s channel; that then it penetrated the 

mountain through a narrow gap 

leaving a perpendicular rock 

on either side as high as the 

top of the mountain which he 

beheld. that the river here making a bend they could not see 

through the mountain, and as 

it was impossible to decend the 

river or clamber over that vast 

mountain covered with eternal 

snow, neither himself (Toby) nor 

any of his nation had ever been 

lower in this direction...” From 

this point, one can see the ridge 

(about 1 mile northeast), where 

Clark was standing when he determined it was truly an impassable canyon.

Gibbonsville

Mile 337.2, US Highway 93

 32 Clark writes, September 2, 1805, “...Crossed a 

large fork from the right and one from the left; and at 8 

mile left the roadeon which we were pursuing and which 

leads over to the Missouri (Dahlonega Creek); and proseeded up a West fork...thro’ thickets in which we were 

obliged to Cut a road, over rockey hill Sides where our 

horses were in pitial danger of Slipping to Ther certain 

destruction...”

Deep Creek

Mile 341.3, US Highway 93 W

 33 September 2, Lewis and Clark proceeded with 

much difficulty up the North Fork. Some authorities 

believe this may have been the most difficult terrain 

encountered by the expedition. They camped on the west 

side of the river in this vicinity. 

Lewis and Clark-Last Ascent

Mile 345.5, US Highway 93 W

 34 Seeking a route through Idaho’s mountain barrier, the Entire Expedition left the canyon and climbed a 

high ridge reaching the Bitterroot Valley on September 

4. Without a trail, Toby, their Shoshoni guide, led them 

along a difficult ridgetop divide over high peaks, which 

are visible to the north.

Lost Trail Pass

Mile 351.1, US Highway 93 W

35 The Lewis and Clark expedition likely lost the 

trail to this pass. They camped two miles west of here 

the night of September 3. 

From here, the 

Lewis and Clark Expedition proceeded down the 

Bitterroot River Valley, 

back into Idaho and finally 

down the Columbia River. 

They reached the Pacific 

Ocean November, 1805. 

Red Monkeyflower 

Mimulus lewisii named

for Captain Lewis.

. . . Forever Changed

Findings from the Lewis and Clark Expedition 

were instrumental to westward expansion. Adventurers 

and scientists, Lewis and Clark recorded detail descriptions of the plant, animal, geographic, and cultural elements of their trip.

Hoping to find a navigable route down the 

Salmon River, Clark was forced to retrace his steps opting for a safer, land-based route after viewing the “River 

of No Return.” Although not “entirely impassable”, the 

Salmon River, to this day, provides adventure to modernday explorers.

For More Information on the 

 Lewis and Clark Trail 

 in Lemhi County, contact:

Salmon-Challis National Forest

RR2, Box 600

Highway 93 South

Salmon, Idaho 83467

(208) 756-5100

Bureau of Land Management

Salmon Field Office

RR2, Box 610

Highway 93 South

Salmon, Idaho 83467

(208) 756-5400

For additional information on Idaho call:

(800) VISIT - ID

Special thanks to:

River of No Return Interpretive Association

P.O. Box 661

Salmon, Idaho 83467

Quotes taken from:

The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

July 28 - November 1, 1805

Gary E. Moulton, Editor

University of Nebraska Press, 1988

Photo’s courtesy of:

Wilmer J. Rigby, Hadley Roberts, Elias Williams,

Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management

Fish Weir Graphic courtesy of: Brad Pinkerton

23.235.413.07/98

The Bluff

Mile 315.1, US Highway 93 a W

 20 On August 21, Clark and party first reached the 

Salmon River and camped near 

this spot by the bluff near the 

mouth of Tower Creek. “...This 

Clift is of a redish brown Colour. the rocks which fall from 

it is a dark flint tinged with that 

Colour. Some Gullies of white 

Sand Stone and Sand fine & 

white as Snow...”

Geological formations about two 

miles up Tower Creek Road on 

private property.

Tower Creek-Pirimids

Mile 315.7, US Highway 93 W

 21 On August 31 the Expedition travelled up Tower 

Creek. Clark wrote, “...We proceeded on the road on 

which I had decended as far as the 1st run below & left 

the road...& Encamped in Some old lodjes at the place 

the road leaves the Creek and ascends the high Country...passed remarkable rock resembling pirimids on the 

Left side.”

Four Mountain Spur Crossing

Mile 319.1, US Highway 93

 22 Encountering rugged terrain, Lewis serves as 

scribe for Clark’s account of the ordeal: “we set out 

early and passed ... the points of four mountains which 

were high steep and rocky. the mountains are so steep 

that it is almost incredible to mention that horses had 

passed them. our road in many places lay over the sharp 

fragments of rocks which had fall from the mountains 

and lay in confused heaps for miles together; yet notwithstanding our horsed traveled barefoot over them as 

fast as we could ....” Notice the mountain spurs to the 

north and south.

Fourth of July Creek

Mile 321.0, US Highway 93

 23 Looking south, you can see the descent from the 

mountain spur is an easy route compared to the northern 

spur. Faced with the proposition of swimming the river, 

the Reconnaisance Party climbed out of the canyon 

again over the difficult route you can see. Clark writes 

in his journal August 22, 1805, “...it is incrediable to 

describe the rocks in maney places loose & sliped from 

those mountains and is a (Solid) bed of rugid loose white 

and dark brown loose rock for miles.”

Wagonhammer Springs

Mile 324.4, US Highway 93 w c

 24 The trail Lewis and Clark took can be reached 

by walking approximately two miles up Wagonhammer 

Creek to the mouth of Thompson Gulch; follow marked 

trail to left. The trail 

is marked from that 

point to its return to 

the North Fork of the 

Salmon River at Trail 

Gulch, a distance 

of approximately 

six miles. You can 

hike a portion of the 

trail that remains 

virtually as it was 

when traveled by the 

expedition. This day 

hike is best in cooler 

weather.

Vista from the Lewis 

and Clark Trail, looking 

down Trail Gulch.

Salmon River Reconnaisance Sign

Mile 326.2, US Highway 93 W

 25 Hoping for a navigable route to the Pacific, 

Clark explored the first few miles of the rugged Salmon 

River Canyon below here (North Fork) late in August. 

His small advance party camped near this location. 

Fish Creek Village

Mile 326.4, US Highway 93 Y

 26 Fish Creek, now known as the North Fork of the 

Salmon River, was the site of an Shoshoni village which 

is described by Clark in his journal for August 22, 1805. 

“...Several families of Indians were encamped and had 

Several Scaffolds of fish & buries drying we allarmed 

them verry much as they knew nothing of a white man 

being in their Countrey, and at the time we approached 

their lodges which was in a thick place of bushes – my 

guiedes were behind.– They offered every thing they 

possessed (which was verry littl) to us, Some run off and 

hid in the bushes...I gave a fiew Small articles to those 

fritened people which added verry much to their pasification...”

“I Saw to day [a] 

... wood pecker 

... which fed on 

Pine burs its bill 

and tale white the 

wings black every 

other part of a 

light brown, and 

about the Size of 

a robin.” 

– Clark

August 22, 1805

Would you lead a string of horses 

across this hillside? 

The Expedition struggled across 

these crumbly mountainsides on 

much of their journey in this area.

As Toby warned of the fury of Pine Creek Rapids and unrelenting 

current below, Clark decided to abandon this route.

Clark’s Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana

Hughes Creek

Dahlonega

Creek

Hull Creek

Tower Creek

4th of July

Creek

Wagonhammer

Creek

Indian Creek

Squaw Creek

Spring Creek

Salmon

National Wild & Scenic River

State Highway 28

U.S. Highway 93

North Fork of Salmon

River

Carmen Creek

(Sam

mon

Creek)

Kirtley Creek

Lewis & Clark Trail

Y

Y

Salmon

Carmen

MONTANA IDAHO

North Fork

Gibbonsville

Lost Trail Pass

45 Miles

Lemhi River

Kriley

Gulch

Trail

Gulch

Forest Service

Road 30

20

21

22 23 24

25

32

34 35

33

26

27

28

29

30

31

(B

erry Creek)

MONTANA

(Fish

Creek)

Salmon River

Brochure Key

 Lewis & Clark Trail Access 

R Motorway W Sign wHiking

a Camping c Picnicking

Y National Forest and Public Land Information

0 1 2 3

Scale in Miles

N

a

a

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