Lewis and Clark Montana Expedition
Lewis and Clark history of Montana is fascinating and an interesting choice for your Montana Vacation. Not only will you discover the intriguing history of Montana and the West but you will also see some amazing landscape, animals, and meet interesting Montanans along the way.
Explore Lewis and Clark Country.
Originally Lewis and Clark’s goal was to find an easy passage from the Missouri River to the Columbia River and connect the two oceans. They were trained to document the flora, fauna, and Native Americans they were sure to meet along the way. What they didn’t imagine is that the landscape of Montana would be so rough and unforgiving.
It took Lewis and Clark five months to cross the state of Montana but you can do the expedition in a week or two. You can break up the journey into three legs of Montana
First leg of the Lewis and Clark Montana Expedition:
The Missouri River is the most important part of the expedition. You can start at the Fort Union a re-creation of an 1840′s trading post. Travel on Highway 2 following to Missouri to Fort Peck and you might stay here for the night. Continue your journey along Highway 2 where you will meet the Milk River, and if you can make it you might go to Virgelle and stay for the night. After Virgell to Fort Benton you will come to the Missouri Breaks Backcountry Byway a scenic rugged view of the Missouri badlands. In Great Falls you will find the Lewis and Clark national Historic Trail Interpretive Center.
Second leg of the Lewis and Clark Montana Expedition:
Upper Missouri Valley is a scenic drive from Great Falls to Helena on I-15. In Helena you can find the upper Missouri Lakes which are actually dams built along the Missouri creating a chain of lakes that have good camping and fishing.
Third leg of the Lewis and Clark Montana Expedition:
From Helena you will continue to Three Forks and there you can see the Missouri Headwaters State Park. You can understand Lewis and Clark’s confusion at this point as to which river to take. They chose the Jefferson River and followed it to the Continental Divide. Beaverhead Rock is the land-form that Sacgawea said she had grown-up near. Down the road on Highway 41 is Dillon, Montana a quaint town at the edge of the state boundary.
Related posts:
- Poplar, Montana
- Great Falls, Montana Hotels and Lodging
- Montana Campgrounds: Lewistown
- Glasgow, Montana
- Sidney, Montana Vacations
