Discover History
Sacajawea is probably the most famous individual to come form Lemhi County. Without her presence, Lewis and Clark might never have accomplished their nearly impossible task of reaching the Pacific Ocean.
Sacajawea was a Lemhi Shoshone Indian, born around 1788, between Kenney Creek and Agency Creek, near Tendoy, Idaho. In the year 1800, the Lemhi Indians were camped near the three forks of the Missouri River in Montana. The Minnetaree Indians attacked them and several prisoners were taken, including Sacajawea. Between 1800 and 1804, the Minetaree Indian sold her and one other Lemhi Shoshone Indian to a French Canadian fur trader, Toussaint Charbonneau. In 1804, Charbonneau and his wife, Sacajawea, were hired by Lewis and Clark to guide and interpret on the expedition westward. Sacajawea gave birth to a son on February 11, 1805, and Charbonneau named him, Jean Baptiste. However, Sacajawea called him “Pomp” or “Pompy”. Her son held a loving spot in the heart of the members of the expedition and was a delight to them. Sacajawea proved invaluable to the explorers not only as an interpreter to the Shoshone, but for her knowledge of edible berries, roots and plants, which she collected and used for food and medicinal purposes for the benefit of the men on the expedition. Because of her presence, many Indian tribes befriended the expedition, as no woman and child ever accompanied a war party of Indians. Although much of the county covered by the group of explores was unfamiliar to Sacajawea, she was able to advise the captains about certain mountain passes in the Big Hole Divide and the Bridger Range. Lewis and Clark, and members of their party describe her as loyal, capable, patient and pleasant. In his journal, Captain Clark noted that she had been particularly useful among the Shoshone, and that she had borne the hardships of the long journey with admirable patience even though encumbered by an infant.
William Clark was very fond of Sacajawea's son, Jean Baptiste, and asked to take the child to raise him in a proper manner. It was agreed that after a year the boy would be old enough to leave his mother, and Charbonneau took “Pomp” to Captain Clark.
It was unclear what became of Sacajawea after the Lewis and Clark Expedition disbanded. John E. Rees claims that she lived in Wind River, Wyoming, until her death in 1884. However, statements by William Clark and trader John C. Letting make it clear that Sacajawea died on December 23, 1812, at Fort Manuel in South Dakota. Most scholars now accept Clark's notes on the cover of his “Cash Book”, and Luttig's note in his journal. “This evening the wife of Charbonneau died of putrid fever she was a good and the best woman on the fort, aged about 25 year. She left a fine infant girl.”
In the spring of 1813, the infant girl was taken to Captain Clark in T. Louis, after a massacre of white men at Fort Manuel. Clark believed that Charbonneau had been killed in the massacre and knew that Sacajawea was dead, so he legally adopted Jean Baptiste and the infant girl, Lisette. Historians believe that Lisette must have died soon after because no more was written about her. However, in 1816, Charbonneau did appear in St. Louis. He became a prominent guide for many westward expeditions. He died in 1843.
The Federal Government entered the Fort Manuel site into the National Register of Historic Places on February 8, 1978, in formal recognition of Sacajawea's death there.
The Mountain Shoshone (Sheepeater Indians) are considered the first residents of the upper Lemhi Valley, dating back 8000 years or more. Some authorities believe the Shoshone were among the first Indians to have horses. They probably traded for them from their relatives the Comanches, about 1700. Horses gave the Indians mobility. They also afforded the Indians greater strength when hunting the bison and greater protection from their enemies. Archaeological research indicates that buffalo, when present, were hunted throughout the 8000 years of Indian occupancy of the Lemhi Valley.
The Mountain Shoshone were also great fishermen. It was their practice to build weirs and dams to catch the salmon. They shared their Salmon River fishing grounds with their neighbors, the Nez Perce from the north and the west, and the Flathead Indians from the Bitterroot Valley to the north. The Nez Perce and the Flathead Indians often came to the valley to fish and trade with the Shoshone. It is also believed that the Shoshone, Flathead and Nez Perce may have united, from time to time, to strengthen their hunting endeavors and to give themselves more protection against the Blood (Blackfeet) and other Plains tribes who considered their territory invaded by the Shoshone, Nez Perce and Flathead from the west.
By 1805 the Shoshone had about 700 horses, including some mules. Some of the mules had Spanish Brands, and Meriwether Lewis observed stirrups and other articles of Spanish tack (horse gear). The Shoshone told Lewis that they could reach the Spanish settlements in 10 days if they followed the Yellowstone River. However, the Shoshone complained that while the Spaniards let them have horses they would not give them guns. The lack of firearms left them at the mercy of the Plains Indians who had guns. The Lemhi Shoshone of 1805 fought on horseback and commonly used the bow and arrow, shield, lance and poggamoggon (a weapon with a leather-covered wood handle and a thong at one end tied to a 2-pound leather-covered round stone).
The Flathead and Nez Perce Indians were very well supplied with horses. Parker states, every man, woman and child are mounted on horseback, and all their possessions are packed upon horses. Small children, not more than three years old, are mounted alone, and generally upon colts. They are lashed upon the saddle to keep them from falling when they sleep, which they often do when they become fatigued. Then they recline upon the horses shoulders; and when they awake, lay hold of their whip, which is fastened to the wrist of their right hand, and apply it smartly to their horses; and it is astonishing to see how these little creatures will guide and run them.
In 1875, a reservation was established for a mixed band of about 700 Shoshone, Sheepeater, and Bannock Indians under the leadership of Chief Tendoy, a Lemhi Shoshone. The reservation consisted of approximately 160 square miles, of roughly the width of the Lemhi Valley from ridge to ridge from present day Tendoy, Idaho, south to a line near the Lemhi, Idaho, post office. The reservation proved to be impractical and in 1906, 474 Indians moved from the Lemhi Reservation to the Fort Hall Reservation.
Many of Chief Tendoy's group did not want to leave the Lemhi Valley and moved to Salmon. In May 1907, Chief Tendoy died. A funeral was held at the Indian burial ground on a bench near Tendoy, Idaho. Indian and white man alike revere Chief Tendoy as a capable leader and good friend. A monument was erected at his burial site and can be visited today.
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 back in Montana, Lewis sorted supplies necessary for the Portage Party over Lemhi Pass. 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 Clark's steps in areas where little has changed since they were here.
Captain Lewis and three other members of the Corps of Discovery reached Lemhi Pass on August 12th 1805. The Salmon-Challis and Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forests hosted a ceremony commemorating the 200th anniversary of that day.
On August 12, 2005, there were ~210 people who attended. The agenda included the Director of BLM, Director of External Affairs for the Secretary of Interior, the Intermountain Regional Forester, the Supervisor of the Salmon-Challis NF, Bud Clark, the great, great, great grandson of Captain Clark, and members of the Lemhi Shoshone band of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe.
The people in attendance were from all over...most of whom said they traveled there just to be there for this ceremony. People came from Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, California, and of course Montana and Idaho.
1. Sacajawea Memorial Camp
Located several miles below the present interpretive sign at Sacajawea Memorial Camp, Lewis wrote in his journal of August 12 about the headwaters of the Missouri River, "...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."
Sacajawea Memorial Camp is located at Mile 0.02 of the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway, in Montana. Facilities include informal camping sites, toilets, picnic tables, interpretive signs, and a wildflower interpretive trail.
2. Lemhi Pass - Continental Divide
The Advance Party were the first white men to cross Lemhi Pass (7,339'), a Shoshone Indian hunting trail, on August 12, 1805.
Located at Mile 26.0 of the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway this site has informal picnicking opportunities, a trail head that accesses the upper portion of the trail, and interpretive signs. The trail is steep and rough, cutting along an old wagon road in some places, side-hilling across sagebrush covered slopes, and weaving through thick willow and cottonwood thickets in others.
For more information on the Lemhi Pass, click here.
3. First Taste of the Columbia River
Lewis records their entry into Idaho "...I now descended 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..."
Located at Mile 27.5 of the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway this site has informal picnicking opportunities along Agency or Flume Creeks. There are no facilities at this location.
4. Lewis & Clark Trail Route
Captain Lewis, leading the Advance Party of three men, passed through this area on August 12. Captain Clark with 11 men, Sacajawea and her husband Charbonneau, followed on August 19, 1905.
The interpretive sign for first Idaho campsite and trail access is located at Mile 29.5 of the Motor route. The hike is 0.75 miles to the campsite, which is on private land. Please ask permission or hike around the property. There is also potential for nearby informal picnicking and vehicle drop- off for upper trail route.
5. First Idaho Campsite
"...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
The camp is located on private land, please ask permission before you enter or hike around the property.
7. Clark Campsite
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 very steep assent & thro a hilley Countrey for 8 miles and Encamped on a Small Stream." — Clark
Trail access at Mile 29.5 of the Motorway.
8. Meeting of Two Cultures
Lewis describes the historic and dramatic meeting of the two cultures for the first time as he was approaching their encampment near Kenney Creek.
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 a 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 until I arrived within a hundred yards of him and then likewise absconded."
When Lewis surprised Shoshone women later that day, he describes the encounter. "I now painted their tawny cheeks with vermillion which this nation is emblamatic of peace."
At a latter meeting with about 60 warriors, he tells of the welcome, "...these men embraced me very affectionately...by puting their left arm over you wright shoulder clasping your back, while they apply their left cheek to yours..."
There are hiking and interpretive sign activities at Mile 4.1 - 0.2 miles on the Alkali Flat Road.
9. Motor Tour Kiosk
his site welcomes you to Sacajawea's birthplace and serves as the jump-off point for the 39-mile loop road commemorating the expedition, this is the meeting place of two vastly different cultures which were to be forever changed.
The kiosk is located at Mile 3.7 of the Motorway. Interpretive panels provide information about the Lewis and Clark Back Country Adventure Byway and the Expedition.
The Byway consists of relatively rough and steep dirt roads that wind through the foot hills of the Beaverhead Mountains to Lemhi Pass and back down Agency Creek Road. High clearance vehicles are not necessary, but may be helpful. Always make sure you take emergency gear and be ready for any kind of weather, including intense lightning storms, snow, sleet, hail, and rain. Rocks puncturing tire sidewalls or tread is extremely likely, so be sure to have a spare in good working order. There is no potable water and bathrooms may only be found at the kiosk site and Agency Creek Campground, located on Agency Creek, along the Motorway.
10. Flag Unfurling Sign
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.
The sign is located at Mile 115.8 of State Highway 28, just south and across from the Tendoy Store. Tendoy is the entrance to the the Agency Creek Road, which leads to Lemhi Pass. The road is generally rough, narrow and steep not maintained for winter travel and is generally impassable all winter. Please call ahead to find out current conditions.
Agency Creek campground, a small campground operated by the BLM, is located about half-way up the road. Otherwise, there are no toilets or other developed facilities until you reach Sacajawea Memorial Camp on the Montana side. There is gas at Tendoy, but the next nearest gas station is Dillon, Montana, about ? miles from Tendoy.
11. Upper Village I
August 13, Lewis and his Advance Party arrived at this site after their dramatic meeting with the Shoshone. Escorted by Chief Cameahwait and about 60 warriors, Lewis writes, "...on our arrival at their encampmen on the river...at a 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..."
The interpretive sign is located at Mile 120.5, State Highway 28. Look to the northeast along the river to see where the village was located. The village is located on private property, please respect the property owners wishes and stay on the highway.
12. Upper Village II
August 20, Clark and Reconnaissance Party reached this village. Sergeant Gass, an expedition member, chronicles, "We...traveled...to a village of the Indians on the bank...At this place there are about 25 lodges made of willow brushes. 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 lef t our interpreters to go on with the natives, and assist Captain Lewis and his party to bring on the baggage..."
The sign is located at Mile 120.2, State Highway 28. Look north toward the Lemhi River to see where the camp was located. This camp site is located on private land, please follow the landowner's wishes and remain on the highway.
Old Toby
Gary Moulton, author of The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, cites John Rees in a 1958 Idaho Yesterdays article entitled "The Shoshone Contribution to Lewis and Clark" for information regarding Old Toby's Indian name. Old Toby was derived from "Tobe", an abbreviation of Tosa-tive koo-be, which means "furnished white white-man brains". This name referred to his service as the Expedition's guide from the Lemhi Valley down the Salmon River and over Lost Trail Pass. Moulton explains that the double reference to "white white-man" is to distinguish the rest of the party from York, who was a "black white-man". Rees cites Toby's real name as Pikee queen-ah or swooping eagle.
13. Wayside Sign
Stone monument commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Located at Mile 120.0, State Highway.
14. Sacajawea Monument
Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition, provided many of the Indian language translations. At times this could be quite combersome. When they reached her homeland she translated from Shoshone to Blackfoot for her husband, the French trapper Charbonneau, who would translate Blackfoot to French for expedition member Labiche, who would then translate French to English for Lewis and Clark.
The monument is located about 0.5 miles north from Highway 28 at Mile 120.5. Turn opposite the K Mountain signs.
15. Famed Interpreter
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 liaison between her people and the expedition.
The sign is located at Mile 122.5, Sate Highway 28. See point 14 for the actual monument.
16. Withington Creek Camp
Clark with an Indian guide crossed over the Lemhi River and camped at Withington Creek. Sergeant Gass recalls "...Captain Clarke...proceed ed...about 8 miles and encamped on a fine spring. Five of the Indians cam and stayed with us during the night."
The sign is located at Mile 125.9, State Highway 28. The camp is located on private land, please respect the landowner's wishes and remain at the highway pullout.
17. Fish Weir Village
Site of fish weir across the Lemhi River where the Shoshone 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 share in all Conversation,...their boeys & Girls are also admitted 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."
"...I went to see the place those people take the fish, a wear [weir] across the creek in which there is stuck baskets set in different directions so as to take the fish either descending or ascending..." -- Clark, August 21, 1805
"..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 formed the hull of the basket."
--Lewis, August 21, 1805
18. Forks of Louis's River
Later at Tower Bluff's 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." As in this case, Clark often spelled Lewis's name in different ways. His description continues, "...The Westerly fork of the Columbia River [the present Salmon River] is double the size of the Easterley fork [the present Lemhi River] & below those forks the river is ...100 yards wide, it is very 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."
This site is located at Mile 306.0, US Highway 93. You can view the confluence of the Lemhi and Salmon Rivers from the highway or boat to it from the Island Park boat launch, however, the actual land is private. Please respect the landowner's wishes and do not cross from the highway to the mouth.
19. Sammon Creek
Clark in his August 21, 1805 journal entry describes Sammon Creek [present 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." Sargeant Gass adds, "In this branch we shot a salmon about 6 pounds weight."
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 309.9, US Highway 93. Carmen Creek is located just to the north and crosses under the highway.
20. The Bluff
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 reddish 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..."
There is an interpretive sign and campground at Mile 315.1, US Highway 93. Tower Rock campground, a BLM campground has full facilities for a small fee.
21. Tower Creek-Pirimids
"...We proceeded on the road 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...pased remarkable rock resembling pirimids on the Left side."
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 315.7, US Highway 93.
22. Four Mountain Spur Crossing
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 and steep and rocky. the mountains are so steep that it is almost incredible to mention that horses 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..."
There are no interpretive signs or facilities at Mile 319.1, US Highway 93.
23. Fourth of July Creek
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 Reconnaissance 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 & slipped from those mountains and is a (Solid) bed of rugid loose white and dark brown loose rock for miles."
There are no interpretive signs or facilities at Mile 321.0, US Highway 93.
24. Wagonhammer Springs
Wagonhammer Springs Picnic area was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp. in the mid 1930's. 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.
There are picnic and toilet facilities at Mile 324.4, US Highway 93.
25. Salmon River Reconnaissance Sign
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.
This sign is located at Mile 326.2, US Highway 93, North Fork, Idaho.
26. Fish Creek Village
Fish Creek, now known as the North Fork of the Salmon River, was the site of a Shoshone 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 very 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 everything they possessed (which was very little) to us, Some run off and hid in the bushes...I gave a fiew Small articles to those fritened people which added very much to their pasification..."
This site is located at Mile 326.4, US Highway 93 near the North Fork Ranger Station. There are no interpretive or other facilities here at this time. The actual site is on private land. Please respect the wishes of the landowner and view the site from the North Fork Store or Ranger Station.
27. Dreadful Narrows
August 23, Seargeant Gass writes in his journal, "We proceeded down the river through dreadful narrows, where the rocks were in some places breast high, and no path or trail of any kind..."
28. Sore Horse Feet Camp
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 practible..." Seargeant 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 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 so steep and juted into the river such a 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..."
Sore Horse Feet Camp is located at Mile 6.0, Forest Road 30. There is an informal camp spot here with no constructed facilities. An interpretive sign is in place here.
29. Injured Leg Canyon
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 enterely impossible, as the water is Confined between hugh Rocks & the Current beeting from one against another...at one of those rapids the mountains so Close So Clost as to prevent a possibility of a portage with great labour...the others may be passed by takeing every thing over slippery rocks, and 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.
Injured Leg Canyon is located at Mile 7.3, Forest Road 30. There are no interpretive signs or other facilities.
32. Berry Creek
Lewis' journal reflects Clark's journey; August 23, 1805 "...a plain indian road led up this (present day 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 ½ a mile pased another creek (present day 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..."
Berry Creek is located at Mile 10.8, Forest Road 30. The Indian Creek Guest Ranch is located a short distance up Indian Creek Road. The Indianola Forest Service Ranger Station adjacent to Berry Creek was originally built in 1909, remodeled by the Civilian Conservation Corp in the 1930s, and is now one of the oldest helicopter fire attack bases in the United States. There are no interpretive or other public facilities at Indianola.
33. Final Observation of the River Canyon
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 very 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, rolling foaming and beating against innumerable rocks which crowded 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 one mile to the northeast where Clark was standing when he determined it was truly an impassable canyon.
The ridge Clark took his final observation of the canyon is located at Mile 16.5, Forest Road 30, just above the large flat where Salmon River Estates is located. There are no interpretive signs or other facilities here, however, an interpretive sign is in place at the Pine Creek Rapids bridge, located several miles below Shoup, Idaho.
Spring Creek Campground is located 16.9 miles west of the North Fork Ranger Station along Forest Road 30 (Salmon River Road). It is fee campground providing 5 trailer or tent sites, drinking water, toilets and a boat ramp. Fishing, swimming and rafting opportunities are available locally.
32. Gibbonsville
Clark writes, September 2, 1805, "...Crossed a large fork from the right and one from the left; and at 8 mile left the road on which we were pursuing and which leads over to the Missouri (along present day Dahlonega Creek); and proceeded up a West fork...thro' thickets in which we were obliged to Cut a road, over rocky hill Sides where our horses were in pitial danger of Slipping to Ther certain destruction..."
Gibbonsville, a mining town founded in the 1880s, is located at Mile 337.2, US Highway 93. There are no interpretive signs, however, food and lodging may be found in the area.
33. Deep Creek
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.
Twin Creek Campground is located 16.3 miles north of the North Fork Ranger Station along Highway 93. It is a fee campground providing 40 trailer or tent sites, drinking water, toilets, stock ramps, and picnic tables. Fishing and hiking opportunities are available locally.
34. Lewis and Clark - Last Ascent
Seeking a route through the 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 Shoshone guide, led them along a difficult ridge top divide over high peaks, which were visible to the north.
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 345.5, US Highway 93.
35. Lost Trail Pass
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 Valley, back into Idaho and finally down the Columbia River. They reached the Pacific Ocean November, 1805.
There is an interpretive sign at Mile 351.1, US Highway 93.
