Salmon to Tendoy, Idaho to the Continental Divide 
by way of Sacajawea Historic Byway and the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway

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Start your adventure in Salmon, Idaho and journey into the rugged terrain and rich history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Follow the Sacajawea Historic Byway to the Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway that winds and follows the route taken by Meriwether Lewis as he crossed into Idaho in August 1805.

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📍 Salmon, Idaho – Your Gateway to the Lewis and Clark Back Country.

• Sacajawea Interpretive Center – Exhibits, trails, and history celebrating Sacajawea and the Expedition.

• Continental Divide Trail & Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail – These legendary trails intersect at Lemhi Pass, now a National Historic Landmark.

• Plan your journey into the past, and experience the majestic terrain where history was made.

• View the Map (attached) to discover numbered historical sites that bring this chapter of American history to life.
   

🎥 Watch the Lewis and Clark Backcountry Byway Video & Sacajawea Historic Byway Video
 

Retrace the Expedition's Route

On August 9, 1805, Captain Meriwether Lewis and three men (Shields, Drouillard, McNeal) traveled ahead of the Corps of Discovery to locate the Shoshone tribe. They followed an Indian trail through the fourth range of the Rockies in today’s Montana and Idaho.

By August 12, 1805, Lewis crossed Lemhi Pass and the Continental Divide — entering what is now Idaho. His journal recorded:

📖"We proceeded on to the top of the dividing ridge from which I discovered immense ranges of high mountains still to the West of us with their tops partially covered with snow."

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📍 Key Historical Sites 

The Lewis and Clark Back Country Byway offers breathtaking scenery and notable stops tied to the Expedition’s journey. Below are numbered sites you’ll find on the map: (download pdf)
 

1. Sacajawea Memorial Camp (Montana): Interpretive signs and wildflower trail.

2. Lemhi Pass – Continental Divide: Where Lewis entered Idaho on August 12, 1805 (Mile 26 of the Byway).

3. Flag Unfurling Sign: Near Tendoy (Mile 115.8, Hwy 28), marking where the U.S. flag was first raised west of the Continental Divide.

4. Meeting of Two Cultures: Located 0.4 miles along Alkali Flat Road (Mile 4.1, Byway); includes interpretive signage and hiking.

5. Back Country Byway Tour Kiosk: Start of the scenic route.

6. Sacajawea Signs: At mile 120.5 and 122.5 on Hwy 28 — celebrate the birthplace of Sacajawea.

7. The Bluff: Near Tower Creek, Clark's camp on August 21, 1805.

8. Wagonhammer Springs: Hike 2 miles from Hwy 93 to reach Lewis and Clark Trail (via Thompson Gulch).

9. Lost Trail Pass: Elevation 7,014 ft., visitor center open in summer on Idaho-Montana border.

10. Nez Perce National Historic Trail: At Mile 7 (Hwy 93 South), this trail intersects with the Lewis & Clark route.

11. Indian Trees Campground: Home to culturally scarred Ponderosa pines, harvested by Native Tribes.

12. Sula Ranger Station: Near the Salish village of “Ross's Hole,” where the Corps camped in September 1805.
     

Highlights of the Byway

• Length: 39 miles; allow half a day for travel

• Access: East from State Hwy 28 at Tendoy intersection

• Road Conditions: Single-lane gravel with pullouts; some grades exceed 5%. Snow closes the route from November to June.

• Views that look just as they did when the Corps of Discovery passed through in 1805.

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​Ready to go?  Book your reservations below!