
Williston, North Dakota to Billings, Montana
(332 miles)
Follow the 1806 return route of Lewis and Clark through Montana’s wide-open landscapes.
As the Corps of Discovery made their way home in 1806, Captain William Clark split from Meriwether Lewis to explore a southern return path. This section of the trail follows Clark’s journey through the prairies, badlands, and river corridors of eastern Montana—a route rich with both natural wonder and deep cultural history. From dinosaur fossils to historic battle sites, this segment of the trail invites travelers to discover where stories of the West truly come alive.
POINTS OF INTEREST
📍Glendive, Montana – Makoshika State Park
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Explore Montana’s largest state park, a striking badlands landscape of eroded sandstone formations.
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Visit the Makoshika Visitor Center to view a triceratops skull and a 65-million-year-old paddlefish fossil.
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Perfect for hiking, photography, and fossil discovery.
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📍Miles City, Montana – Range Riders Museum
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Miles City is known as the Cow Capital of Montana and is home to one of the state’s premier western heritage museums.
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Located on the original Fort Keogh cantonment, the museum features:
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The Bert Clark Gun Collection
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Memorial Hall
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Recreated Fort Keogh Officers’ Quarters
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An original log cabin
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The Heritage Center
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📍 Rosebud, Montana
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Clark and his exploration party passed through this area and rejoiced in the abundance of buffalo on the “Fat Plains.” (July 28, 1806)
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The 1860s–70s brought commercial buffalo hunting, with over 40,000 buffalo hides shipped out by riverboat.
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The ecological and cultural disruption led to years of conflict, including:
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The Battle of Rosebud (June 17, 1876, near Busby)
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Followed eight days later by the Battle of the Little Bighorn
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📍Billings, Montana
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Located 28 miles east of Billings, this sandstone outcrop holds a rare physical connection to the expedition.
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On July 25, 1806, Captain Clark carved his name into the rock—still visible today.
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Clark named the formation “Pompy’s Tower” in honor of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, the young son of Sacagawea, affectionately nicknamed “Pompy,” meaning “Little Chief” in Shoshone.
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The site offers walking trails, interpretive exhibits, and a visitor center overlooking the Yellowstone River.
Ready to go? Book your reservations below!
Lewis and Clark Trail
Icons, Treasures, Legends & Lore
Travelers' Stories
"My family traveled west by car from St. Louis, Missouri to Great Fall,Montana."
"We never knew history could come alive in such a fascinating way. The Lewis and Clark Trail journey was a perfect blend of education and adventure, leaving us with a deeper appreciation for our past.”
Doug M.
"As the boat swung around, the mountains looked like they moved apart and opened up, and when we passed through they seemed to close (or shut) behind us."
" Meriwether Lewis from the same spot beheld this phenomenon and journaled, "from the singular appearance of this place I called it The Gates of The Rocky Mountains."
Mary B.
"From a bluff high above the Missouri River I could see the Lewis and Clark Expedition campsite of May 30, 1805 near Pablo Island."
"Lewis writes about the beauty of the place: "The hills and river Clifts which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance."
Dawn C.

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