
Williston, North Dakota to Great Falls, Montana
(421 miles)
Follow the 1805 route of Lewis and Clark through "Big Sky Country".
Venture west through the breathtaking Missouri River country where Lewis and Clark traveled in 1805. From Williston, North Dakota to Great Falls, Montana, the route traces their path of discovery, braving untamed wildlife, forging rivers, and encountering wonders both natural and cultural. Along this stretch, history comes alive through wildlife refuges, prehistoric discoveries, dramatic landscapes, and legacy-filled interpretive centers.
Trail Highlights
Near Poplar, Montana (May 5, 1805)
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Milk River (Named May 8, 1805)
The largest northern tributary of the Missouri River. Lewis described it as:
📖 “…about the color of a cup of tea with a tablespoonful of milk… from the color of its water we called it Milk River.” -
Near Fort Peck, Montana (May 9, 1805)
Buffalo herds were so dense that the men threw sticks and stones to clear their path. Lewis also wrote fondly of a dish called “boudin blanc” made from buffalo intestines.
POINTS OF INTEREST
📍Fort Peck, Montana
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Largest embankment dam in the U.S., completed in 1937
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1.25 billion cubic yards of earth, four miles long
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Tours available June–September
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📍Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR)
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1.1 million acres of preserved wilderness
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Home to elk, deer, bighorn sheep, antelope, and more
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Includes the 250,000-acre Fort Peck Reservoir and Missouri Breaks wilderness
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👉Fun Fact: A Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton was discovered here... Big Mike
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📍Fort Benton, Montana
Lewis & Clark Memorial and National Monument
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Heroic-size statue on the steamboat levee by sculptor Bob Scriver
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Known as the “Gateway to the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument”. Lewis and Clark navigated this remarkable stretch of the Missouri River—now celebrated as one of the crown jewels of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
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📖“This scenery… already rich, romantic, and beautiful… appeared in one view like the visionary enchantment of fairyland.”
— Meriwether Lewis, June 1805
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📍Great Falls, Montana
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Field Notes
On June 13, 1805, the Corps reached the Great Falls of the Missouri. Expecting a two-day portage, they instead faced a grueling journey around a 20-mile series of falls with a 500-foot elevation gain. -
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center
A powerful and immersive exhibit experience – not to be missed -
Giant Springs Heritage Park
One of the largest freshwater springs in the world and home of the Roe River, the world’s shortest river -
C.M. Russell Museum Complex
Features Charlie Russell’s home, original log studio, and expansive museum galleries -
Overlook Park
Bronze monument of Lewis, Clark, York, and Seaman by Bob Scriver
Scenic views of the river and trail route
📍Ulm, Montana
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Possibly the largest buffalo jump in the world
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Cliffs stretch over a mile with bison bone deposits over 13 feet deep
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Used by Native peoples between 900 and 1500 A.D.
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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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