Lewis and Clark Pass facts for kids

Lewis and Clark Pass is a special place in Montana, United States. It's a mountain pass that sits on the continental divide, which is like a giant ridge that separates rivers flowing to the Pacific Ocean from rivers flowing to the Atlantic Ocean. This pass is about 6,424 feet (1,958 m) high!

It's located in the Helena National Forest in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Rivers on one side flow west towards the Blackfoot River, and rivers on the other side flow east towards the Dearborn River. The Continental Divide Trail also goes right through this pass.

In the early 1800s, this pass was a very busy pathway for Native American people. They used it to cross the continental divide. On July 7, 1806, Meriwether Lewis and nine men, along with his dog Seaman, crossed this pass. They were on their way back from the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. The pass is named after the expedition's leaders, Lewis and William Clark.

Lewis and Clark Pass is unique because it's the only mountain pass on the entire Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail that doesn't have a road. It used to be one of the most used passes before pioneers came, but now it's one of the least visited. You can reach it by hiking about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) on a trail. When you visit, it looks much like it did when Lewis saw it in 1806. You can even still see faint marks left by countless dog and horse travois (a type of sled) that crossed the pass long ago. It's also one of the few places along the expedition's route where you might still see a grizzly bear! On a clear day, you can see Square Butte in Cascade County, Montana, which is about 40 miles (64 km) away.

An Ancient Native American Pathway

The pass we now call Lewis and Clark Pass was once a very important "road" for Native American tribes. It was easy to travel through, and it offered the shortest and easiest way between the plains of eastern Montana and the Columbia River Valley. The Nez Perce guides who helped Meriwether Lewis in 1806 called this path the "Buffalo Road" or the "Cokahlarishkit" trail.

Tribes living in the mountain valleys to the west used the pass as a shortcut. They would go from the mountains to the wide-open eastern Montana plains to hunt buffalo. However, the pass was also used by war parties from nomadic tribes on the eastern plains. They would cross to raid western Montana tribes living in the mountain valleys. When Meriwether Lewis crossed it in 1806, he described the pass as a wide and "well beaten" trail.

Lewis and Clark Pass isn't the lowest pass in the area. Rogers Pass, which is about 5.3 miles (8.5 km) to the southwest, is 800 feet (240 m) lower. Rogers Pass is now part of Montana Highway 200. However, Lewis and Clark Pass had much easier approaches to its summit. This made it perfect for Native people traveling with dog and later horse travois.

Before Lewis and Clark arrived, this pass was likely one of the busiest in the northern Rocky Mountains. It's interesting that today it's the least used pass on the Lewis and Clark Expedition route. All the other passes they used now have roads for vehicles.

Lewis and Clark's Journey Through the Pass

Map plotted and drafted by Lewis and Clark Expedition

When Lewis and Clark first traveled west to the Pacific Ocean in 1805, they didn't know about this pass. But by the time they were returning in 1806, they had learned about it from local tribes. They decided to use it on their way back.

On July 1, 1806, at Traveler's Rest (near what is now Lolo, Montana), Lewis and Clark split into two groups. Lewis planned to go directly east, using Lewis and Clark Pass as a shortcut out of the mountains to the eastern Montana plains. He then planned to explore the upper Marias River Country before heading back to the Missouri River. Clark would cross to the Big Hole River and then follow it and the Jefferson River down to the Three Forks of the Missouri. From there, Clark planned to turn east up the East Gallatin River until he could cross to the Yellowstone River. He would then follow the Yellowstone down to the Missouri, hoping to meet Lewis there.

On July 3, 1806, Lewis left Traveler's Rest with nine men and his dog, Seaman. His route to the pass took him through the Hellgate area, where Missoula is now located. He then went up the Clark's Fork of the Columbia and followed the Blackfoot drainage to the pass. After crossing the pass, he went down the Dearborn River to the Missouri River and then out onto the plains where the buffalo roamed.

Late in the day on July 7, 1806, Lewis and his small group reached the top of the divide between the Blackfoot River and the Dearborn River. Lewis described it as "the dividing ridge between the waters of the Columbia and Missouri rivers." He didn't say much about the area itself, but he did mention seeing Square Butte in the far distance. His team had called this landmark "Fort Mountain" the year before. You can still see Square Butte from the pass on a clear day, about 40 miles away.

The main goal of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was to find the shortest path between the Missouri River and the Columbia River. After crossing Lewis and Clark Pass, Lewis confirmed that this route, combined with Lolo Pass farther west, was indeed the most direct way from the Missouri River to the Columbia River Valley.

The Only Roadless Pass on the Lewis and Clark Trail

Lewis and Clark Pass is special because it's an exception to how highways usually follow old Native American paths. No major highway or road crosses this pass today. It's the only pass that Lewis and Clark used that was not later turned into a road.

Even though the approaches to Lewis and Clark Pass are easier to travel from the Blackfoot drainage to the Dearborn drainage, Rogers Pass was chosen for modern highway construction. Rogers Pass, located 5.3 miles (8.5 km) southwest, is more than 800 feet (240 m) lower than Lewis and Clark Pass. Modern engineering made it easier to build a highway there. That's why Montana Highway 200 now crosses Rogers Pass, connecting the cities of Great Falls and Missoula.

Visiting the Pass Today

A road will take you to within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the pass on the west side. From there, you'll need to follow the example of the early Native Americans and travel on foot or horseback to reach the pass. The many years of use by Native people with dog and horse travois left marks. You can still see the fading furrows from these travois at the top of the pass and along some of the paths leading to it.

Of all the places along the Lewis and Clark Trail, this is the only pass that remains without a road. It's also the only area on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail where you might encounter grizzly bears. On a clear day, you'll have amazing views over the eastern plains of Montana. Just like Meriwether Lewis, you can see Square Butte 40 miles away on the horizon!

Location

The town of Lincoln is about 58 miles northwest of Helena, Montana, on Highway 200. It's a town with services you might need. Lewis and Clark Pass is located 9 miles east of Lincoln, just off Highway 200. To get there, turn north onto Alice Creek Rd (FS Road 293) and drive 11 miles to the trailhead. From there, it's an uphill 1.5 miles (2.4 km) hike to the summit of the pass.

See also

In Spanish: Paso de Lewis y Clark para niños