Lewis and Clark Trail

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, a trail of approximately three thousand seven hundred miles, extending from Wood River, Illinois, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, following the outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was created by Congress in the National Scenic and National Historic Trails law (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)). Today's Lewis and Clark NHT is the joint effort of many organizations and agencies. Although the Trail is administered by the NPS, sites along the Trail are managed by federal land management agencies, state, local, tribal, and private organizations.
North Dakota, like many other states along the Missouri, has designated a "Lewis and Clark Trail" following the river on both sides. Also common to these states is the naming of the state highways running alongside the rivers; 1804 on the east side and 1806 on the west. In North Dakota the 1804/1806 signage can be spotty, but the "Lewis and Clark Trail" signs are always there.
There are other places as well to experience Lewis and Clark's journey. In Billings, Montana, Pompey's Pillar Rock is a national monument featuring William Clark's signature on an unusually large rock along the Yellowstone River. A new interpretive center and museum opened in July 2005. Tours and viewing opportunities out of Billings of Pompey's Pillar Rock are available to the public by the Whoopah Ride.

There are two alternate starting points: Bismarck and Mandan.

This itinerary discusses two paths: from Bismarck to Williston on highway 1804, and from Mandon to Watford City on highway 1806.
From Bismarck, go north on 1804 and follow the Lewis and Clark Trail signs.
From Mandan, go north on 1806 and follow the Lewis and Clark Trail Signs.
You'll see the Cottonwood forests of the Missouri Valley, and depending on how close you stay to the river, you'll come across plenty of interesting things.
Notable Places along the East Bank

• Lewis and Clark Steamboat Company, Bismarck
• Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn

Notable Places along the West Bank

• Cross Ranch State Park near Stanton
• Lake Sakakawea State Park near the Garrison Dam

River crossings are located at

• Buford, on State Highway 58.
• Williston, on US 85 southwest of town.
• New Town, on State Highway 23 west of town.
• Garrison Dam, on State Highway 200.
• Washburn, on State Highway 200A.
• and of course Bismarck/Mandan.

Amtrak's Empire Builder follows part of the route in North Dakota and Montana. The National Park Service seasonally provides interpreters aboard the Empire Builder who explain Lewis and Clark's trip. The Portland branch of the Empire Builder follows their route on the Columbia River for several hundred more miles.

It is possible to retrace most of the route the same way Lewis and Clark didby boat--on the Missouri and Columbia Rivers.

Illinois

• Lewis and Clark State Historic Site

  phone: +1 618 251-5811
  address: #1 Lewis & Clark Trail, Hartford, IL 62048

Missouri

• Gateway Arch National Park

  phone: +1 314 655-1700
  address: 11 North 4th Street, St Louis, MO 63102

• National Frontier Trails Center

  phone: +1 816 325-7575
  address: 318 West Pacific, Independence, MO 64050

• The Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Center

  phone: +1 636 947-3199
  address: Bishop's Landing, 1050 Riverside Drive, St Charles, MO 63301

Kansas

• Frontier Army Museum

  phone: +1 913 684-3767
  address: 100 Reynolds Ave,Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027

Iowa

• Lewis and Clark State Park

  phone: +1 712 423-2829
  address: Route 1, Box 104, Onawa, IA 51040

• Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

  phone: +1 712 224-5242
  address: 900 Larsen Road, Sioux City, IA 51102

Nebraska

• Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trails & Visitors Center

  phone: +1 402 874-9900
  address: 100 Valmont Drive, Nebraska City, NE 68410

• Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center

  phone: +1 402 661-1804
  address: 601 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE 68102

South Dakota

• Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center

  address: St. Joseph’s Indian School, 1301 N. Main Street, Chamberlain, SD 57325

North Dakota

• Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

  phone: +1 701 745-3300
  address: PO Box 9, County Road 37, Stanton, ND 58571

• Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site

  phone: +1 701 572-9083
  address: RR3 Box 71, Williston, ND 58801

• Theodore Roosevelt National Park

  phone: +1 701 623-4466
  address: Box 7, Medora, ND 58645

• Fort Mandan North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

  phone: +1 701 462-8535
  address: PO Box 607, Washburn, ND 58577

Montana

• Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark

  phone: +1 406 875-2233
  address: Pompeys Pillar, MT 59105

• Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center

  phone: +1 406 727-8733
  address: 4201 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59403

• Missouri Headwaters State Park

  phone: +1 406 994-4042
  address: 1400 South 19th Ave., Bozeman, MT 59792

• Traveler's Rest State Park

  address: Lolo, MT

• Lolo Pass Visitor's Center

  address: US Highway 12 at the Idaho - Montana Border

Idaho

• Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural and Education Center

  phone: +1 208 756-1188
  address: 200 Main Street, Salmon, ID 83467

• Northwest Passage National Scenic Byway

  address: Lewiston, Idaho

Washington

• Fort Walla Walla Museum

  phone: +1 509 525-7703
  address: 755 Myra Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362

• Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

  phone: +1 360 642-3078
  address: PO Box 488, Ilwaco, WA 98624

• Sacajawea Interpretive Center

  phone: +1 509 545-2361
  address: 2503 Sacajawea Park Road, Pasco, WA. 99301

Oregon

• Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

  phone: +1 503 861-2471
  address: Route 3, Box 604-FC Astoria, OR 97103