The Lewis and Clark Trail is a historic route that explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took on their 1803-1806 voyage to the Pacific Ocean. They were sent by President Thomas Jefferson to scout the western territories and establish a relationship with the Sioux tribes. The trail crosses 19 states and covers 4600 US miles, and visitors can retrace part of the trail to experience an interesting historical adventure. The expedition made contact with 24 Native American tribes and documented the Northwest region of the US. The trail has 100 historic sites, with only five being US National Park Service sites. Visitors can see important Native American sites and the Fort Clatsop Historic Site.
The Lewis and Clark Trail is the route explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark followed on their famous 1803-1806 voyage to the Pacific Ocean. President Thomas Jefferson sent them to scout the western territories and see if they could find the Northwest Passage, a mythical cross-country waterway. Jefferson also hoped to establish a relationship with the powerful Sioux tribes on the northern plains. The trail crosses 19 states and covers 4600 US miles, and much of it is the same as when the scouting party traversed it. Travelers can retrace at least part of the Lewis and Clark Trail for an interesting historical adventure.
Lewis and Clark were the chosen leaders of the Corps of Discovery. Jefferson expected them to look into the new Louisiana Purchase and hoped that the American presence would establish claim to the lands before Europe could gain a foothold. Although they never found the Northwest Passage, the explorers made contact with at least 24 Native American tribes and were the first to accurately document the Northwest region of the United States. They were the first white men to see the Great Falls of the Missouri River. The Shoshone woman Sacajawea, often imagined as their guide, was the wife of a French Canadian trapper who traveled with them and acted as their interpreter.
Starting on the Missouri River near St. Louis, the Lewis and Clark Trail winds its way through the northern plains and ends at the Pacific Ocean in what is now Oregon. There are 100 historic sites on the trail maintained by various states and local organizations, but only five are US National Park Service sites. Modern explorers looking to follow in the footsteps of the Corps of Discovery can plan a drive along the Lewis and Clark Trail. The expedition traveled the Missouri and Columbia rivers, which are now lined with marked roads with trail markings.
Some historic sites that visitors to the Lewis and Clark Trail can see are the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Fort Mandan, North Dakota, where the group met Sacagawea and her husband. Spirit Mound near Vermilion, South Dakota is another important Native American site. Explorers have scaled the mound and it is one of the places left intact that they have actually visited. Southwest of Astoria, Oregon is the Fort Clatsop Historic Site, an accurate reproduction of the fort where the Corps stayed during the winter of 1805 to 1806. The United States National Park Service and the states through which passes the trail have information for travelers wishing to explore all or part of the Lewis and Clark Trail.
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