Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Location: Highways 1804 and 1806, along the Missouri River
Length: 300 miles
Designated uses: Marked motor route. Selected sites along the river may have developed trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding (contact land manager for additional information). See Missouri River for information on canoeing the Missouri River.
About the trail
Retrace the route Lewis and Clark traveled through North Dakota with a trip on North Dakota's scenic highways 1804 and 1806. This 300-mile long drive on the east and west sides of the Missouri River takes travelers into the past.
The trail follows Lewis and Clark's journey west through North Dakota in 1804-1805, and on their return trip in 1806.
Interpretive signs have been placed at different sites along the route to better acquaint visitors with the legacy of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in North Dakota.
This National Scenic Trail passes through 11 states, stretching from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. Corps of Discovery, better known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition, spent more time in North Dakota than in any other state on their journey. The expedition entered present-day North Dakota on October 14, 1804. Traveling upstream on the Missouri, Lewis and Clark noted in their journals a great variety and abundance of wildlife, including antelope, bear, deer, elk and buffalo.
In November of 1804, they established a wintering fort near the Knife River Indian Villages, and named it Fort Mandan. At Knife River, the expedition met and hired a French Canadian trader, Toussaint Charbonneau to act as an interpreter during their journey west. Charbonneau, his wife Sakakawea and young son Jean Baptiste, accompanied the expedition when they left the fort on April 7, 1805.
Their return trip in 1806 through North Dakota from the Pacific was a short one. Aided by wind and current, they spent only ten days passing through the state for a second time.
a wealth of information on the Lewis and Clark Trail Expedition and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail can be found on the web.
Selected recreation trails
A number of public areas along the Missouri River have hiking and biking trails along the Missouri River for those who want to experience the terrain up close. Following is a partial list of possible stops for Lewis and Clark Trail visitors.
Bismarck/Mandan Millenium Trail—hiking, jogging and biking trail runs from Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park to Mandan, crossing the river over Memorial Bridge and continuing in Bismarck south or north along the river to Sertoma and Pioneer parks. Trail maps are available online on the Bismarck Parks and Recreation Department and the Mandan Parks Department web sites.
Double Ditch State Recreation Area and State Historic Site—hiking and biking trail located four miles north of Bismarck on Highway 1804.
Cross Ranch State Park—15 miles of trails open for hiking or cross country skiing along the west side of the river near Center.
Washburn Trails—short nature and walking trails include the Washburn Discovery Trail (2.2 miles) and the Fort Mandan Nature and History Trail (1.1 miles). For additional information, visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn.
Lake Sakakawea State Park—segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail starts at the park's visitor center and is open to hiking and snowshoeing. Located just north of Pick City.
Ft. Stevenson State Park—over 3 miles of hiking and nature trails.
Indian Hills State Recreation Area—over 4 miles of trail open to hiking and mountain biking.
Little Missouri State Park—nearly 50 miles of rugged trail open to hiking and horseback riding. Located 22 miles north of Killeer.
Lewis and Clark State Park—10 miles of hiking trails. Located east of Williston.
Fort Buford State Historic Site & Fort Union National Historic Site—located at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, these two sites have unparalleled views of the Missouri River.
Additional resources
A Missouri River Canoeing Map is available free of charge by contacting us by e-mail at parkrec@nd.gov.
