During the winter 1806, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made preparations for their return trip to Saint Louis. They decided to split the Corps of Discovery into two groups in order to find a more efficient route back to the Missouri River. Lewis and his group would travel overland back to the Great Falls and explore the Marias River. Clark and his party would head south to explore the Yellowstone River.

On July 3, 1806, Lewis and a small group of nine, and five Nez Perce guides, left Travelers Rest and proceeded down the Bitterroot River, toward present-day Missoula, Montana. The Indian guides that accompanied Lewis’ group informed them that they would only lead them to Hell Gate Canyon because the guides feared attack from their enemies—the Blackfeet.

Lewis continued along the route his Indian guides had described, and on July 7, 1806, they came out of the Great Divide back into United States territory. Lewis called it the “dividing ridge between the waters of the Columbia and Missouri rivers.”

Even though Clark never traveled it, the pass received its name in honor of both explorers. Located about 17 miles northeast of Lincoln, Montana, many have used the pass since, including Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce while trying to escort his band to Canada. The pass is still accessible today and is the only non-motorized pass on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Johnathan Jones.