The Lolo Trail across the Rocky Mountains between Idaho and Montana provided the setting for the most difficult travels of the Corps of Discovery. After camping and resting for two days at Traveler's Rest, Lewis and Clark began their journey across the Trail on September 13, 1805. Hail and snow assailed the Corps, and the lack of game animals quickly created a problem as food became scarce. Their hunger forced the men to kill and eat two of their horses and use melted snow to make soup from the meat. Clark wrote that he had never been as cold and wet in all his life, and feared that his feet would freeze in their moccasins.

After spending a miserable winter on the Pacific Coast, the explorers began their journey back over the mountains on June 15, 1806, attempting to cross the Lolo Trail once more. Deep snow and a very reasonable fear of getting lost forced the party to retreat and hire native guides. With the help of the guides and the milder late June weather, their second crossing proved less grueling than the first. Even still, by July 29, when the Corps finally left the snow behind, their food stores consisted of nothing but unseasoned roots. Later that day, the expedition passed Lolo Hot Springs and camped once again at Traveler's Rest, where the two captains split up for a time to explore separately before rejoining and continuing toward home.

Today, this 86,000 acre National Historic Landmark remains mostly untouched by man, save for some nearby highways and farms. A visitor's center caters to the needs of hikers, campers, and tourists, and a 1934 road following the Lolo Trail still provides one hundred miles of amazing scenery.

Credits and Sources:

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Richard Adams.