2025 is the 225th Anniversary of this historic exploration. Follow the path of the Lewis & Clark Expedition through North Central Idaho and discover the warm hospitality, the historical sites, breathtaking views, and abundant recreation. Sites are listed in order from east to west as you travel Highway 12, the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway. Featured are stops the expedition made coming and going through this region.
Camas Blooms in Packer Meadows (Wispin’íitpe) near Lolo Pass
Wispin’íitpe | Packer Meadows
The expedition followed the Lolo Trail across the divide between modern-day Montana and Idaho and followed Pack Creek to Wispin’íitpe (which means “as one travels out of the timber, upon coming over the divide”) or Packer Meadows. They camped here overnight. Hiking trails and interpretive signage are located in the meadow east of the Lolo Pass Visitor Center.
Lolo Motorway
If you’re up for an adventure, the rugged, single-lane dirt road follows the buffalo trail the Nimiipuu traveled. The Lewis and Clark Expedition struggled along these same ridges before reaching the wild and scenic Lochsa River.
When Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their party followed Pikee Queenah (Swooping Eagle), their Shoshone guide, westward across the Lolo Trail in September 1805, they encountered snow and little food to hunt or forage. These visitors did not know the area, and their guide had only been on this trail once, many years ago. They had to resort to drastic measures to survive and resorted to killing a horse for food. In honor of their meal, they called the nearby stream Colt Killed Creek. Visit their campsite near the Powell Ranger Station. The creek branch described by Clark was filled in by the USFS sometime after the 1950s, but the “Small Island” in the Lochsa River remains intact.
“All the time, Lewis and Clark were looking for hipt [food], and when they had little or no food they ate dogs and horses. But sometimes they are yuc ciqamqal [pitiable dogs]. Sometimes they were given horses to eat because they looked so yucna [poor/pitiful], and we ate horse with them to be polite and good to them. Ayeaa! We never ate dogs with them! We never ate dogs because they helped us while tracking and hunting.”
Allen V. Pinkham, Sr., Nimiipuu
Explore the Outdoor Paradise near Lolo Pass Fishing • Hunting • Whitewater Rafting • Hiking • Hot Springs • Scenic Drives
This section of the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway is your gateway to an outdoor paradise. Pristine wilderness, rivers running clear and wild, and wildlife makes this one of the most beautiful places to visit.
Find your perfect place to stay while exploring this area. Choose from cozy cabins, rustic lodges, quaint bed and breakfasts, RV parks and camp spots.
“Back in 1805, when Lewis and Clark first came round to our country… It’s kind of funny in a way, because…I told this story, that when they came through they said they “discovered” my people. In actuality, the Nez Perce people…We knew where we were…We discovered Lewis and Clark.”
William Clark left the wooded mountains on September 20, 1805 and encountered three young Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) boys digging camas roots and gave them presents. This was the first time the Nimiipuu encountered the explorers. The Nimiipuu were considering killing them. The color of their pale skin, blue eyes like the sky, hair all over their faces, and a black man among them made the Nez Perce think they were creatures to be killed. Then Watkuweis, an elderly Native woman who had once lived among Canadian traders, intervened and told them that these kind of people had helped her and to do them no harm. Meriwether Lewis and the rest of the explorers caught up to Clark on September 22. The Nimiipuu welcomed the explorers, fed them, and drew a map of the river system leading to the Pacific Ocean.
The Expedition returned here on June 10, 1806. The prairie was awash in camas flowers; the blue blossoms rippling in the breeze reminded Lewis of “lakes of fine, clear water.” Camas bulbs were, and still are, a major source of food for the Nimiipuu.
Explore the Outdoor Paradise near the Weippe Prairie Fishing • Hunting • Whitewater Rafting • Hiking • Scenic Drives • ATV/Snowmobile Trails • Downhill Skiing
As the expedition returned through the Clearwater River valley in the spring of 1806, they camped near Kamiah at Camp Chopunnish to wait for the snow to melt in the mountains. They were here for nearly a month from May 14 to June 10. Their time was spent hunting, fishing and amusing themselves showing the Nimiipuu “the power of magnetism, the spyglass, compass, watch, air gun and sundry other articles equally novel and incomprehensible to them.” When the time came to continue their journey east across the Continental Divide towards home, there was genuine sadness that the two parties would in all likelihood not see each other again. Accompanied by three Nez Perce guides, they left Nimiipuu country for good in June, 1806.
Explore the Outdoor Paradise near Kamiah Fishing • Hunting • Whitewater Rafting • Hiking • Scenic Drives
Kamiah, meaning “place of rope litter, is nestled on the banks of the beautiful Clearwater River in a valley surrounded by scenic foothills. This town serves as a hub for some of the best hunting and fishing in the United States. It’s a unique blend of western, Victorian, and Nez Perce cultures. For centuries, Kamiah was the winter home of the native Nez Perce people. Their creation story takes place here at the Heart of the Monster.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition spent several critical days at Canoe Camp near present-day Orofino, Idaho, in the fall of 1805. After traversing the rugged Bitterroot Mountains, the Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, arrived at the Clearwater River. Exhausted and needing to travel more efficiently, they decided to build dugout canoes from the large Ponderosa pines in the area. Over the course of about 10 days, they carved five canoes while recuperating from their arduous journey, assisted by the friendly Nez Perce tribe. This stop at Canoe Camp was a turning point, allowing the expedition to transition from overland travel to river navigation, which would carry them toward the Pacific Ocean.
The Nez Perce guided the expedition from here all the way down the Clearwater and Snake Rivers to near The Dalles. The historic site of Canoe Camp is located about 4 miles west of Orofino on Highway 12.
Returning to Clearwater River on May 7, 1806, Sgt. John Ordway and two others from the expedition left Long Camp and climbed from the canyon up onto Camas Prairie. The threesome were sent on a fishing expedition to the Salmon River where they were to get salmon. They traversed Lawyer’s Canyon and camped near the modern-day town of Nezperce before continuing their journey down a steep hill to the Salmon River. It is thought that they returned through Keuterville, Cottonwood, Stites and Kooskia on their way back to Long Camp with some camas root and salmon that were deemed extremely delicious!
The Camas Prairie is a breathtaking destination where wide-open fields meet rugged mountain backdrops. Exploring towns like Nezperce, Grangeville, Cottonwood, and Winchester offers a glimpse into the region’s rich history, agricultural roots, and vibrant local culture. From outdoor adventures like hiking and fishing to discovering unique small-town charm, visiting this area provides a peaceful retreat with plenty to explore.
Obtaining fresh chinook salmon from the Salmon River was the ultimate goal of this side trip. From the Camas Prairie arrived where Deer Creek intersects the Salmon River. Upon arrival, they learned the salmon had not yet arrived. While there, Frazer traded his worn-out razor for two Spanish coins that Nez Perce warriors had taken from a Shoshone battle casualty, providing the captains with material evidence that European goods were reaching Indians who had not necessarily seen a white person before.
The men rode down the north bank, climbed back up to the prairie, and descended “the worst hills we ever saw a road made down” to the Snake River. After buying seventeen salmon there, the men headed back to Long Camp. Unfortunately, by the time they got there, on June 2, 1805, most of the fish were spoiled.
Explore the Salmon River Region Fishing • Hiking • Scenic Drives • ATV Trails • Whitewater Rafting • Hells Canyon Jet Boat Tours
Riggins & White Bird offer access to the legendary Salmon, the River of No Return and whitewater capital. Just to the west is the famed Hells Canyon and the Snake River that runs through it. This unique mix of rivers, streams, high mountain lakes, rugged canyons, alpine meadows, and forests offers a variety of wildlife, wildflowers, and wilderness access.
The expedition camped on the north bank at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers on October 10, 1805. During their time in present-day Lewiston, the expedition marveled at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, a significant geographical landmark. Lewiston, with its rich history as a trading hub and the gateway to the inland Pacific Northwest, provided the expedition with crucial resources and a temporary respite. The landscape, a mix of rugged hills and fertile valleys, offered insight into the region’s potential for agriculture and trade. The strategic location of Lewiston, now the most inland seaport, also underscored its importance in connecting western explorers to broader territories.
Explore the Lewis Clark Valley Fishing • Golfing • Scenic Drives • Wine Tasting • Hells Canyon Jet Boat Tours • Whitewater Rafting
Lewiston’s central location makes it an ideal base when exploring the region. It’s the gateway to Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge and home to the award-winning wineries of the Lewis-Clark Valley American Viticulture Area.
Continue your Lewis and Clark journey and visit some of our other Idaho neighbors in Salmon. The Expedition first crossed into modern-day Idaho near here by way of Lemhi Pass. They were the first recorded white men to enter Idaho. The town of Salmon is known as the Birthplace of Sacajawea. She accompanied the expedition and was reunited with her family, the Shoshone, on August 17, 1805. The Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural, and Educational Center is located here and is dedicated to honoring and providing education about America’s great historical heroine.
