Travelers’ Rest

Although it had long been known that the Corps of Discovery camped in the Bitterroot Valley [1] near present-day Lolo during their westward trip in 1805 and the following spring, on their way east the exact location of this campground was a matter of some speculation. In 2002, archaeologists were able to pin down the precise location of Travelers’ Rest (Hwy. 12, 406/273-4253, www.travelersrest.org [2], 8 a.m.–8 p.m. daily Memorial Day–Labor Day, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Fri., noon–4 p.m. Sat.–Sun. Labor Day–Memorial Day, $2 non–Montana residents), and the site was quickly developed as a state park. Although the area really just looks like a grassy field in a pretty rural setting, it is somehow poignant to think of the Corps of Discovery resting here.

When they left this camp on July 2, 1806, Lewis and Clark parted ways, with Lewis and his small crew heading through Hellgate Pass and into Blackfoot territory, and Clark and his group heading back to the Beaverhead, where their boats had been left the previous year, and down the Yellowstone River. The groups planned to meet up at the mouth of the Yellowstone but had no way of knowing whether that would actually happen.

Lewis and Clark buffs should also head 25 miles west of the town of Lolo to the Lolo Trail Center (Hwy. 12, 406/273-2201, www.lolotrailcenter.com [3]), a good private museum in the Lolo Hot Springs Complex [4]. Although those who aren’t enthralled with the Corps of Discovery will see this as just a big boring gift shop, Lewis and Clark pilgrims will want to spend time (and perhaps a few bucks) here.