Lewis and Clark Adventure Tour

On the way to Coal Banks Landing River Put-In, you will stop at Decision Point, at the confluence of the Missouri and Marias Rivers. Here, Lewis and Clark paused for several days to weigh their options for crossing into the Rockies. The site highlights how observation, reason, and Native knowledge guided their course west.

Once on the river, you will begin paddling downriver, with a lunch stop at Little Sandy and a short hike to view ancient teepee rings overlooking the river canyon.

You will then enter the famed White Cliffs, paddling past dramatic sandstone formations en route to Eagle Creek Camp, the Lewis and Clark campsite of May 31, 1805. After settling into camp, you’ll hike Neats Coulee, a narrow slot canyon carved by wind and water, followed by dinner and time to relax around the campfire.

Today, you will canoe one of the most scenic and historically dense stretches of river in the American West. As you paddle along, you will see iconic landmarks like Hole in the Wall and the unique outcropping Citadel Rock, which the Corps of Discovery passed on May 31, 1805. William Clark describe it in his journal as, “high Steep black rock riseing from the waters edge.”

Following a stop for lunch and a hike around Hole in the Wall, you will continue your journey downstream, canoeing through canyon walls and remote prairie bluffs, a sublime experience.

Your day will end at another historic Lewis and Clark campsite, Slaughter River. They first camped here on May 29, 1805. Here, they discovered the remains of over 100 buffalo, which they assumed were killed at a buffalo jump.

Tonight you will enjoy dinner beneath Montana’s vast night sky, an ideal setting for reflecting on what you have seen and learned along the way.

You will finish your canoe journey with a peaceful morning paddle to Judith Landing, where the sheer cliffs give way to the rolling river breaks. As Meriwether Lewis recorded in his diary on May 28, 1805, “here the hills recede from the river on both sides . . . . the land again fertile.”

After taking out your canoe, you will enjoy lunch by the river. The group will then return to Fort Benton for a relaxing evening back at the hotel.

You will depart Fort Benton in a private motor coach for your scenic journey westward, retracing the Corps of Discovery’s path toward the Bitterroot Mountains. Along the way, your historian will guide you through the important stops on Lewis and Clark’s overland trek.

By late afternoon, you will arrive at the rustic and inviting Lochsa Lodge. Overlooking the Lochsa River and nestled at the base of Lolo Pass, deep in the forested mountains, you will enjoy exceptional hospitality and hearty mountain fare as we prepare for the trail ahead. There will also be time to unwind with fellow guests at the lodge’s cozy tavern.

After departing Lochsa Lodge in the morning, you will be transported to the day’s hiking areas along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

You will explore several key sites associated with the expedition, which may include Lolo Pass, Packer Meadows, Glade Creek Camp, the Colt Killed Creek confluence and fish hatchery, 13-Mile Camp, and the upper section of Wendover Ridge. Trail conditions can change quickly—especially in early July—due to weather, lingering snow, or downed trees, so specific stops are not guaranteed. When adjustments are needed, we pivot accordingly, an experience very much in keeping with Lewis and Clark’s own journey, as they were forced to adapt constantly while crossing the Lolo Trail in September 1805.

The day concludes at Snowbank Camp, where you will camp for the night. It was here that the expedition, having completed the difficult climb over Wendover Ridge, returned to the Lolo Trail and awoke the following morning to four inches of snow.

You will continue along the Lolo Trail, hiking through high ridges and dense forests. Paralleling the original expedition’s eastward return route, you will explore sites like the Bear’s Oil and Roots Camp, Lonesome Cove Camp, Greensward Camp and Indian Post Office, the highest elevation point. The profound cultural and historical connection you will feel in this spot represents not just Lewis and Clark, but all of those who traveled this sacred trail dating back to prehistoric times.

After stopping for lunch on the trail, you will make the descent to the base of the mountain and transfer to Missoula for your final evening.

Tonight you will join your fellow adventurers for a Farewell Dinner, a time to celebrate the friendships you have forged on your great adventure, following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark.

There will be one transfer to the Missoula International Airport (MSO) to catch your flight home.