Lewis and Clark Portage Route

The Corps of Discovery reached the Great Falls of the Missouri River on June 13, 1805. The series of five cataracts proved a daunting obstacle to the expedition and an epic challenge to get around them. William Clark staked out an 18-mile portage route around the falls from the mouth of Portage Creek to the White Bear Islands, named for the large number of grizzly bears who lived there. At sunrise on June 22nd, the men began transporting the large canoes and baggage across the rugged terrain south of the river. Grizzlies, mosquitoes, rattlesnakes, hail, rain, and heat plagued the men. Prickly pear cactus pierced the soles of their moccasins. Despite the difficulties, morale remained high among the expedition members. Clark wrote in his journal, The men has to haul with their Strength wate & art, maney times every man all catching the grass & knobes & Stones with their hands to give them more force in drawing on the Canoes & Loads … and every halt [the men] were asleep in a moment, maney limping from their soreness of their feet. The expedition completed the portage on July 14, three weeks after it began. From there, the expedition proceeded on to the Pacific Ocean, reaching it four months later. The portage route is a National Historic Landmark.