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Trip Inspirations

Trip Inspirations

Discover your own trail!
Curated by members of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance, these Trip Inspirations are here to help. Each trip has stops with nearby attractions and an interactive map with driving directions. In the map, you can reverse direction, remove stops, or add your own. If that is not enough, use our VisitWidget app to build your trip.

Eastern Beginnings

There are no inspiration trips on the DEV server for this group. Refer to the "Master Outline" and use your imagination.

Down the Ohio

There are no inspiration trips on the DEV server for this group. Refer to the "Master Outline" and use your imagination.

Up the Mississippi

Along the Mississippi

Along the Mississippi Subtitle

Along the Mississippi

The Mississippi and lower Missouri region of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail offers a variety of influence and architecture.  From early French influence in Ste. Genevieve and Cahokia, the recreation of the first winter Camp Dubois, the magnificent…

Stops: 6
Distance: 150 miles

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Around St. Louis

A dizzying array of possibilities and I need this to wrap onto two lines fo

Around St. Louis

  St. Louis holds a pivotal place in the history of America’s westward expansion, symbolized by the iconic Gateway Arch National Park. But the St. Louis area offers far more than just the Arch and a celebrated baseball team. Discover…

Stops: 9
Distance: miles

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Up the Missouri

St. Charles to Columbus, Missouri

Catch the KATY Trail

St. Charles to Columbus, Missouri

On May 21, 1804, the Expedition departed from St. Charles, reaching the mouth of Moniteau Creek on June 7th, near what is now Rocheport. Traveling westward from St. Charles, you can trace their path on both sides of the river.…

Stops: 9
Distance: 204 miles

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Booneslick to Kansas City

Blue Highways

Booneslick to Kansas City

Leaving Columbia, head west and take exit 121 off the interstate to embark on one of William Least Heat Moon’s “Blue Highways.” You’ll find yourself on old US 40, heading toward Fayette and into the heart of Booneslick Country, named…

Stops: 7
Distance: 157 miles

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Kansas City to Mound City

Hard Right at Kansas City

Kansas City to Mound City

The Missouri River takes a sharp upstream turn at Kansas City, near the Mouth of the Kaw, which now marks the border between Missouri and Kansas. This border was established in 1836, following the Platte Purchase, a land acquisition that…

Stops: 6
Distance: 89 miles

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The Dakotas

Bismarck, North Dakota

South Loop Tour

Bismarck, North Dakota

After leaving their first winter encampment at Camp Dubois across from St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery under the direction of US Army Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made their way slowly but surely…

Stops: 5
Distance: 33 miles

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Bismarck, North Dakota

North Loop Tour

Bismarck, North Dakota

After leaving their first winter encampment at Camp Dubois across from St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery under the direction of US Army Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made their way slowly but surely…

Stops: 8
Distance: 161 miles

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Great Northern Route 1: North Dakota

Great Northern Route 1: North Dakota

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

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Eastern Montana

Great Northern Route 2: Eastern Montana

Great Northern Route 2: Eastern Montana

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 5
Distance: miles

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Great Northern Route 3: North Central Montana

Great Northern Route 3: North Central Montana

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 4
Distance: miles

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Montana: Havre to Great Falls

Montana: Havre to Great Falls

The Lewis and Clark Expedition left Fort Mandan on April 7, 1805. On that date, Meriwether Lewis penned in his journal (spelling in the orginal): “Our vessels consisted of six small canoes, and two large perogues. This little fleet altho’…

Stops: 11
Distance: miles

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Along the Rockies

Great Falls, Montana

Great Falls, Montana

On June 13, 1805, Capt. Meriwether Lewis encountered the Great Falls of the Missouri and knew that the left branch at Decision Point was the true Missouri River. Further exploration revealed that a total of five waterfalls in the area…

Stops: 9
Distance: miles

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Northern Idaho

Lolo via US Highway 12

Lolo via US Highway 12

Due to steep hills and canyons, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was not able to follow the present route of US Highway 12 between Kamiah, Idaho and Lolo, Montana. Their route instead followed the ridgelines roughly 2000 feet above the…

Stops: 10
Distance: miles

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Lewiston-Clarkston Public Art Tour

Lewiston-Clarkston Public Art Tour

The confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers was an important geographic point passed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the fall of 1805. The Snake appeared on William Clark’s resulting map as Lewis’s River. The native Nez Perce…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

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Down the Columbia

The Columbia River Gorge

The Washington Side

The Columbia River Gorge

Ignore the traffic and crowds on the Oregon side of “The Gorge” and instead, follow the quieter, two-lane “Lewis and Clark Highway” (WA State Highway 14) on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. Stop at viewpoints,…

Stops: 7
Distance: 89 miles

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The Columbia River Gorge

The Oregon Side

The Columbia River Gorge

This trip offers iconic views of the Columbia River Gorge, a lifetime of epic day hikes, numerous waterfalls, the wind surfing vibe of Hood River, a classic discovery center, and Fort Rock—a Lewis and Clark campsite in The Dalles. NOTE:…

Stops: 7
Distance: 88 miles

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1806 Return

There are no inspiration trips on the DEV server for this group. Refer to the "Master Outline" and use your imagination.

City Loops

Around St. Louis

A dizzying array of possibilities and I need this to wrap onto two lines fo

Around St. Louis

  St. Louis holds a pivotal place in the history of America’s westward expansion, symbolized by the iconic Gateway Arch National Park. But the St. Louis area offers far more than just the Arch and a celebrated baseball team. Discover…

Stops: 9
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Bismarck, North Dakota

South Loop Tour

Bismarck, North Dakota

After leaving their first winter encampment at Camp Dubois across from St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery under the direction of US Army Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made their way slowly but surely…

Stops: 5
Distance: 33 miles

View Inspiration

Bismarck, North Dakota

North Loop Tour

Bismarck, North Dakota

After leaving their first winter encampment at Camp Dubois across from St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804, the Corps of Discovery under the direction of US Army Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made their way slowly but surely…

Stops: 8
Distance: 161 miles

View Inspiration

Lewiston-Clarkston Public Art Tour

Lewiston-Clarkston Public Art Tour

The confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers was an important geographic point passed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the fall of 1805. The Snake appeared on William Clark’s resulting map as Lewis’s River. The native Nez Perce…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

People Related

Last Journey of Meriwether Lewis

Along the Natchez Trace

Last Journey of Meriwether Lewis

Hohenwald, meaning “High Forest” in German, is a picturesque town that serves as the county seat of Lewis County, Tennessee. This town, along with its surrounding area, plays a significant role in the Lewis and Clark story, as it is…

Stops: 7
Distance: miles

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Special Interest

Lewiston-Clarkston Public Art Tour

Lewiston-Clarkston Public Art Tour

The confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers was an important geographic point passed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the fall of 1805. The Snake appeared on William Clark’s resulting map as Lewis’s River. The native Nez Perce…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Columbia River Art Tour

Confluence Projects and Public Works of Art

Columbia River Art Tour

With the Bicentennial of Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery on the horizon, cultural leaders throughout the Columbia Basin contemplated separate public art projects in their various locations. Starting in the year 1999, a gradual consensus formed to…

Stops: 12
Distance: miles

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Great Northern Railroad

Great Northern Route 1: North Dakota

Great Northern Route 1: North Dakota

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Great Northern Route 2: Eastern Montana

Great Northern Route 2: Eastern Montana

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 5
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Great Northern Route 3: North Central Montana

Great Northern Route 3: North Central Montana

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 4
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Great Northern Route 4: Western Montana and Northern Idaho

Great Northern Route 4: Western Montana and Northern Idaho

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 6
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Great Northern Route 5: Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington

Great Northern Route 5: Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Great Northern Route 6: Washington and Oregon to Portland

Great Northern Route 6: Washington and Oregon to Portland

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 10
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Great Northern Route 7: Portland, Oregon to the Pacific Coast

Great Northern Route 7: Portland, Oregon to the Pacific Coast

The Lewis & Clark Expedition disproved the existence of an easy, river-based Northwest Passage through the middle latitudes of North America. In the decades to follow, the Oregon Trail, the Pony Express, and various stagecoach routes allowed for difficult, dangerous,…

Stops: 8
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

Montana: Havre to Great Falls

Montana: Havre to Great Falls

The Lewis and Clark Expedition left Fort Mandan on April 7, 1805. On that date, Meriwether Lewis penned in his journal (spelling in the orginal): “Our vessels consisted of six small canoes, and two large perogues. This little fleet altho’…

Stops: 11
Distance: miles

View Inspiration

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