History
Lewis and Clark at Travelers' Rest
On September 9, 1805, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and the Corps of Discovery followed their Shoshone guide, who they called Old Toby, along the course of today's Bitterroot River to near the confluence of a stream that tumbled down from the snowy western mountains.
At this place, a crossroads of travel routes that had been a center of commerce and culture for centuries, Old Toby instructed them to rest themselves and their horses and to make preparations for the difficult mountain crossing ahead. Their campsite was well-used by the different Native American tribes that crossed the mountains and traveled up and down the Bitterroot Valley, and for good reason. There was plenty of grasses for the horses, plenty of firewood, and a cool mountain stream. The Corps of Discovery stopped along the stream, which they named Travelers' Rest Creek, and set up camp. For two days, they hunted and rested before departing this haven on September 11, 2005. They followed the creek along an ancient trail the Salish people call Naptnisa (the road through the Nez Perce).
Nearly a year later, the party returned to Travelers' Rest and camped at the same spot. From June 30 to July 3, 1806, the group rested and celebrated after their final crossing of the tremendous Bitterroot Mountains. It was also at this camp that Lewis and Clark finalized their bold separation plans, splitting the group into two to allow expanded explorations along the Marias and Yellowstone Rivers.
Preservation of Travelers' Rest
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