The log

Lewis and Clark: the Corps of Discovery (1804-1806)

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark · 1804–1806 · a keelboat, two pirogues, then dugout canoes and horses

Up the Missouri from St Louis, a winter among the Mandan, over the Bitterroots with Shoshone horses and Nez Perce guidance, down the Snake and Columbia to the Pacific, a wet winter at Fort Clatsop, and back.

Sail this voyage on the map

The itinerary

29 stages. Journal excerpts are verbatim from public-domain sources, each with its citation; where no verified quote exists, the entry says so rather than inventing one.

1. River Dubois (Camp Dubois / winter cantonment at mouth of River Dubois)
Today: Wood River, Illinois, USA · Arrived 14 May 1804
Having loaded the barge and pirogues, Captain Clark departed the expedition's winter camp at the mouth of the River Dubois on the afternoon of May 14, 1804, embarking with the party before assembled local citizens to begin the ascent of the Missouri toward St. Charles.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
2. St. Charles
Today: St. Charles, Missouri, USA · Arrived 16 May 1804
Captain Clark, having departed the winter camp at River Dubois with the party and boats on May 14, arrived at the French village of St. Charles on the Missouri River, where crowds of French settlers and Indians gathered to see the expedition; he was to await Captain Lewis's arrival overland from St. Louis.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
3. La Charatte (River a Chauritte)
Today: La Charrette, Missouri, USA · Arrived 25 May 1804 · position reconstructed
The expedition camped at the mouth of a creek near a small French village of about seven houses, noted as the last settlement of whites, where they met trader Mr. Louisell returning from up the Missouri.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
4. Kansas River
Today: Mouth of the Kansas River, Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas, USA · Arrived 26 June 1804 · position reconstructed
The Lewis and Clark Expedition camped at the mouth of the Kansas (Kansas) River for several days, taking celestial observations, drying and repairing a pirogue, hunting deer, and noting the river's width, latitude, and the surrounding land's quality.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
5. Council Bluff
Today: Fort Calhoun, Nebraska (Fort Atkinson State Historical Park), USA · Arrived 3 August 1804 · position reconstructed
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
6. Sergeant Floyd's Bluff
Today: Sioux City, Iowa, USA · Arrived 20 August 1804 · position reconstructed
Sergeant Charles Floyd died of a severe bilious colic and was buried with military honors atop a high bluff overlooking the Missouri River, near a small river the expedition named Floyd's River in his honor; a cedar post marked his grave.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
7. Yankton Sioux village near the mouth of the River Jacque (James River)
Today: Near Yankton, South Dakota, USA (mouth of the James River) · Arrived 30 August 1804
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
8. Teton River (Bad River)
Today: Bad River, South Dakota, USA · Arrived 25 September 1804
The Lewis and Clark expedition reached the mouth of the Teton (Bad) River, where they met a band of Teton Sioux led by Chief Black Buffalo. Tensions escalated to the point that the two parties nearly came to blows before the situation was defused.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
9. Ricara (Recrereis) Village near the Sur-war-kar-ne River
Today: Arikara villages site, near the mouth of the Grand River, South Dakota, USA · Arrived 8 October 1804 · position reconstructed
The Corps of Discovery passed and examined an Arikara (Ricara) village of about 80 earthen lodges, picketed and built in octagon form, near the mouth of a river the Arikara called Sur-war-kar-ne (the Grand River); the party judged it a village of the 'Recrereis' (Arikara) people from artifacts left behind.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
10. Fort Mandan
Today: Fort Mandan site near Washburn, North Dakota, USA · Arrived 2 November 1804 · position reconstructed
The Lewis and Clark Expedition selected a site for their winter fortification near the Mandan villages and began construction, naming it Fort Mandan in honor of their neighbors; building of the cabins commenced the following day.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
11. Great Falls of the Missouri
Today: Great Falls, Montana, USA · Arrived 13 June 1805
Meriwether Lewis, scouting ahead of the main party, reached the Great Falls of the Missouri River, confirming from the falls' features (including a landmark 'Eagles nest') that the expedition was indeed on the Missouri and would need to portage around the falls. He sent word back to Clark, whose party was following with the canoes.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
12. Three Forks of the Missouri
Today: Three Forks, Montana, USA · Arrived 25 July 1805
Clark's party arrived at the confluence of the three rivers forming the Missouri, noting the North, Middle, and South forks and evidence of a recent Indian encampment and prairie fires; days later Lewis and Clark named the three forks Jefferson's, Madison's, and Gallatin's Rivers.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
13. Shoshone Camp / Camp Fortunate
Today: Camp Fortunate (Beaverhead County, Montana, USA) · Arrived 17 August 1805
Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery reunited at the Shoshone camp near the forks of the Jefferson River (later called Camp Fortunate), where Captain Lewis had already made contact with Chief Cameahwait's band; Clark brought forward the party and baggage to join him and negotiate for horses to continue the journey overland.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
14. the dividing ridge of the Rocky Mountains (Lemhi Pass)
Today: Lemhi Pass, Montana/Idaho border, USA · Arrived 12 August 1805 · position reconstructed
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
15. Travelers Rest
Today: Travelers Rest State Park, Lolo, Montana, USA · Arrived 9 September 1805 · position reconstructed
The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached the mouth of Travelers Rest Creek where it joins the Bitterroot (Clark's) River, establishing a camp they called Travelers Rest to prepare for the difficult crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains along the Lolo Trail.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
16. the mountains beyond Travelers Rest / Glade Creek (Lolo Trail)
Today: Lolo Trail, Bitterroot Mountains (near Lolo Pass), Idaho/Montana border, USA · Arrived 16 September 1805 · position reconstructed
Clark's party, having passed the head of Travelers Rest Creek, pushed on through the rugged, snow-covered Bitterroot Mountains along what would become known as the Lolo Trail, crossing steep ridges and fording Glade Creek amid worsening weather.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
17. Nez Perce villages near the Kooskooskee (Weippe Prairie)
Today: Weippe Prairie, Idaho, USA · Arrived 22 September 1805
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
18. the River on which the Snake Indians live
Today: Snake River (confluence with the Columbia River), near Pasco, Washington, USA · Arrived 16 October 1805 · position reconstructed
Having descended the Clearwater and then the Snake River, the Corps of Discovery reached the point where this river (which they could only identify by the name 'the River on which the Snake Indians live') joined the Columbia, noting its volume of flow, and decided to postpone formally naming it until their return journey.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
19. Great Falls of the Columbia (Celilo Falls)
Today: Celilo Falls / The Dalles, Columbia River, Oregon/Washington, USA · Arrived 22 October 1805
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
20. the mouth of the Columbia River (Great Pacific Ocean)
Today: Mouth of the Columbia River, Washington/Oregon, USA · Arrived 7 November 1805 · position reconstructed
The Lewis and Clark expedition, descending the Columbia River, came within sight and sound of the Pacific Ocean, celebrating the long-anticipated arrival with 'great joy in camp.'
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
21. Fort Clatsop
Today: Fort Clatsop National Memorial, near Astoria, Oregon, USA · Arrived 8 December 1805 · position reconstructed
The Corps of Discovery settled into their winter quarters at Fort Clatsop near the mouth of the Columbia River, with Clark scouting toward the roaring sea coast to find a salt-making site and blaze trails for hunters.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
22. Fort Clatsop
Today: Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Oregon, USA · Arrived 23 March 1806 · position reconstructed
The Corps of Discovery departed Fort Clatsop near the mouth of the Columbia River to begin their overland return journey up the Columbia and Snake Rivers toward the United States, following essentially the same route by which they had come.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
23. Camp Chopunnish
Today: Kamiah, Idaho, USA · Arrived 1 May 1806 · position reconstructed
The expedition remained encamped among the Chopunnish (Nez Perce) villages waiting for the deep snow in the Rocky Mountains to melt enough to allow passage, subsisting largely on horsebeef and roots while observing local customs such as burial practices.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
24. Travellers rest Creek
Today: Lolo Creek, Montana, USA · Arrived 3 July 1806 · position reconstructed
At Travelers' Rest, the Corps of Discovery split into two parties as planned: Lewis set out down Clark's River with nine men and five Indians, while Clark took the remainder of the party, to separately explore different routes on the return journey.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
25. Marias River
Today: Two Medicine River, Montana, USA · Arrived 27 July 1806 · position reconstructed
While exploring the Marias River drainage, Lewis's small party encountered eight Blackfeet warriors near the Two Medicine River; the two groups camped together on the night of July 26, 1806, exchanging information about trade with the British on the Saskatchewan, but the encounter turned violent the next morning in what became known as the Two Medicine Fight.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
26. the enterance of the Big Horn River, on the Rochejhone (Yellowstone) River
Today: Confluence of the Bighorn River and Yellowstone River, Montana, USA · Arrived 23 July 1806 · position reconstructed
William Clark's detachment, having descended the Yellowstone by canoe, arranged for Sergeant Pryor to bring the horses overland to the mouth of the Big Horn River, where the canoes would meet him and ferry him and the horses across the Yellowstone (Rochejhone) below that river's entrance.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
27. Forks of the Roche Jaune (Yellowstone) and Missouri Rivers
Today: Confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers, near Buford, North Dakota, USA · Arrived 12 August 1806 · position reconstructed
Captain Clark's party arrived at the point formed by the junction of the Yellowstone (Roche Jaune) and Missouri Rivers, made camp, and measured the width and depth of both rivers while awaiting word from Captain Lewis, who was a short distance up the Yellowstone.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
28. Mandan Villages (Fort Mandan vicinity)
Today: Mandan Indian Villages historic site, near present-day Washburn/Stanton, North Dakota, USA · Arrived 14 August 1806 · position reconstructed
On the return journey, the expedition arrived back at the Mandan villages near the former Fort Mandan site; as the barge departed downriver for St. Louis with Arikara chiefs, Clark's party proceeded upriver while Lewis walked ashore to the upper Mandan village and called on Black Cat (Pose cop'se ha), the great chief of the Mandans.
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.
29. St. Louis
Today: St. Louis, Missouri, USA · Arrived 23 September 1806 · position reconstructed
No verified journal excerpt for this stage yet — help us find one.

Published under CC BY-SA 4.0. Sources keep their own open licences. See the Magna Carta of the Seas for how this was verified.

Lewis and Clark: the Corps of Discovery (1804-1806)

The itinerary

1. River Dubois (Camp Dubois / winter cantonment at mouth of River Dubois)

2. St. Charles

3. La Charatte (River a Chauritte)

4. Kansas River

5. Council Bluff

6. Sergeant Floyd's Bluff

7. Yankton Sioux village near the mouth of the River Jacque (James River)

8. Teton River (Bad River)

9. Ricara (Recrereis) Village near the Sur-war-kar-ne River

10. Fort Mandan

11. Great Falls of the Missouri

12. Three Forks of the Missouri

13. Shoshone Camp / Camp Fortunate

14. the dividing ridge of the Rocky Mountains (Lemhi Pass)

15. Travelers Rest

16. the mountains beyond Travelers Rest / Glade Creek (Lolo Trail)

17. Nez Perce villages near the Kooskooskee (Weippe Prairie)

18. the River on which the Snake Indians live

19. Great Falls of the Columbia (Celilo Falls)

20. the mouth of the Columbia River (Great Pacific Ocean)

21. Fort Clatsop

22. Fort Clatsop

23. Camp Chopunnish

24. Travellers rest Creek

25. Marias River

26. the enterance of the Big Horn River, on the Rochejhone (Yellowstone) River

27. Forks of the Roche Jaune (Yellowstone) and Missouri Rivers

28. Mandan Villages (Fort Mandan vicinity)

29. St. Louis