Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark

National Historic Trail

in Idaho and Montana

Research Document Summary

with

Annotated Bibliography and Internet Links

Steve F. Russell, PhD, PE

Historic Trail Research

Ames, Iowa

"Trailfinder"

https://steverussellweb.com/TRAILFINDER-1/TRAILFINDER-1.htm

REVISION # V12

2025

INTRODUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

This internet web page was created to provide internet links to various documents and maps, for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, created during my 30+ years of historical trail research. This document is in the form of an annotated bibliography with links. At the end of the document, it also provides internet links to other Lewis and Clark information on the internet.

I have hiked all the trail of Lewis and Clark, between the Missouri River in Montana and the Snake River in Idaho. The is the segment of trail that went over the mountains of western Montana and through north-central Idaho.

The portion of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, between Lolo, Montana and Kamiah, Idaho, is also known as the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark.

The PDF files in this bibliography have been designed to be printer and spiral bound.

Explanation of the format of the bibliographic entries:

explain

May 26, 2025

The presentation on the Lewis and Clark Trail, given at the Napier Community Church, Napier, Iowa, on May 26, 2025, is available on the Internet at the following link (URL):

https://steverussellweb.com/LINKS/LEWIS AND CLARK HISTORIC TRAIL RESEARCH.V10.pdf

WEBSITE DOCUMENT LINKS, ARCHIVE.ORG

TITLES, DESCRIPTIONS, AND DOCUMENT LINKS

1. Celilo Falls Final Report (Oct 2003) DO3 (Lewis and Clark)

This report discusses the north and south portage routes, used by the Corps of Discovery, to portage around the historic Celilo Falls. It provides detailed discussions of the various issues, annotated maps, and annotated aerial photos. Most of the portage routes, the campsite of Oct 22-23, 1805, and other features of the falls are currently under water. Railroad and road construction appear to have obliterated most of the routes above water. Historic annual flooding may have washed out the river trails each year so that there may never have been a recognizable erosion trace over the portage routes.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/celilo-falls-final-report-oct-2003-do-3

DOC: PDF Document Download 1.4MB 16 pages

2. Historic Trail Discovery and Research Methodology (Russell) 2014

This monograph describes the knowledge and methods I have learned and applied to my 30+ years of historic trails research. It serves as a guide for future generations of trail researchers.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/historic-trail-discovery-and-research-methodology-2014-rev-3

DOC: PDF Document Download 14KB 5 pages

3. History of the Lolo Trail and the Nez Perce Indians (Harlan) (Russell, Ed) 1998-2004

John (Jack) P. Harlan wrote several articles for the Clearwater Republican and Clearwater Tribune newspapers on the Nez Perce, Lolo Trail, and Lewis and Clark Trail in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1921, he was county assessor for Clearwater County and also did land and timber cruising for the Northern Pacific Railroad on the eastern "checkerboard ownership" land of Clearwater County. The newspaper reported that his diary and photographs would be published by a "certain publisher," but I have been unable to locate a copy, and it may have never been published. The value of Mr. Harlan's articles are in their reporting of the viewpoints of his time of the Nez Perce Tribe and their connection to the Lolo Trail. He also brings to light that three plaques were placed along the trail. He did the placement and the Daughters of the American Revolution provided them. There are so many inaccuracies in his reporting of places along the Lolo Trail that they are of minimal value in current Lolo Trail research but they are interesting for there documentation of the ideas of his time.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheLoloTrailAndTheNezPerceIndians

DOC: PDF Document Download 791KB 77 pages

4. Inference in Historic Trail Research (Statement) (Russell) 2010

This one-page paper discusses the use in inference in historic trail research, and the use of inference in any type of research. The extent of inference applied to research should always be made apparently clear to the reader.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/inference-in-historic-trail-research-statement

DOC: PDF Document Download 31KB 1 Page

5. Lewis and Clark Trail, In Their Footsteps 2004

A presentation of the research results and methods of Steve F. Russell, Historic Trails Research, Ames, Iowa. Presented at the Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana by invitation of the Headwaters Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation.

Photos and Maps.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/2004InTheFootstepsOfLewisAndClarkV02

DOC: PDF Document Download 12.1MB 49 Pages

6. In the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark, People, History, Geography, and Earth Science

An MS Power Point presentation, in PDF format, to the Gilbert, Iowa 6th Grade Class, 2011

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/gilbert-6-th-grade-present-03-2011_202403

DOC: PDF Document Download 8.8MB 56 Pages

7. Lewis and Clark - NPR StoryCorps Interview, (Steve F. Russell & Rachel Daniels) 2016 (VIDEO)

A National Public Radio StoryCorps interview in the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail offices of the National Park Service in Omaha, NB. Steve F. Russell, Historic Trails Research, Ames, Iowa and Rachel Daniels, National Park Service in Omaha, NB.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/story-corps-interview-lewis-clark-steve-f.-russell-rachel-daniels

VIDEO: NPR VIDEO 33.6MB

8. Lewis and Clark - In the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark, Presented at the Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, MT (Russell) 2004

Photos and Maps.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/2004InTheFootstepsOfLewisAndClarkV02

DOC: PDF Document Download 12.1MB 49 Pages

9. Lewis and Clark - On the Trail with Lewis and Clark, Sawtooth Science Institute Workshops 2007 (Brochure) (Russell) 2007

Brochure for the Sawtooth Science Institute, Idaho. The Sawtooth Science Institute is an outreach field study center of Idaho State University's Division of Continuing Education and the Idaho Museum of Natural History. It offers graduate school courses for Idaho teachers who are working on a Masters degree. This document shows a part of the brochure, including the Lewis and Clark Workshop.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-on-the-trail-with-lewis-and-clark-sawtooth-science-institute-wor

DOC: PDF Document Download

10. Lewis and Clark - Steve Russell Locates Lewis and Clark Expedition Site, Meagher County News 2007

Newspaper article on my discovery of the Lewis and Clark Ordway Camp at Cougar Bar on the Snake River, Idaho

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-steve-russell-locates-lewis-and-clark-expedition-site-meagher-county-news-2007

DOC: PDF Document Download 0.3MB 1 Page

11. Lewis And Clark Across The Mountains, Mapping The Corps Of Discovery In Idaho (Original Edition with Color) 2005

Lewis and Clark across the Mountains: Mapping the Corps of Discovery in Idaho. Idaho State Historical Society, Boise, Idaho 2007. © Steve F. Russell, PhD, PE, Historic Trails Research, Ames, Iowa. Publication of this book was funded, in part, by the Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee. ISBN: 0-931406-16-1.

This book is based upon a 22-year effort by Dr. Russell, to hike and document the routes of Lewis and Clark between Clark Canyon Reservoir (Fortunate Camp) in western Montana, and Lewiston, Idaho. GPS data for the routes is available in other publications.

In addition to quoting and commenting on the Journal entries for the routes, there are 38 full-color topographic maps, all with comments showing the trails, campsites (dated), and landmarks.

Geographic areas include: 1) Clark Canyon Dam, MT, 2) Horse Prairie, MT, 3) Lemhi Pass, MT-ID, 4) Lemhi Valley, ID, 5) Salmon River, ID, 6) Lost Trail Pass, ID-MT, 7) Bitterroot Valley, MT, 8) Lolo Creek, MT, 9)Lolo Pass, MT-ID, 10) Lolo Trail, ID-MT, 11) Bitterroot Mountains, MT-ID, 12) Lolo National Forest, MT, 13) Clearwater National Forest, ID, 14) Weippe Prairie, ID, 15) Clearwater River Valley, Orofino, ID, 16) Lewiston, ID, 17) Peck, ID, 18) Kamiah, ID, 19) Lower Salmon River, ID, 20) Snake River, ID, 21) Grangeville, ID, 22) Big Hole, MT, 23) Jackson Hot Springs, MT, 24) Big Hole Pass, MT. The route of Ordway to the Snake River is included, but not the return route of Lewis, from Lolo, MT to Lewis and Clark Pass, MT.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-across-the-mountains-mapping-the-corps-of-discovery-in-idaho-color-2-russell-2007/

DOC: PDF Document Download 24.5MB 122 Pages

12. Lewis and Clark across the Mountains: Mapping the Corps of Discovery in Idaho (OCR Edition) 2005

NOTE: Refer to the description in Document #11.

NOTE: This document is a scanned copy of the original book and has been processed with optical character recognition (OCR) to reduce its size and create searchable text. However, OCR may skip the processing of some words and may introduce word errors.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-across-the-mountains-2022-02-09-ocr

DOC: PDF Document Download 15.2MB 120 Pages

13. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation I (Optimized) (Russell) 2018.

Presentation I: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018, Introduction to the westward Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery

Topics Include: Interest in Lewis and Clark, Hiking the Lewis and Clark Trail, Inference in Trail Research, Opening of the West, Purpose of the Expedition, Orders from President Jefferson, Corps of Discovery Leaders, Lewis and Clark, Steve F. Russell, Who am I?, Who I am Not?, The Amazing Journals, Westward 1804-1805, Maps and Photos, Expedition Members, Western Indian Tribes, Surprises and Adventures, Conceptions and Misconceptions, Trail Research, Trail Friends and Colleagues, My Personal Research, Photo Gallery

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-i/Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE-Presentation I/

DOC: PDF Document Download 41.1MB 114 Pages

14. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation II (Russell) 2018

Presentation II: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018. Details of the westward Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery

Topics Include: primitive camping for trail research, Nez Perce on the Lolo Trail, Ordway camp on the Snake River, traveling with Lewis and Clark, camp photos, detailed maps of locations on the Lewis and Clark Trail, Celilo Falls, Fort Astoria, Rush's Thunderbolts, expedition members, Sacajawea, research for the "true" trail location, GPS equipment, precision survey of the Lewis and Clark Trail over the Lolo Trail, surprises and adventures.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-ii

DOC: PDF Document Download 30.4MB 84 pages

15. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation III-Sacagawea Revisited (Russell) 2018

Presentation III: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018. More details of the westward Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery

Topics Include: Sacagawea Revisited, western Indian tribes, Mandan (Hidatsa), Blackfeet, Nez Perce, Shoshoni, Salish (Flathead), Columbia River Tribes, surprises and adventures, expedition epilogue, Clark's cash book, photos of hiking the Lolo Trail, hiking alone, plants and animals along the trail, Bitterroot flower (Lewisia rediviva), Beargrass (Xerophyllum tenax (Pursh) Nutt.), Nez Perce Trail, hiking the Lewis and Clark Trail, Horace Axtel Tribal Elder, Nez Perce National Historic Trail Foundation, Bud Moore, Lolo Pass Visitor Center, Tome Geouge, James (Jim) Ronda, NC 2005 GIS Conference, Lewis and Clark Trail Precision Survey, trail mapping technology.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-iii-sacagawea-revisited

DOC: PDF Document Download 19.4MB 125 Pages

16. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation IV (Russell) 2018

Presentation IV: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018. Details of the people, events, and geographic locations associated with the Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.

Topics Include: Maps of the Entire Route over the Mountains, Black Bear, Cinnamon Bear, Mountain Lion, Wolves, Coyotes, Moose, Elk, Horace Axtel - Nez Perce Elder, Horace & Steve, Lewis & Clark Trail Class, James Ronda, Lewis and Clark in Idaho (Video), Discovery of the Ordway Camp site on the Salmon River

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-iv

DOC: PDF Document Download 6.1MB 25 Pages

18. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation Photo Gallery A, 1805 Campsites (Russell) 2018

Photo Gallery A: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018. Introduction to the westward Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.

Topics Include: Photos of Lewis and Clark Campsites - Aug 8, 1805 to Oct 10, 1985, first Idaho campsite, Red Butte, Lost Trail Pass, Albert Parsons Mallickan gravesite, Hungery Creek, Weippe Prairie, Island Camp

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-photo-gallery-a-1805-campsites

DOC: PDF Document Download 38.1MB 46 Pages

19. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation Photo Gallery B, 1806 Campsites (Russell) 2018

Photo Gallery B: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018. Introduction to the westward Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.

Topics Include: Photos of Lewis and Clark Campsites - May 5, 1806 to June 29, 1806, Long Camp, Deer Creek, Ordway Campsite, Kooskia, Weippe Prairie, Salmon Trout Camp, Green Swoard Camp, Spring Mountain, 13-Mile Camp, Lolo Hot Springs.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-photo-gallery-b-1806-campsites

DOC: PDF Document Download 28.4MB 35 Pgs

20. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery OLLIE Presentation Photo Gallery C, 1806 Campsites Eastward (Russell) 018

Photo Gallery C: OLLI Short Course, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Iowa State University, 2018. Introduction to the westward Expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery.

Topics Include: Clark Campsites Eastward from Travelers Rest, Jul 3, 1806 to July 7, 1806, Sula, Big Hole Pass, Lewis eastward from Traverlers Rest, Hellgate Canyon (ravine de le mort, canyon of the dead), Big Blackfoot River

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-and-the-corps-of-discovery-ollie-presentation-photo-gallery-c-18

DOC: PDF Document Download 13.5MB 20 Pages

21. Lewis and Clark Campsite 1805-09-09(P)-28 (Russell) 1999

ABSTRACT: This campsite is well know to the Lewis and Clark Trail community. It was a popular camping place for Salish, Nez Perce, and early Explorers. The location was at the junction of the Lolo Trail (from Lolo, Montana to Kamiah, Idaho) with the 1806 Bitterroot Trail (from Missoula, Montana to Gibbon's Pass). The Corps of Discovery was camped there a total of 5 days in 1805-06.

The campsite was originally thought to be near the mouth of Lolo Creek (as interpreted by an old highway marker on US 93) but all the Journal evidence from 1805-06 and the Nicholson survey of 1866 placed it at, or near, the location given in this report. In recent years the interpreted location has been moved to its present location, and is interpreted by the Travelers Rest State Park. Despite archeological digs, the location is still debated, although the location most researchers have identified are within 1000 feet of each other - very good agreement when locating historic campsites. This author's most current research placed the camp on a dry bench-land adjacent to the creek, and on the south side.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/LewisAndClarkCampsite18050909P28

DOC: PDF Document Download 8.4MB 10 Pages

22. Lewis and Clark Landmark 1806-07-05(1)L (Clearwater Crossing) (Russell) 2015

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Landmark. Crossing the Clearwater River, a branch of the

accounts. The crossing by Cox is based on a wagon road swale found by field exploration. The crossing by Bergantino is based on his research map of the area. For purposes of interpretation of the route of Lewis, one of the crossings by Russell or Cox should be used.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/LewisAndClarkLandmark180607051LClearwaterCrossing_201705

DOC: PDF Document Download 7.7MB 13 Pages

23. Lewis and Clark Lolo Trail Precision Survey, Summary of Research Results (Russell) 2005

In 2001 and 2002, Steve F. Russell and survey assistants, Theo Petersen and Matt Battani, hiked the trail followed by Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery from Lolo Pass, Idaho-Montana to Weippe, Idaho. This trail tread was recorded with a Trimble Pathfinder Pro XRS precision GPS to an accuracy of 3 meters. This book documents this effort and contains topographic maps of the trail along the entire route.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/LewisClarkLoloTrailPrecisionSurvey

DOC: PDF Document Download 22.2MB 86 Pages

24. LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL - Document Bibliography for National Park Service (Russell) 2014

A description of documents I shared with members of the staff of the National Park Service, Lewis and Clark Trail National Historic Landmark, Omaha, NB.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-trail-document-bibliography-for-national-park-service-russell-2014

DOC: PDF Document Download 36KB 3 Pages

26. LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL - Mystery of Lost Trail Pass WPO (Russell) 1999

This report is one of five research reports that were compiled into a document entitled: "The Mystery of Lost Trail Pass," James Fazio, Ed, 2000. It describes in detail how the researcher analyzed the Lewis and Clark Journals and the associated topography of the area to create a description of the trail route and campsite used by Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. Research methodology and conclusions are described in detail.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/LewisAndClarkOverLostTrailPass

DOC: PDF Document Download 2.8MB 40 Pages

27. LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL - Route of Ordway's Salmon River Fishing Expedition 1806 (Russell) 2003

This document is a research report on the salmon fishing expedition of Sgt. John Ordway of the Corps of Discovery under the command on Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. This route and the effort of Ordway remained largely unnoticed until this research was completed and published. It has been the collaboration of Steve F. Russell, Historic Trails Research, Sam McNeill of the Idaho Fish and Game, and John A. K. Barker. The logistics were funded by a Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Assistance Grant from the State of Idaho. Research analysis, descriptions, and detailed maps of the route are included. On public land and on private land, with permission, the trail tread was hiked and campsites were examined. Both have been recorded with GPS. The Idaho Fish and Game have also prepared a brochure with descriptions and maps for self discovery.

This research led to my discovery of the campsite of the Ordway Party at Cougar Rapids Bar on the Snake River of Idaho. This site had been investigated by the State Archeologist of the State of Idaho. Fire pits were found with the boundaries of what was once a Nez Perce dwelling. These results are published in archeology journals.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/OrdwaysSalmonRiverFishingExpedition1806

DOC: PDF Document Download 2.4MB 50 Pages

28. LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL - Route of Ordway's Salmon River Fishing Expedition 1806 Idaho-Fish and Game (Brochure) (Russell) 2004

This is a brochure preparied by the Idaho Fish and Game that is entitled "Lewis and Clark Expedition: Sgt. Ordway's Salmon River Fishing Expedition. It contains photos, maps, and descriptions of the of the route taken by Ordway in 1806 from Kamiah, Idaho to the Snake River at Cougar Rapids Bar. Map and text information was provided in 2002 by Steve F. Russell, Historic Trails Research, Ames, Iowa.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/LewisAndClarkTrail1806OrdwayRouteBrochure2002

DOC: PDF Document Download 2.3MB 5 Pages

29. LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL - The Riddle of Hungery Creek (Enhanced) 2000

Fascination with the route and camping places of Lewis and Clark has remained strong for more than 100 years. With the approaching bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery, this interest is only intensifying. What is more, increasing numbers of people are interested in following the route themselves-not always a wise idea, as is certainly the case with the area described here.

This is the first in a series of articles that Steve Russell is preparing on his research of the route and camping sites as the Corps of Discovery crossed the mountainsfrom the Missouri River basin to the Columbia River basin. Their passage through Hungery Creek and Fish Creek took them across what is now the Clearwater National Forest of north-central Idaho. They came through the area four times, once in 1805 and three times in 1806. The documentation of their various journals leaves us with a wealth of clues as to the route they followed, although William Clark's maps for this area are of limited value because of their topographic distortion.

The author, who was born in Lewiston, Idaho, is an electrical engineer on the faculty of Iowa State University. His work on this project has grown as he has been more and more intrigued by the landscape crossed by the Corps-the campsites, the tread of prehistoric and historic trails, and the often very difficult terrain. His bibliography appears at the end of the article.

Idaho Yesterdays, The Journal of the Idaho State Historical Society, Volume 44 No. 1, Spring 2000, pages 19-31.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/RussellSteveRiddleOfHungeryCreekIdahoYesterdays2000Spring

DOC: PDF Document Download

30. Lewis and Clark Trail - The Riddle of Hungery Creek (Original) 2000

NOTE: Refer to the description in Document #29.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-trail-the-riddle-of-hungery-creek-original-2000

DOC: PDF Document Download 4.3MB 25 Pages

31. Lewis and Clark Trail Research Presentation to Idaho Lewis & Clark Governor's Committee ( Russell) 2014

Lewis & Clark Trail Research Presentation to the Idaho Lewis & Clark Governor's Committee, Powell Ranger Station, Idaho, September 12, 2014. This is a presentation on the location, documentation, and preservation of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail over the Bitterroot Mountains.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/LewisAndClarkTrailGovernorsCommitteePresentation2014

DOC: PDF Document Download 13.9MB 41 Pages

32. Lewis and Clark, Sacagawea, Factual Information from Original Sources (Russell) 2018

This document contains all of the original and factual information about the life of Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark, Corps of Discovery. Its goal is to present only the information from the Lewis and Clark Journals, and William Clark's Cash Book. The reader is encouraged to use this information when speaking or writing about Sacagawea. There is a large volume of literature on her that is fiction, with no factual basis.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/SacagaweaFactualInformationFromOriginalSourcesV02

DOC: PDF Document Download 2.6MB 19 Pages

33. Lolo Trail Surveyed, Idaho Lewis and Clark Bicentennial News July 2003.

Update on the Article, "Lolo Trail Surveyed"

The trail survey reported by this article took two summers to complete, 2002 and 2003. My survey assistant in 2002 was Theo Peterson, a student at Iowa State University. My survey Assistant in 2003 was Matt Battani, also a student and a member of the Iowa State Wrestling Team. Both were in excellent condition to survive the hot days and steep hillsides of the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark. (I was 59, but in great shape. I would go on to do long-distance biking, and in 2008, at the age of 64, would post my longest distance of 62 miles over hilly western Iowa.)

This is a great article, but one "fact" need corrected. In the years proceeding the survey, I had hiked the complete trail, and several segments multiple times. We were not looking for the trail in the sense of finding it, but we were looking for the trail tread in the heavy underbrush.

The Lolo Trail NHL is actually a "braid" of several historic trails, i.e., it is a system of trails. These trails are: 1) The Northern Nez Perce Trail, as followed by Lewis & Clark in 1805 and 1806 (now the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail), 2) The Northern Nez Perce Trail as followed in 1831 by a Hudson's Bay Company fur brigade, under the command of John Work (Wark), 3) The 1866 Virginia City and Lewiston Wagon Road (Bird-Truax Trail), a federal project under the supervision of Wellington Bird of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, 4) and finally, the Nez Perce National Historic Trail of 1877. These trails are tightly intermingled and share much of the trail tread across the Bitterroot Mountains. The survey was funded by a $10,000 grant from the Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee.

The GPS (Global Positioning System) data was collected with a Trimble Pathfinder Pro XRS, the best survey instrument available at the time. The data was post-processed with GIS software available from ArcView and National Geographic. Best accuracy was 2-3 meters. In deep valley environments, the accuracy was 5-10 meters.

I have also attached a poster from a presentation I did at Iowa State University; "Precision Surveying of Historic Trails, Lewis and Clark in Idaho -2004, Steve F. Russell, Associate Professor, Iowa State University, GIS Day -Nov 15, 2006." I have attached a map of the trail and some photos taken during the surveys.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lolo-trail-surveyed-idaho-lewis-and-clark-bicentennial-news-july-2003

DOC: PDF Document Download

34. MAP - Lewis And Clark's Track, Across The Western Portion Of North America 1814 (Annotated Map) (Russell, Ed) 2019.

This PDF file contains the 1814 map of the track of Lewis and Clark by Samuel Lewis. Modern place name notations have been added by Steve F. Russell, Historic Trails Research, Ames, Iowa.

The map shows the geographic knowledge of the northern part of the western United States at the time. Although its purpose is to show the track of Lewis and Clark and the corps of discovery, it contains much more information about the geography. This map has much more geographic knowledge in it than possessed by William Clark. It appears that much of the information provided by Samuel Lewis came from other sources. In particular, the maps and journals of David Thompson (1809-1812), William Price Hunt (1811-1812), and Robert Stuart (1812-1812).

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/AnnotatedMapOfLewisAndClarksTrackAcrossTheWesternPortionOfNorthAmerica1814V05

DOC: PDF Document Download

35. Lewis and Clark in Idaho, Lolo Trail Precision Survey

Invited Speaker, Steve F. Russell, PhD, PE, Iowa State University, NC 2005 GIS Conference, "Ideas, Information, Innovation," March 3-4, 2005, Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Presentation of the GPS and GIS technology applied to the recording of the precise location of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Idaho.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lolo-trail-nhl-lolo-trail-precision-survey-gis-converence-invited-speaker-nc-200

DOC: PDF DOC:ument Download 2.6MB 29 Pages

37. LOLO TRAIL NHL - Composite Topographic Maps (TOPO!) (Russell) 2002

This Lewis and Clark Annotated Lolo Trail Atlas, documents the research status for the trail treads and campsites of the Lewis and Clark Trail within the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark, as of 2002. The topographic maps are based on the GIS series, National Geolgraphic TOPO!.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/2002LoloTrailNHLCompositeTopoMapsoptimized02_201612

DOC: PDF Document Download 13.0MB 50 Pages

38. LOLO TRAIL NHL - Comprehensive Research Maps (Arcview) (Russell) 2017

This Annotated trail atlas for the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark, is based on the use of the GIS program ARCVIEW 3.1. It is also based on all the trail research of Steve F. Russell PhD, PE, and contains all the campsites, historical landmarks he visited, and all the trails he hiked. It contains precise trail location data for the following:

(NOTE: The trail overlay themselves in several locations. For example, the Lewis and Clark Trail is overlaid, in most locations, by the Nez Perce Trail , because that was primarily the trail used by the Corps of Discovery. Many trails and sites have been left off because the create too much clutter to read everything. The original ARCVIEW 3.1 program and maps contain all the data)

TRAILS, ROADS, AND SITES RECORDED:

RED: Northern Nez Perces Trail 1805, 1866

RED (Dotted): Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 1805-1806

BLUE: Bird-Truax Trail (Lewiston and Virginia City Wagon Road) 1866

PINK (Dashed): Nee-Me-Poo Adventure Trail

BROWN (Solid, Dotted): US Forest Service Trails

BROWN (Solid, Large): Stock Driveway, 1930

BROWN (Solid, Dashed): Lolo Motorway (Lolo Divide Road)

GREEN (Dashed): Other Trails

GREEN (Solid): Idaho SHPO National Register 1988

BLACK (Dashed): Other roads

PINK (Dotted): G. B. Nicholson, 1866 Reconnaissance Route

DARK PURPLE (Solid): Selected Steve R. Russell Reconnaissance Routes

YELLOW TARGETS: Lewis and Clark Campsites

EXPEDITIONS DOCUMENTED:

LEWIS AND CLARK - 1805 AND 1806

JOHN MULLAN - 1854

LEWISTON AND VIRGINIA CITY WAGON ROAD - 1866

JOHN WORK - 1832

GEN. O. O. HOWARD - 1877

OTHER TRAILS AND SITES DOCUMENTED (a partial list):

All secondary trails hiked by Steve F. Russell, Elk hunter trails, Lewis and Clark Campsites by Steve F. Russell, Lewis and Clark Campsites by Robert Bergantino, John Work (Wark) campsites, John Mullan Campsites, General O. O. Howard Campsites, Steve F. Russell Campsites, Miscellaneous Campsites, Lolo Trail Landmarks, Springs and Creeks, Aboriginal Trails, Mileage Labels for all the main trails, etc.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lolo-trail-nhl-comprehensive-research-maps-arcview-russell-2017

DOC: PDF Document Download 116MB 97 Pages

39. Lewis and Clark over Lost Trail Pass-WPO 1999 (Russell) 1997-99

During September 1-4, 1805, the Corps of Discovery under the command of Lewis and Clark bushwacked their way northward over the dividing ridge between the waters of what they called Lewis' River on the south and Clark's River on the north. They began on the Salmon River in Idaho and their destination was the Bitterroot River in Montana. They were not following an established Indian trail because they chose to go due north over the most direct route possible. The established Indian trail, at that time, looped eastward through the Big Hole before going northward up Trail Creek, over Gibbons Pass, and then into the Bitterroot Valley.

The route of the Corps of Discovery over Lost Trail Pass is, to repeat an often used phrase, "a puzzle, wrapped in a mystery, shrouded by an enigma." It remains a major challenge to the Lewis and Clark trail community to determine their route for September 1-4, 1805 and their September 2nd and 3rd camping sites. This paper reports on a technique the author has developed, using topography and computer analysis techniques, that can be applied to the Lost Trail route.

For the past 12 years, I have been doing research on the Lolo Trail from Lolo, Montana to Weippe, Idaho. This work is nearing completion and will result in the accurate location and documentation of the trails within the Lolo Trail System: the Northern Nez Perces Trail, the Bird-Truax Trail, and the Lewis and Clark route. The research techniques developed for the Lolo Trail were applied to the Lost Trail route using modern map data and the expedition's journal narratives and maps.

While the Lolo Trail research results were validated by cross-checking with many other historical sources, as well as ground truthing, no known equivalent resources exist for the Lost Trail route. The party "bushwhacked" their way over the pass and did not follow an established "roade." Without the remnants of a well-travelled Indian trail, we are left with only their journal records and the topography to be our guide.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-trail-mystery-of-lost-trail-pass-wpo-russell-1999

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40. Lewis and Clark Lolo Trail Precision Survey, Summary of Research Results (Russell) 2005

This document contains maps that represent the most accurate survey of the trail that exists today.

In the spring of 1999, I finally completed a series of maps documenting the 1806 trail location but did not publish them because of heritage resource concerns. Interest in Lewis and Clark campsite excavation for archeology did not appeal to me so I elected to maintain the information as confidential. During the years after 1999, I started using ARCVIEW to document the 1806 and 1866 trails and caught up on my

documentation of the various journals that applied to the Lolo Trail.

Finally, in the summer of 2002, I began a precision survey of the 1806 trail followed by Lewis and Clark. A high-precision GPS unit, salary for a survey assistant, and per diem were provided by a grant from the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Assistance Grant program for the State of Idaho. The grant was administered by the Idaho State Historical Society. I made in-kind contributions of all my research knowledge, post processing of the survey points, converting data to ARCVIEW shape files, and survey labor for two summers. The survey of a total of 104 miles of trail from Lolo Pass to Weippe Prairie took a total of 65 days spread over the summers of 2002 and 2003. The planning of the work took approximately 170 hours. The post processing of all the data took approximately 450 hours spread out over two-plus years.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lewis-and-clark-lolo-trail-precision-survey-summary-of-research-results-russell-2005

DOC: PDF Document Download 21MB 86 Pages

41. Lolo Trail Research Field Maps, 1985-2001, Folder F109 V02 (Optimized)

In the first days of my field research on the Lolo Trail, a hand-held GPS was not yet available. I used paper copies of 7.2 minute topographic maps that I carried in my backpack. To help me with navigation and map marking, I used a pace counter for distance (2.5 feet per step), and a barometric altimeter. At known places on the topo map, I would mark the paper map and calibrate my altimeter. This document contains scans of all of those old paper maps. When GPS became available to me, I still carried paper maps to get a better orientation in the terrain.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/lolo-trail-research-field-maps-1985-2001-folder-f-109-v-02-optimized

DOC: PDF Document Download 32MB 188 Pages

43. Lolo Trail History and Cartography; PART VI, Research Maps C; National Historic Landmark Map Set, 2009-2017

This is a comprehensive map set of all seven of the major trails and the Lolo Motorway.

Series-1 - 1805 Northern Nez Perces Trail & Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

The oldest of the historic trails within the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark is the

Northern Nez Perces Trail (NNT), scouted and used primarily by the Nez Perce between the

time they obtained horses (circa 1730) and 1866.

It was used by the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery in 1805 (westbound) and 1806 (eastbound) during their western explorations. Lewis and Clark also used the Fishery Trail down to the Lochsa River in their westbound travel. The NNT had two branches on the western end. The southernmost we will call the Hungery Creek Branch (H-NNT). This branch was used by Lewis and Clark (1805-06). The northernmost branch we will call the Snowy Summit Branch (S-NNT)which was used by John Work (1831), John Mullan (1854), and George Nicholson (1866) when they traveled the route.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/series-1-8-lolo-trail-national-historic-landmark-trail-maps-2017-08-17_202503

DOC: PDF Document Download 104.8MB 359 Pages

45. History of the Lolo Trail and the Nez Perce Indians, Newspaper Articles by John (Jack) P. Harlan et al, 1921-1938, Compiled and Edited by Steve F. Russell, 2004.

The newspaper reported that his diary and photographs would be published by a "certain publisher," but I have been unable to locate a copy, and it may have never been published. The value of Mr. Harlan's articles are in their reporting of the viewpoints of his time of the Nez Perce Tribe and their connection to the Lolo Trail. He also brings to light that three plaques were placed along the trail. He did the placement and the Daughters of the American Revolution provided them. There are so many inaccuracies in his reporting of places along the Lolo Trail that they are of minimal value in current Lolo Trail research but they are interesting for there documentation of the ideas of his time.

Larry Jones, Historian for the State of Idaho, first brought these articles to my attention in the summer of 1998 and provided me with photocopies of some of the articles. This Monograph grew out of those beginnings to provide the interested reader with access to Jack Harlan's Lolo Trail articles. I am not sure if we have all the articles but I believe most of them are here. I appreciate Larry's help with this project and all the other help he has given me over the years.

As I read Harlan's articles and began to notice the inaccuracies and misunderstandings within, it caused me to pause and think about the conditions under which he was trying to provide information about Lewis & Clark, the Nez Perce, and the Lolo Trail.

In his time, there was no road over the route so he had to use the Bird-Truax Trail of 1866. The road (Lolo Divide Road, Lolo Motorway) was not completed until 1935. He also had no access to high quality maps or aerial photos or satellite images. In 1925, GIS and GPS were still over five decades into the future. I will make comments on his misinformation but it is by no means a criticism of his efforts in difficult conditions.

The comments about Nez Perce culture are not in keeping with today's thinking but it is not for us to judge the past with the cultural mores of the present. Therefore, I have not indulged in commenting on his opinions. They are only opinions, and they are his, not mine.

Concerning accuracy of the trail and campsite locations, I feel free to comment and pass along my many years of research and inferences about locations. I had many advantages that Harlan did not.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfTheLoloTrailAndTheNezPerceIndians

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46. 1988-1993 Lolo Trail NHL Original National Register Nomination & Letters, Merle Wells, Idaho State Historian (ISHS).

NOTE: This document is primarily applicable to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The location of the trail is a "guesstament," Merle told me he never actually hiked the trail.

Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark , National Register of Historic Places, Registration Form with Continuation Sheets and Maps, Idaho State Historical Society, Merle Well, Idaho State Historian, Sep 13, 1988 - May 13, 1991 - Feb 1, 1993.

This is the documentation for the Lolo Trail National Historic Landmark that Merle Wells mailed to me on Sep 19, 1996. Merle and I met on the Lolo Trail and had a long afternoon talk about my work and the need to update the documentation on the Lolo Trail NHL He requested my help.

These continuation sheets and maps were sent to me to mark up and return just before Merle became terminally ill. I regret to say that I postponed my work on this and never returned to it before his death.

This contains the registration form, continuation sheets, and maps that the Idaho State HS prepared in 1988. The form pages were stamped with the date Mar 13, 1991, and the form was signed by the Keeper on Feb 1, 1993. The continuation pages were not numbered so I have numbered them in the order I received them. I have also added identifier labels to the continuation sheets and the maps that were not on the originals.

The Lolo Trail, as documented in these pages, is primarily the Northern Nez Perces Trail of 1805 through Hungery Creek (Lewis and Clark) and the Northern Nez Perces Trail of 1831 John Work (Wark) over Snowy Summit. Some of the trail tread is not marked on some maps. I have added Idaho State HS Reference Series 941 to this document that shows their estimate of the tread diversion at Saddle Camp.

It is unfortunate that this Landmark documentation does not cover the portion of the Lolo Trail between the Weippe Prairie and Kamiah. I hope this can be added in the future because it rightfully belongs and is shown on an historic map in my collection.

My research was an independent discovery 0f the trail tread over the same span of geography. Thus,my research and this map set represent two independent versions of research on the Lewis and Clark trail tread over the Lolo Trail corridor.

Steve F. Russell, PhD, PE Associate Professor of ElectIical and Computer Engineering Iowa State University Ames, Iowa .

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/1988-1993-lolo-trail-nhl-original-national-register-nomination-letters-merle-wells-ishs-ed-2b

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47. The Lolo Trail - A History of Events Connected with the Lolo Trail, Since Lewis and Clark

A small book by the 1966 Forest Supervisor of the Clearwater National Forest, Orofino, Idaho. Ralph was a family friend. He told me that he hiked much of the trail, but was most interested in location campsites. He thanked me for my efforts to document the precise location of the old Lolo Trail.

MAIN LINK: https://archive.org/details/1970-lolo-trail-space

DOC PDF Document Download 11.4MB 35 Pages

END OF WEBSITE DOCUMENT LINKS

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HISTORIC TRAILS RESEARCH, Steve F. Russell, PhD, PE

LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

INFORMATION FROM OTHER INTERNET AND BOOK SOURCES

1. Discover Lewis & Clark

The best site on Lewis and Clark history, except for the actual journals. Created by Dr. Joseph Musselman and maintained by Chris Townsend. It features many photos and additional information that is not in the Journals. It previously was associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Foundation.

MAIN LINK: https://lewis-clark.org

DOC: Contributor, Steve F. Russell

All other documents are accessable through the MAIN LINK. Be sure to use the search engine to search the main web page.

2. Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Welcome to the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Online. This website makes available the text of the celebrated Nebraska edition of the Lewis and Clark journals, edited by Gary E. Moulton. Moulton's edition--the most accurate and inclusive edition ever published--is one of the major scholarly achievements of the late twentieth century.

The site features the full text--almost five thousand pages--of the journals. Also included are a gallery of images, important supplemental texts, and audio files of selected passages plus Native American perspectives. With a focus on full-text-search ability and ease of navigation, the Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Online is intended to be both a useful tool for scholars and an engaging website for the general public

MAIN LINK: https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

DOC: All documents are accessible through the MAIN LINK:

3. Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance

This organization was previously known and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Foundation. After the name change, it assimilated all of the web pages associate with the previous organization.

MAIN LINK: https://lewisandclark.org/

DOC: All documents are accessible through the MAIN LINK:

4. Lewis and Clark Trail, Trail Research.Org

This site, created by Chris Townsend, contains a considerable amount of information about the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

MAIN LINK: https://trailresearch.org/lewisandclark/

DOC: All documents are accessible through the MAIN LINK:

5. National Park Service, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

This site is sponsored by the NPS and contains a significant amount of information about the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The NPS offices for the LCNHT are located at Omaha, NB.

MAIN LINK: https://www.nps.gov/lecl/planyourvisit/maps.htm

DOC: All documents are accessible through the MAIN LINK:

6. National Park Service, National Trails System (Maps)

This site contains another NPS map interface and also includes a link to the ARCGIS interactive maps for all National Historic Trails.

NOTE: This interactive map takes a long time to download.

MAIN LINK: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationaltrailssystem/maps.htm

DOC: National Trails System Webmap (ARCGIS, INTERACTIVE, NO DOWNLOAD)

END OF INFORMATION

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OTHER INTERNET AND BOOK SOURCES