w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m
65
The Missouri Headwaters State Park lies approximately 30
miles beyond via a quick transition onto Interstate 90 east.
The expedition reached this point in late July, 1805. Upon
their arrival, they realized they had located the birthplace of
the Missouri River, which is formed by the convergence of
three other grand rivers. They named one in honor of Jeffer-
son, one for the Secretary of State James Madison, and the
third after Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin.
It was also in this same area that Sacagawea was kidnapped
by the Hidatsa tribe just a few short years before the expedi-
tion's arrival.
Today, this 532-acre park provides visitors with stellar op-
portunities for hiking, bicycling, picnicking and camping.
BEAVERHEAD ROCK, CLARK'S LOOKOUT,
AND CAMP FORTUNATE
After a brief backtrack on I-90, turn south at Whitehall
onto MT-55/MT-41.
This route loosely parallels a section of the Jefferson Riv-
er before passing by Beaverhead Rock State Park—a com-
manding rock formation that Sacagawea quickly recognized
as being near her Shoshone family's summertime camp. The
expedition was desperately trying to locate the Shoshone to
secure horses from them in order to continue their journey
over the mountains.
"This hill she says her nation calls the beaver's head from
a conceived resemblance of its figure to the head of that an-
imal," Lewis wrote on Aug. 8, 1805. "She assures us that we
shall either find her people on this river or on the river imme-
diately west of its source…"
After arriving in the town of Dillon approximately 15 min-
utes later, head north on MT-91 for one mile to Clark's Out-
look State Park.
Clark climbed this hill to get his bearings on Aug. 13, 1805,
and recorded three compass readings as he looked out over
the Beaverhead Valley. Today, a monument showcasing
those same compass readings can be found at the lookout
point Clark used. It is accessible via a short walk.
4 5 2 8 We s t H w y 1 2 • H e l e n a , M T • 4 0 6 - 5 0 2 - 1 3 0 3
w w w . w a s s w e i l e r . c o m
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