Gates of the Mountains
Near Wolf Creek, MT
The evening of July 19, 1805, was a hot one in the wilderness that would later become Montana. On the Missouri River northeast of current day Helena, the hardy members of the Lewis and Clark expedition toiled to move upstream. Rock embankments made towing from shore impossible, and the deep channel forced the men to row rather than pole their boats forward.

Suddenly, there loomed before them towering rock formations unlike any they had ever seen. From both sides of the river, limestone cliffs rose to a spectacular height of 1200 feet. "In many places," wrote Lewis, "the rocks seem ready to tumble on us." At each bend in the waterway, great stone walls seem to block passage, only to open like gentle giant gates as the expedition drew near. Lewis wrote: "I shall call this place: Gates of the Mountains."

Be sure to take the boat tour listed in the itinerary. Try to take the first tour as it will be the coolest time of the day.

Row 1--#1 & 2-approaching from up river, #3-White Pirogue at dock, #4-leaving the dock, #5-center of cilff is oldest rock in the canyon, #6-Row 2--#1-approaching the canyon, #3-adult eagle, #4-young eagle, #5-osprey or eagle nest, #6-face in rock. Row 3--#1-arch, #2-canyon walls, #3 & 4-pictographs, #5-gate closed, #6-gate opened. Row 4--#1 & 2-Lewis & Clark information at Meriwether Picnic where it's believed they camped, #3 & 4-map of area, #5 & 6-Mann Gulch. Row 5--#1 & 2-Memorial to 13 smokejumpers killed in Mann Gulch forest fire in 1949, #3-White Pirogue at Meriwether Beach, #4-area slightly upstream where guide believe they stayed, #5-Row 6--#1-Audubon Sheep now extinct, one of only two mounted heads remaining.