FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1) What type of vehicle can make the Lewis and Clark Trail route?
Passenger car: Probably 70 percent of the Lewis and Clark Trail can be made in a
typical passenger car or truck.
Pickup Truck (2-wheel Drive): The high clearance of a 2-wheel drive pickup could
probably travel 85% to 90% of the Trail.
Pickup Truck (4-wheel Drive): Should be able to make 95% of the of the Trail.
RV (30 foot or less): Probably 70 % of the Trail, but a larger RV might require a number
of short hikes to access the campsites.
Fifth-wheel and greater than 30 foot RV's – Very limited to probably typical primary
paved roads. (5th Wheels not recommended).
Motorcycle – Dual Sport and Dirt Bikes 250cc - 650cc range engine and less. 95% to
100% of the Trail.
Motorcycle – Dual Sport 1000cc or more probably 80% depending on riding skill.
Cruiser and street motorcycles – 70% to 80% of the Trail roads, depending on skill
level.
Disclaimer: There are at least 20 to 30 campsites along the trail that vehicles of
any type are either not allowed or could not travel the terrain, and require 1 to 2
mile hikes. Such sites are normally walking trails through a forest or access
roads beside a farmers crop or raw land.
2) How accurate are the campsite GPS coordinates?
River erosion has changed the course of the Missouri and other rivers. Some places
in Nebraska and Iowa may have known to have changed 14 miles.
Construction of lakes, dams and cities have also changed the rivers or buried campsites
under water. We are confident that most if not all the GPS coordinates will be within visual
distance of the Journals description of the campsite locations.
3) How many miles should I plan for a day?
This varies depending on time spent in museums, sightseeing, etc. We typically shot for
300 miles a day when we are taking in the sights. Places like the Lolo Trail dictate
about 150 miles a day.
4) Are any public campsites for travelers like me listed in the GPS coordinates?
No, but we have provided a link to an excellent campsite app and most GPS systems provide
campsites under points-of-interest.
5) How much of the trail can one expect to travel in a week?
This greatly depends on how much time you take to see the local attractions.
I average 300 to 350 miles each day while we travel the Trail but have traveled only
150 miles in the more interesting areas and when visiting museums. To travel the entire
trail one-way would realistically take a month.
6) Best time of year to undertake the Trail?
One could do many sections of the Trail throughout the year. Higher altitudes in Idaho
and Montana expect snowfall in late September through March. I have always tried to
travel in the Spring (April through July) and the Fall (late August through September),
due to heat in western states.
7) Are historical museums part of the route?
Yes. the majority of the major Lewis and Clark Interpretive and better State and Local Museums
are included in the GPS coordinates.
8) Can I travel west to east?
Very definitely. On the westward route all members were mostly together all the time on
the same route. On the return (east) route Lewis traveled through northern Montana and
Clark traveled through the southern part of Montana and followed the Yellowstone River
to meet back up with Lewis in North Dakota. The dates of the campsites on the GPS way-points
let you see which camp was west or east. Camps with dates of 1804 and 1805 were west, and dates of 1806
were the east (return) route.
9) Do you tell me what happened at each campsite?
Each GPS coordinate includes the date and a brief description of what events occurred at the campsite.
10)Do I need or have to use a GPS?
We say Yes! If you are not familiar with the use of a GPS you can learn how to load the SD GPS card
and follow the GPS instructions in 5 or 10 minutes. It is not difficult for a first time GPS user.
11)How many way-points are in the GPS file?
850 but we are adding additional waypoints all the time.
12)Any suggestions on clothing, rain gear, etc.?
To truly get the most out of the trail routes you have to walk 100 yards and a few times
a couple of miles if you want to see the really good sites. Depending on weather and season
it can be cold in Idaho and Montana, and it seems to rain often in Oregon and Washington
along the Columbia River.
13)Do I need to pack food and water?
If you are doing the 100 yard and several mile hikes I'd recommend you be prepared with adequate snack food and water.
14) Is there any areas that are more hazardous than other?
The Bitterroot Mountain Range (the Lolo Motoring Highway) is by far the most remote, but not really
dangerous. It is known to have an occasional bear, moose, elk, deer, badger, and an
occasional harmless snake. I've encountered wildlife on the Lolo Trail and they tend to
be more skittish of me than I am of them. The biggest hazard of all is probably a flat tire in a remote area.
Any vehicle, especially motorcycle riders, should be prepared for a flat tire in remote areas.
15) Are motels readily available along the Trail? And how do you handle where to be at the
end of the day?
Motels are most definitely readily available within 20 to 30 miles of
most places along Trail. What I do is at 2:00 or 3:00 PM I check my GPS points-of-interest
and look for a list of motels or campsites nearby and phone the hotel to check
on availability of reservations.
16)Are campgrounds readily available from the Trail?
Yes, we provide you an excellent smart phone and Ipad app that provides a list of campgrounds available
(both charged and maintained and free campgrounds.) Most Federal and some State land is available
for free camping but many have no utilities (water and outhouses) There are many
campgrounds available for $10 to $20 with water, outhouse and electrical facilities but
you may have to search for them on the internet through Google or special Apps.
17)Recommended GPS unit?
Any GPS unit that allows you to load an SD card and
import external GPX (GPI - external points-of-interest) files should work. Most GPS's
have this feature. But currently most smart phone with GPS apps do NOT.
18)Any other recommendations about GPS's?
Yes. I take a second (older) GPS as a backup. I am prepared if my GPS gets wet or hot from
weather and malfunctions. I use a $50 to $80 Nuview Garman GPS and an anti-glare screen cover.
If you are riding a motorcycle you may want to invest in an more water resistant GPS
with a built-in anti-glare screen. If you can find one, it is a great advantage on a
motorcycle is having a bluetooth or ear-bud jacks for turn-by-turn riding directions
through helmet speakers.
Motorcycle riders should be prepared with a very sturdy handle-bar mount for the GPS
if you are riding the more rugged off-road trails.
19)Any other equipment needed?
Not needed, but recommended. I carry my Ipad (or netbook/laptop) on my travels.
It is a great advantage when you want to look up lengthy text about a campsite you are standing on.
I keep a full copy of the Lewis and Clark Journals on my Ipad (or PC/netbook).
A good safety backup in a Spot Tracking unit.
20) Do GPS coordinates have only campsites?
No, there were 573 campsites documents in the Journals. The coordinates have an additional 300+ coordinates
of sites mentioned in the Journals, such as mountains, rivers, and rock formations
they discovered or named. (Sites like Pompey's Pillar, Beacon Rock, location
Lewis and Fields killed two Blackfoot Indians, location on Lemhi Pass where Lewis
witnessed the Shoshoni poor eating uncooked, raw deer meat, River of No Return, in
Idaho..)
21)What about availability of fuel?
I've never encountered any area more than 100 miles without access to gasoline.
The only area I would be cautious of is some areas of Montana and Idaho mountainous area,
and the roads along the shores of the Columbia River may have 50 miles between gas stations.
22)What else would make the use of the GPS coordinates more useful?
We use Microsoft Street and Trips ($70+/-) to load the GPX file to visually see the route in a
map format. We also use and highly recommend downloading a FREE copy of
EasyGPS to be used to add, change, or copy sections of the GPS file for making
custom trips. You can do the same thing with FREE software MapSource(r) and
Basecamp(TM) from Garmin. (Available on Downloads page)
You can also use EasyGPS to add your own custom coordinates such as your
home base location, or there Points of Interest you want to go to.
23)Can I buy just parts of the GPX Trail coordinates?
(see Purchase Routes). The rivers and mountain ranges along the Trail are often today's state lines.
During their travels the Expedition camped for example on the left and right side of the Missouri
River on today's Nebraska and Iowa, in the west they traveled back and forth
across the Continental Divide in to today's Montana and Idaho. The GPS routes
are available in sections that minimize the miles traveled along the Trail.
1) What type of vehicle can make the Lewis and Clark Trail route?
Passenger car: Probably 70 percent of the Lewis and Clark Trail can be made in a
typical passenger car or truck.
Pickup Truck (2-wheel Drive): The high clearance of a 2-wheel drive pickup could
probably travel 85% to 90% of the Trail.
Pickup Truck (4-wheel Drive): Should be able to make 95% of the of the Trail.
RV (30 foot or less): Probably 70 % of the Trail, but a larger RV might require a number
of short hikes to access the campsites.
Fifth-wheel and greater than 30 foot RV's – Very limited to probably typical primary
paved roads. (5th Wheels not recommended).
Motorcycle – Dual Sport and Dirt Bikes 250cc - 650cc range engine and less. 95% to
100% of the Trail.
Motorcycle – Dual Sport 1000cc or more probably 80% depending on riding skill.
Cruiser and street motorcycles – 70% to 80% of the Trail roads, depending on skill
level.
Disclaimer: There are at least 20 to 30 campsites along the trail that vehicles of
any type are either not allowed or could not travel the terrain, and require 1 to 2
mile hikes. Such sites are normally walking trails through a forest or access
roads beside a farmers crop or raw land.
2) How accurate are the campsite GPS coordinates?
River erosion has changed the course of the Missouri and other rivers. Some places
in Nebraska and Iowa may have known to have changed 14 miles.
Construction of lakes, dams and cities have also changed the rivers or buried campsites
under water. We are confident that most if not all the GPS coordinates will be within visual
distance of the Journals description of the campsite locations.
3) How many miles should I plan for a day?
This varies depending on time spent in museums, sightseeing, etc. We typically shot for
300 miles a day when we are taking in the sights. Places like the Lolo Trail dictate
about 150 miles a day.
4) Are any public campsites for travelers like me listed in the GPS coordinates?
No, but we have provided a link to an excellent campsite app and most GPS systems provide
campsites under points-of-interest.
5) How much of the trail can one expect to travel in a week?
This greatly depends on how much time you take to see the local attractions.
I average 300 to 350 miles each day while we travel the Trail but have traveled only
150 miles in the more interesting areas and when visiting museums. To travel the entire
trail one-way would realistically take a month.
6) Best time of year to undertake the Trail?
One could do many sections of the Trail throughout the year. Higher altitudes in Idaho
and Montana expect snowfall in late September through March. I have always tried to
travel in the Spring (April through July) and the Fall (late August through September),
due to heat in western states.
7) Are historical museums part of the route?
Yes. the majority of the major Lewis and Clark Interpretive and better State and Local Museums
are included in the GPS coordinates.
8) Can I travel west to east?
Very definitely. On the westward route all members were mostly together all the time on
the same route. On the return (east) route Lewis traveled through northern Montana and
Clark traveled through the southern part of Montana and followed the Yellowstone River
to meet back up with Lewis in North Dakota. The dates of the campsites on the GPS way-points
let you see which camp was west or east. Camps with dates of 1804 and 1805 were west, and dates of 1806
were the east (return) route.
9) Do you tell me what happened at each campsite?
Each GPS coordinate includes the date and a brief description of what events occurred at the campsite.
10)Do I need or have to use a GPS?
We say Yes! If you are not familiar with the use of a GPS you can learn how to load the SD GPS card
and follow the GPS instructions in 5 or 10 minutes. It is not difficult for a first time GPS user.
11)How many way-points are in the GPS file?
850 but we are adding additional waypoints all the time.
12)Any suggestions on clothing, rain gear, etc.?
To truly get the most out of the trail routes you have to walk 100 yards and a few times
a couple of miles if you want to see the really good sites. Depending on weather and season
it can be cold in Idaho and Montana, and it seems to rain often in Oregon and Washington
along the Columbia River.
13)Do I need to pack food and water?
If you are doing the 100 yard and several mile hikes I'd recommend you be prepared with adequate snack food and water.
14) Is there any areas that are more hazardous than other?
The Bitterroot Mountain Range (the Lolo Motoring Highway) is by far the most remote, but not really
dangerous. It is known to have an occasional bear, moose, elk, deer, badger, and an
occasional harmless snake. I've encountered wildlife on the Lolo Trail and they tend to
be more skittish of me than I am of them. The biggest hazard of all is probably a flat tire in a remote area.
Any vehicle, especially motorcycle riders, should be prepared for a flat tire in remote areas.
15) Are motels readily available along the Trail? And how do you handle where to be at the
end of the day?
Motels are most definitely readily available within 20 to 30 miles of
most places along Trail. What I do is at 2:00 or 3:00 PM I check my GPS points-of-interest
and look for a list of motels or campsites nearby and phone the hotel to check
on availability of reservations.
16)Are campgrounds readily available from the Trail?
Yes, we provide you an excellent smart phone and Ipad app that provides a list of campgrounds available
(both charged and maintained and free campgrounds.) Most Federal and some State land is available
for free camping but many have no utilities (water and outhouses) There are many
campgrounds available for $10 to $20 with water, outhouse and electrical facilities but
you may have to search for them on the internet through Google or special Apps.
17)Recommended GPS unit?
Any GPS unit that allows you to load an SD card and
import external GPX (GPI - external points-of-interest) files should work. Most GPS's
have this feature. But currently most smart phone with GPS apps do NOT.
18)Any other recommendations about GPS's?
Yes. I take a second (older) GPS as a backup. I am prepared if my GPS gets wet or hot from
weather and malfunctions. I use a $50 to $80 Nuview Garman GPS and an anti-glare screen cover.
If you are riding a motorcycle you may want to invest in an more water resistant GPS
with a built-in anti-glare screen. If you can find one, it is a great advantage on a
motorcycle is having a bluetooth or ear-bud jacks for turn-by-turn riding directions
through helmet speakers.
Motorcycle riders should be prepared with a very sturdy handle-bar mount for the GPS
if you are riding the more rugged off-road trails.
19)Any other equipment needed?
Not needed, but recommended. I carry my Ipad (or netbook/laptop) on my travels.
It is a great advantage when you want to look up lengthy text about a campsite you are standing on.
I keep a full copy of the Lewis and Clark Journals on my Ipad (or PC/netbook).
A good safety backup in a Spot Tracking unit.
20) Do GPS coordinates have only campsites?
No, there were 573 campsites documents in the Journals. The coordinates have an additional 300+ coordinates
of sites mentioned in the Journals, such as mountains, rivers, and rock formations
they discovered or named. (Sites like Pompey's Pillar, Beacon Rock, location
Lewis and Fields killed two Blackfoot Indians, location on Lemhi Pass where Lewis
witnessed the Shoshoni poor eating uncooked, raw deer meat, River of No Return, in
Idaho..)
21)What about availability of fuel?
I've never encountered any area more than 100 miles without access to gasoline.
The only area I would be cautious of is some areas of Montana and Idaho mountainous area,
and the roads along the shores of the Columbia River may have 50 miles between gas stations.
22)What else would make the use of the GPS coordinates more useful?
We use Microsoft Street and Trips ($70+/-) to load the GPX file to visually see the route in a
map format. We also use and highly recommend downloading a FREE copy of
EasyGPS to be used to add, change, or copy sections of the GPS file for making
custom trips. You can do the same thing with FREE software MapSource(r) and
Basecamp(TM) from Garmin. (Available on Downloads page)
You can also use EasyGPS to add your own custom coordinates such as your
home base location, or there Points of Interest you want to go to.
23)Can I buy just parts of the GPX Trail coordinates?
(see Purchase Routes). The rivers and mountain ranges along the Trail are often today's state lines.
During their travels the Expedition camped for example on the left and right side of the Missouri
River on today's Nebraska and Iowa, in the west they traveled back and forth
across the Continental Divide in to today's Montana and Idaho. The GPS routes
are available in sections that minimize the miles traveled along the Trail.