Sacajawea Memorial Area

This is an easy, short, curving dirt road that winds its way from Lemhi Pass to a parking lot with several picnic areas, informative signage, a vault toilet, and a hiking trail leading to a spring named "The Most Distant Fountain." This spring is part of a small memorial to Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman who was instrumental in the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Although there are picnic tables and fire rings, this is a day-use-only area.

As history recalls, the Lewis and Clark expedition had followed the mighty Missouri River for months. On August 11, 1805, Lewis led a small advance party towards Lemhi Pass following the ever-diminishing water flow. He recorded in his journal, "The road took us to the most distant fountain of the waters of the mighty Missouri in search of which we have spent so many toilsome days and wristless nights. Thus far, I had accomplished one of those great objects on which my mind has been unalterably fixed for many years, judge then of the pleasure I felt in allying my thirst with this pure and ice cold water." Hugh McNeal, a member of the advance party, stood with one foot on each side of the run-off of the spring and "thanked his god that he had lived to bestride the mighty and heretofore deemed endless Missouri."

Visitors can still "bestride" the Missouri headwaters by standing on two large stones at the end of the hike.