The Lewis & Clark Expedition: Beaverhead Rock State Park

The Lewis and Clark Expedition reached this landmark on August 8, 1805. On the Expeditions westward journey, Sacagawea recognized the point referred by Shoshone people as Beaverhead Rock and knew that she was near her Shoshone tribe's summer homeland. This was very important to Lewis and Clark because they needed desperately to contact the Shoshone to secure horses for the trip over the mountains.

On August 8, 1805 Lewis writes in his journal:

"the Indian woman recognized the point of a high plain to our right which she informed us was not very distant from the summer retreat of her nation on a river beyond the mountains which runs to the west. this hill she says her nation calls the beaver's head from a conceived resemblance of its figure to the head of that animal. she assures us that we shall either find her people on this river or on the river immediately west of its source..."

This huge, high plains rock, located along MT 41 about 14 miles north of Dillon, resembles a beaver's head above water, swimming west. Today the site is undeveloped, unsigned and is designated a primitive park. Visitors can hike and mountain bike the area.

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The Lewis & Clark Expedition: Beaverhead Rock State Park

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