The Lewis and clark Trail spans the entire state of South Dakota, and offers not only a glimpse into the history of two of the world's greatest explorers, but also many recreational opportunities along the way.
Two of the world's greatest explorers, Lewis and Clark, traveled the Missouri River in 1804 and faced unknown people, harsh conditions, and unexplored lands. The Lewis and Clark Trail spans all the way across South Dakota marking the path these two great explorers took on their journey. Since then, the great Missouri River, which used to be a shallow, waterway, has been dammed to create four large reservoirs known as South Dakota's Great Lakes. You can follow the rivers path to see where Lewis and Clark explored and experience a bit of the regions history. This great river flows past several historic Lewis and Clark sites, as well as American Indian Reservations, and many small towns. The trail is located all through the state from the upper northwestern region all the way to the southeastern area and continues on into Nebraska. The Lewis and Clark Lake is located in the southeastern region of the state, near Yankton, and offers The Lewis and Clark Recreation area. This area has many miles of recreational trails and outdoor activities, along with camping, boating and historic tours. Be sure to look for the Burning Bluffs between Fort Randall and Chamberlain. In 1804, Lewis and Clark saw bluffs that appeared to be on fire. Today, along parts of the Missouri River, travelers have seen smoke and steam pour out of the earth's surface creating the look of fire.
