Lewis & Clark 4x4 Trail - Eastern Bitterroots (also known as the "Lolo Motorway")
This trail provided our group to visit the trail and campsites that the Corps of Discovery used during Lewis & Clark's expedition in 1805 and 1806. They passed through this section on both the westward 1805 trek while nearly freezing and starving, and on their late June 1806 homeward trek. On the way to the trail and back we got to travel on paved route US 12 along the banks of the designated "Wild and Scenic" Lochsa River. The start is about 57 miles east from Glade Creek and 12 west miles from the Lolo Pass visitors center which is at the Idaho / Montana border. Powel Ranger station is south on NT102 about 0.2 miles west from Parachute Hill Road. We gathered for a head count and group photos at the Powell Ranger Station and "Colt Killed Camp" where the Corps made there first of several meals from one of their colts.
See a Google Map of the approximate route here.
Difficulty: Mild to Moderate Off-highway miles: 44 Paved miles: 92 Total camp-to-camp miles: 136
This trip is outlined in the great book, Backcountry Roads - Idaho, by Lynna Howard. Amazing photos by her brother Leland Howard make this book a cross between a trip guise and a "coffee table book". I've made copies of the right pages so I don't have to endanger my copy of this beautiful book.
See a Google Map of the approximate route here.
Difficulty: Mild to Moderate Off-highway miles: 44 Paved miles: 92 Total camp-to-camp miles: 136
This trip is outlined in the great book, Backcountry Roads - Idaho, by Lynna Howard. Amazing photos by her brother Leland Howard make this book a cross between a trip guise and a "coffee table book". I've made copies of the right pages so I don't have to endanger my copy of this beautiful book.
Buy this book!: ISBN-10: 0870044591 ISBN-13: 978-0870044595
Backcountry Roads - Idaho (Amazon Link) Backcountry Roads - Idaho (Barnes & Noble Link) "Idaho's backcountry wilderness is renowned for its stark beauty. Remarkably, some of the state's most beautiful sites are easily accessible for the road traveler that is willing to drive the backcountry logging and forest service roads that few have cataloged. Brother and sister team Lynna and Leland Howard have spent years doing just that. With over 114 photographs, 33 color maps, 31 detailed expeditions complete with GPS coordinates, Backcountry Roads Idaho is an indispensible companion for the road explorer. " |
Below is an approximation of our route and schedule. It's not turn-by-turn instructions, so you'll need more detailed information to plan your own trip.
Overview / Schedule:
Start highway route, East on US12 Glade Creek to Powell / Colt Killed Camp Stop - Powell Ranger Station Parachute Hill Rd, NF569 to "Best View" Stop at "Best View" Road 500 to Bear Oil & Roots Camp Stop - Lunch at Bear Oil & Roots Continue West to Indian Post Office Stop - Indian Post office Continue west to Jct with Road 107 Left / South on Rd 107 to US Hwy 12 Right / West on US12 to Glade Creek About 6 hrs Hwy. to Hwy. About 9 hrs camp to camp. |
Total Miles
0 57 ----- 69 ----- 79 ----- 84 ----- 94 102 136 |
End Time
8:00 AM 9:10 AM 9:40 AM 10:50 AM 11:20 AM 12:20 PM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM 2:25 PM 3:15 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM |
Excerpt from the Backcountry Roads - Idaho book:
Total Miles / Road Ratings
Total Miles: 44
2WD paved or graded gravel/dirt: about 10 miles. Narrow gravel road is not suitable for trailers.
4WD recommended: about 35 miles. Driving skills needed include expertise in backing up on a winding narrow road for as much as a quarter mile to let others pass. Most of the road is in better condition than warning signs indicate…however, there are always those spots where rocks or ruts will cause a clearance problem for 2WD vehicles. There are also ups and downs where you can get by with 2WD, but will wish you had 4WD. Check road conditions at the Powell Ranger Station. Not suitable for trailers or large RVs.
4WD required: about 35 miles in wet weather.
Expedition Directions
This expedition begins east of Powell Ranger Station on Highway 12. The route loops into the Bitterroot Mountains, follows the Lolo Motorway along ridgetops, and then descends again to Highway 12. At a junction with Saddle Camp Road 107 (where this expedition turns south to return to Highway 12) it is possible to continue west if you want to drive the entire Lolo Motorway. This expedition samples only 29 miles of the 73-mile-long Lolo Motorway.
GPS: 46deg 30.927’ N 114deg 42.915’ W Mile 0.0 Elevation 3,562 ft.
Turn north onto Road 569, Parachute Hill Road, off Highway 12 near Powell Ranger Station. Old signs at this intersection identify Lolo Motorway as “Lolo Divide Road.” Signs also show directions ton miles to some of the first landmarks on the Motorway, including Papoose Saddle and Cayuse Junction.
This area has been logged, and continues to be an active logging area. There are so many side roads it would take an entire book just to list them all. Many side roads look just like the main road in terms of condition and use. The only saving grace is that land managers have been diligent in signing most intersections. Keep in mind that you will be staying on Road 569 to Papoose Saddle, and don’t expend your worry quota on intervening five-or-six-road intersections. Road 569 trends north to Rock Point Lookout Road (about mile 4.5), then northwest to Powell Junction and Papoose Saddle.
At mile 5.7 is Powell Junction, elevation 5,872 feet, signed. Keep straight on Road 569.
GPS: 46deg 35.191’ N 114deg 43.962’ W Mile 6.9 Elevation 5,646 ft.
Papoose Saddle. Proceed straight ahead on Road 500 (Road 109 on some maps) at this junction with many choices. The straight –ahead (northwest) fork is signed “Historic Lolo Trail Corridor” and “Lolo Motorway.” Interpretive signs explain Leave-No-Trace camping techniques (there are no formal campgrounds here); an overview map depicts the route all the way to Kamiah or Weippe. Signs also note that there are no services for over 100 miles (the Motorway is 73 miles long, but you must travel beyond its end to find services). Wood-gathering for campfires is not allowed within 0.25 mile of the road for the next 4 miles. On some maps, Papoose Saddle is identified as Imnamatoon Likoolam.
From this point on, the Lolo Motorway travels high ridges for several miles.
GPS: 46deg 35.123’ N 114deg 47.924’ W Mile 12.2 Elevation 6,745 ft.
Our self-proclaimed “Best View from the Lolo Motorway.” This is an informal, unsigned overlook. Watch for a very short spur road on the left (south) leading to an overlook. The viewpoint is about 1.4 miles west of Lost Lakes Trail 13, a trailhead with a small sign next to the road, but not identified on maps.
At mile 13.7, Snowbank Camp is signed. Excerpt from Clark’s journal:
“Septr. 16th 1805 began to Snow about 3 hours before Day and continued all day the Snow in the morning 4 inches deep on the old Snow, and by night we found it from 6 to 8 inches deep …I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in my life …Killed a Second Colt which we all supped hartily on and thought it fine meat.”
GPS: 46deg 35.930’ N 114deg 51.226’ W Mile 18.0 Elevation 5,374 ft.
Cayuse Junction. Bear left to stay on Road 500.
GPS: 46deg 34.379’ N 114deg 54.588’ W Mile 22.1 Elevation 6,188 ft.
Bear Oil and Roots Camp. Excerpt from Lewis’ journal, written on their return trip in June, 1806:
“…arrived at our encampment of September [16, 1805]… our meat being exhausted we issued a pint of bears oil to a mess which with their boiled roots made an agreeable dish.”
At mile 25.1, keep straight (right fork, west/southwest) to stay on Road 500 at junction with Road 556.
GPS: 46deg 32.751’ N 114deg 59.295’ W Mile 27.1 Elevation 6,879 ft.
Indian Post Office, near Lonesome Cove. One of the mares whose colt the men had eaten, later returned to this spot looking for her offspring. A few of the Corp’s other horses followed the mare and the men spent half a day rounding them up. Rock cairns mark this spot, though they have been vandalized in the past. East of Indian Post Office, the Lolo Motorway reaches its highest point at 7,033 feet.
Moon Saddle is at 29.3
GPS: 46deg 31.818’ N 115deg 03.947’ W Mile 32.0 Elevation 6,173 ft.
Keep straight ahead to continue on Road 500 at this junction with Road 588 (Road 588 leads north to Howard Camp).
GPS: 46deg 31.648’ N 115deg 04.653’ W Mile 32.6 Elevation 6,476 ft.
Stay on Road 500 in the Devil’s Chair area. Side roads on the ground are not depicted on all maps.
GPS: 46deg 30.801’ N 115deg 06.041’ W Mile 35.6 Elevation 5,405 ft.
At a “T” intersection with Saddle Camp Road 107, you have the choice to continue north and west on the Lolo Motorway or turn south on Road 107 to return to Highway 12. Our expedition turns south here on Road 107, a maintained graded-gravel road.
GPS: 46deg 27.194’ N 115deg 04.679’ W Mile 44.0 Elevation 2,777 ft.
This is the end of this expedition. Saddle Camp Road 107 meets Highway 12. Turn left (northeast) for Jerry Johnson, Powell, Wendover, and Whitehouse campgrounds; also turn left for Lolo Pass, and Montana. Turn right (southwest) for Lochsa Historic and Apgar campgrounds, and the town of Lowell.
Total Miles / Road Ratings
Total Miles: 44
2WD paved or graded gravel/dirt: about 10 miles. Narrow gravel road is not suitable for trailers.
4WD recommended: about 35 miles. Driving skills needed include expertise in backing up on a winding narrow road for as much as a quarter mile to let others pass. Most of the road is in better condition than warning signs indicate…however, there are always those spots where rocks or ruts will cause a clearance problem for 2WD vehicles. There are also ups and downs where you can get by with 2WD, but will wish you had 4WD. Check road conditions at the Powell Ranger Station. Not suitable for trailers or large RVs.
4WD required: about 35 miles in wet weather.
Expedition Directions
This expedition begins east of Powell Ranger Station on Highway 12. The route loops into the Bitterroot Mountains, follows the Lolo Motorway along ridgetops, and then descends again to Highway 12. At a junction with Saddle Camp Road 107 (where this expedition turns south to return to Highway 12) it is possible to continue west if you want to drive the entire Lolo Motorway. This expedition samples only 29 miles of the 73-mile-long Lolo Motorway.
GPS: 46deg 30.927’ N 114deg 42.915’ W Mile 0.0 Elevation 3,562 ft.
Turn north onto Road 569, Parachute Hill Road, off Highway 12 near Powell Ranger Station. Old signs at this intersection identify Lolo Motorway as “Lolo Divide Road.” Signs also show directions ton miles to some of the first landmarks on the Motorway, including Papoose Saddle and Cayuse Junction.
This area has been logged, and continues to be an active logging area. There are so many side roads it would take an entire book just to list them all. Many side roads look just like the main road in terms of condition and use. The only saving grace is that land managers have been diligent in signing most intersections. Keep in mind that you will be staying on Road 569 to Papoose Saddle, and don’t expend your worry quota on intervening five-or-six-road intersections. Road 569 trends north to Rock Point Lookout Road (about mile 4.5), then northwest to Powell Junction and Papoose Saddle.
At mile 5.7 is Powell Junction, elevation 5,872 feet, signed. Keep straight on Road 569.
GPS: 46deg 35.191’ N 114deg 43.962’ W Mile 6.9 Elevation 5,646 ft.
Papoose Saddle. Proceed straight ahead on Road 500 (Road 109 on some maps) at this junction with many choices. The straight –ahead (northwest) fork is signed “Historic Lolo Trail Corridor” and “Lolo Motorway.” Interpretive signs explain Leave-No-Trace camping techniques (there are no formal campgrounds here); an overview map depicts the route all the way to Kamiah or Weippe. Signs also note that there are no services for over 100 miles (the Motorway is 73 miles long, but you must travel beyond its end to find services). Wood-gathering for campfires is not allowed within 0.25 mile of the road for the next 4 miles. On some maps, Papoose Saddle is identified as Imnamatoon Likoolam.
From this point on, the Lolo Motorway travels high ridges for several miles.
GPS: 46deg 35.123’ N 114deg 47.924’ W Mile 12.2 Elevation 6,745 ft.
Our self-proclaimed “Best View from the Lolo Motorway.” This is an informal, unsigned overlook. Watch for a very short spur road on the left (south) leading to an overlook. The viewpoint is about 1.4 miles west of Lost Lakes Trail 13, a trailhead with a small sign next to the road, but not identified on maps.
At mile 13.7, Snowbank Camp is signed. Excerpt from Clark’s journal:
“Septr. 16th 1805 began to Snow about 3 hours before Day and continued all day the Snow in the morning 4 inches deep on the old Snow, and by night we found it from 6 to 8 inches deep …I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in my life …Killed a Second Colt which we all supped hartily on and thought it fine meat.”
GPS: 46deg 35.930’ N 114deg 51.226’ W Mile 18.0 Elevation 5,374 ft.
Cayuse Junction. Bear left to stay on Road 500.
GPS: 46deg 34.379’ N 114deg 54.588’ W Mile 22.1 Elevation 6,188 ft.
Bear Oil and Roots Camp. Excerpt from Lewis’ journal, written on their return trip in June, 1806:
“…arrived at our encampment of September [16, 1805]… our meat being exhausted we issued a pint of bears oil to a mess which with their boiled roots made an agreeable dish.”
At mile 25.1, keep straight (right fork, west/southwest) to stay on Road 500 at junction with Road 556.
GPS: 46deg 32.751’ N 114deg 59.295’ W Mile 27.1 Elevation 6,879 ft.
Indian Post Office, near Lonesome Cove. One of the mares whose colt the men had eaten, later returned to this spot looking for her offspring. A few of the Corp’s other horses followed the mare and the men spent half a day rounding them up. Rock cairns mark this spot, though they have been vandalized in the past. East of Indian Post Office, the Lolo Motorway reaches its highest point at 7,033 feet.
Moon Saddle is at 29.3
GPS: 46deg 31.818’ N 115deg 03.947’ W Mile 32.0 Elevation 6,173 ft.
Keep straight ahead to continue on Road 500 at this junction with Road 588 (Road 588 leads north to Howard Camp).
GPS: 46deg 31.648’ N 115deg 04.653’ W Mile 32.6 Elevation 6,476 ft.
Stay on Road 500 in the Devil’s Chair area. Side roads on the ground are not depicted on all maps.
GPS: 46deg 30.801’ N 115deg 06.041’ W Mile 35.6 Elevation 5,405 ft.
At a “T” intersection with Saddle Camp Road 107, you have the choice to continue north and west on the Lolo Motorway or turn south on Road 107 to return to Highway 12. Our expedition turns south here on Road 107, a maintained graded-gravel road.
GPS: 46deg 27.194’ N 115deg 04.679’ W Mile 44.0 Elevation 2,777 ft.
This is the end of this expedition. Saddle Camp Road 107 meets Highway 12. Turn left (northeast) for Jerry Johnson, Powell, Wendover, and Whitehouse campgrounds; also turn left for Lolo Pass, and Montana. Turn right (southwest) for Lochsa Historic and Apgar campgrounds, and the town of Lowell.
Trail Ratings:
Trails are rated here on a very simple basis and truthfully there’s much more behind describing trail difficulty than this simplification does justice to. But, for the sake of simplicity these ratings are compared to a typical Syncro’s capability. What’s a typical Syncro? Original 2.1L engine, 14” wheels with 27” LT all-terrain tires, and a rear differential lock.
Syncro Safari Ratings:
Easy – 2WD with decent tires and maybe a little ground clearance can do this trail.
Mild – Occasional 4WD needed, obstacles are not a real challenge for a Syncro, Diff-lock not needed.
Moderate – 4WD often needed, challenging for a Syncro, Diff-lock needed at times, some obstacles
require getting out, scouting a route, stacking some rocks.
Difficult – 4WD often needed, some obstacles more than a Syncro can handle, Diff-lock often required,
significant terrain modification to make passable for a Syncro, damage likely
Extreme – Fuh-getaboudit! Serious off-road vehicles needed, not passible by a Syncro
Trails are rated here on a very simple basis and truthfully there’s much more behind describing trail difficulty than this simplification does justice to. But, for the sake of simplicity these ratings are compared to a typical Syncro’s capability. What’s a typical Syncro? Original 2.1L engine, 14” wheels with 27” LT all-terrain tires, and a rear differential lock.
Syncro Safari Ratings:
Easy – 2WD with decent tires and maybe a little ground clearance can do this trail.
Mild – Occasional 4WD needed, obstacles are not a real challenge for a Syncro, Diff-lock not needed.
Moderate – 4WD often needed, challenging for a Syncro, Diff-lock needed at times, some obstacles
require getting out, scouting a route, stacking some rocks.
Difficult – 4WD often needed, some obstacles more than a Syncro can handle, Diff-lock often required,
significant terrain modification to make passable for a Syncro, damage likely
Extreme – Fuh-getaboudit! Serious off-road vehicles needed, not passible by a Syncro