back to Sierra Club main Follow in the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark save a Wild Place!


   Lewis and Clark Home        On the Trail       On this Date       Then & Now       Keep it Wild       Features   


The Boulder Mountains are home to the headwaters of the Salmon River, which Lewis and Clark traveled in their boats.

Boulder-White Cloud Mountains
Photo: Boulder-White Cloud Mountains, courtesy Craig Gehrke.

find another placeWilliam ClarkAugust 23, 1805. Clark: The River from the place I left my party to this Creek is almost one continued rapid, five verry considerable rapids     the passage of either with Canoes is entirely impossible, as the water is Confined between huge Rocks & the Current beeting from one against another for Some distance below &c. &c.     at one of those rapids the mountains close so Clost as to prevent a possibility of a portage with [out] great labour in cutting down the Side of the hill removeing large rocks &c. &c.     all the other may be passed by takeing every thing over slipery rocks, and the Smaller ones Passed by letting down the Canoes empty with Cords, as running them would certainly be productive of the loss of Some Canoes, those dificulties and necessary precautions would delay us an emence time in which provisions would be necessary.

More from the journals about the Boulder Mountains

below this Creek the lofty Pine is thick in the bottom hill Sides on the mountains & up the runs. The river has much the resemblance of that above[tab] bends Shorter and no passing after a few miles between the river & the mountains & the Current so Strong that [it] is dangerous crossing the river, and to proceed down it would rend. it necessary to Cross almost at every bend     this river is about 100 yards wide and can be forded but in a few places. Below my guide and maney other Indians tell me that the Mountains Close and is a perpendicular Clift on each Side, and Continues for a great distance and that the water runs with great violence from one rock to the other on each Side foaming & roreing thro rocks in every direction, So as to render the passage of any thing impossible. Those rapids which I had Seen he said was Small & trifleing in comparrison to the rocks & rapids below, at no great distance & The Hills or mountains were not like those I had Seen but like the Side of a tree Streight up.

Find out more:

  • Sierra Club in Idaho
  • Rivers of Lewis and Clark
  • Lewis and Clark in Idaho
  • Kettle Range Conservation Group
  • Sierra Magazine: Lewis and Clark

    		•