Highway 12, between Lewiston, Idaho and Missoula, MT, has to be one of the most scenic roads I’ve driven. Within the first 20 miles east of Lewiston, you’re already beginning a gentle climb into the mountains and forests of north central Idaho.
The road features several spots where the Corps of Discovery came through. It also has a river running along it the entire distance from Lewiston to where we turned off of I-90 near Anaconda, MT. This makes for stunning scenery, especially in the narrow canyon sections leading up to the Lolo Pass.
From Lewiston to Orofino, Highway 12 runs along the Clearwater River. Orofino is the site of the so-called Canoe Camp. This is where the exhausted and sick corps came down from the Weippe Prairie after surviving a grueling trek over the Bitterroot Mountains. Members of the Nez Perce tribe showed them how to use fire to help quickly hollow out logs to make five dugout canoes. This allowed them to continue westward on the Clearwater River.
East of here, the highway begins to follow the Lochsa River for several miles. It appears to be a popular whitewater rafting location, based on our sighting of several kayakers descending the river.
We made a quick rest stop at the rustic Lochsa Lodge in Powell, ID.
Our next stop was at Lolo Pass, where there is a monument to the Nez Perce commemorating the sad ‘clash of cultures’ that led to the forcible removal of the tribe from their homeland in the late 1870’s. There is also a plaque honoring author and historian, Stephen Ambrose, whose book “Undaunted Courage” helped popularize the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The visitor center was closed, but a local resident was there to greet us.
Lolo Pass is the border between Idaho and Montana.
Going down Highway 12 from Lolo Pass, the road follows Lolo Creek. The topography changes from mountain forest to rolling ranch land. At this time of year everything is green.
Our last stop was at Traveler’s Rest State Park, where Lolo Creek joins the Bitterroot River and where Highway 12 meets Highway 93. Lewis and Clark camped here on both their westbound and eastbound trips.
We followed the Bitterroot River north up Highway 93 into Missoula, where we caught I-90 east and followed the Clark Fork River through green rolling hills to our hotel. We lost an hour by crossing into Mountain time, so it was a late dinner tonight. Luckily (?), it stays light until well after 9:00pm, so the bleary-eyed blogger can meet his deadline.
NEXT: Some sightseeing
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