During the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, travelers can follow the trail through Montana by car, bicycle, train and, yes, even canoe. Parts of the trail (including the White Cliffs of the Missouri) remain pristine and relatively untouched, letting visitors experience sights as Lewis and Clark saw them.

By car, travelers can choose to stay on Montana’s scenic highways or, with a little planning, take secondary roads that wind along the riverbanks and wander into the hills. U.S. Highway 2 parallels much of the Lewis & Clark Trail across the northern part of Montana, while Interstate 90 does the same across the state’s southern half. U.S. Highway 93 and Interstate 15 offer convenient north-south routes to connect the two threads of the trail by car.

Floating the National Wild & Scenic Missouri River (Click for a larger image)

But to really see the state through the eyes of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery, visitors should plan at least one outing on the Missouri or Yellowstone River. The gentle current and unspoiled vistas can take travelers back 200 years—especially in areas such as the Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River (near Fort Benton), the Gates of the Mountains (also on the Missouri, near Helena) and the Yellowstone River (near Pompeys Pillar, where Clark inscribed his still-visible signature). While tracing the route, visitors can picnic on the sandy shore or cast out a line in hopes of catching a trout. Canoes, rafts and kayaks can be rented in most communities along the river, and a guide service can be arranged if desired. Shuttles are also available to bring paddlers back to their vehicles.

Ambitious cyclists can follow the Lewis & Clark Trail from start to finish, but in Montana, riders will want to take a little extra time on the secondary roads that wind along the Missouri River. Fat tire enthusiasts will have plenty of opportunity to experience the trail on hundreds of miles of single-track mountain bike trails that crisscross the Big Sky State.

For a little different approach to the historic Lewis & Clark Trail, visitors can take a passenger train from the historic Fort Union Trading Post in Williston, North Dakota, along Montana’s “hi-line” to Malta and Shelby in Montana. Along the way, volunteer guides will help passengers become acquainted with the Corps of Discovery and northeast and central Montana.

However travelers crisscross the state in search of Lewis and Clark adventures, they should also plan a stop in one of Montana’s Indian communities, where they’ll find descendents of the same Native Americans Lewis and Clark first encountered. Throughout the summer months, tribes hold pow wows and other cultural events where visitors are welcome.