Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Lewis & Clark Trail

Hi--I'm looking for input on a ride I'm planning for June 2010. Starting in St. Louis, MO, and following the Lewis & Clark trail as closely as possible riding a TBA. No logging trails or wet river crossings, nosireee, but I do want to keep to secondary roads primarily (if that's not an oxymoron). Going all the way out to Fort Canby, WA.

Has anybody in this forum done this ride? Know someone who has? I'm looking for tips on everything from best greasy spoons to best sites to see, things to pack and anything special I have to do with carb adjustments to cross the Rockies.

Any and all input is appreciated! Thanks a bunch!

Try Google...

http://www.sundaymorningrides.com/longdistance/714797/

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/escape/epicrides/123_0444_lewis/index.html

http://lewisandclarktrail.com/llc.htm

http://russell.visitmt.com/motorcycle_rides/lewisandclarkride.htm

http://motorcycletoursnorthwest.com/tours_lewisclark.html

There are a bunch more, and a lot of those are for dirt riders, but not all.

Are you looking to go solo or with a group?

You can also include a side run up the Clark Fork where Clark took a side-sojourn from the main expedition. More beautiful country, I've driven through a few times (Sand Point ID down toward Missoula MT, Hwy 200). I nice in-between from 200 at Thompson Falls to I-80 is Hwy 471 through Thompson Pass. Great winding road, but watch for deer (like everywhere but even more).

CHUCK

Here is a place with the route on GPS for download, might take some conversion software... not sure how detailed.

http://www.travelbygps.com/guides/lewis_clark/lewis_clark.php

Also a trail on Google Earth, maybe copy and edit to create road route.

http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2005/11/lewis_and_clark.html

And another..

http://googlemapsmania.blogspot.com/2009/03/lewis-clark-trail-on-google-maps.html

Page with "View Map" button takes you into a Google map, section by section as selected. You can easily see the local county/state highways that follow the trail most closely. It has various waypoints, but not bars/diners, but more parks, museums, etc... but it does have motels/inns/b&bs (useful).

http://lewis-clark-trail.us/

If you can export to your own Google map, you can search stretches for destinations (road house, etc...), save your own MyMap. You got me thinking, I just might start creating this...

CHUCK

FriarJohn and Chuck,

Thanks a bunch for the tips. Much appreciated! I originally wanted to hike this trail when I was nine years old, but with age came wisdom and I sure would rather have a motorcycle under me than just some hiking boots if I have to outpace a grizzly. ;-)

I've mentioned this ride to friends and so far, nobody wants to devote the 2-3 weeks it'll probably take, so at this point, I'm solo!

Thanks again, and if any more ideas occur to you, please pass them along!