Three Forks of the Missouri (U.S. National Park Service) (2024)

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Three Forks of the Missouri is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

On July 25, 1805, the expedition finally reached the headwaters of the Missouri River. It was here that Sacagawea had previously been kidnapped by the Hidatsa during a raid on a Shoshone camp. Clark, who led a scouting party ahead of the main body, wrote, “we proceeded on a fiew miles to the three forks of the Missouri those three forks are nearly of a Size, the North fork [Jefferson River] appears to have the most water and must be Considered as the one best calculated for us to assend middle fork [Madison River] is quit as large about 90 yds. wide. The South fork [Gallatin River] is about 70 yds wide & falls in about 400 yards below the midle fork. those forks appear to be verry rapid & Contain Some timber in their bottoms which is verry extincive.” Lewis arrived two days later and wrote, “beleiving this to be an essential point in the geography of this western part of the Continent I determined to remain at all events untill I obtained the necessary data for fixing it’s latitude Longitude &c.” They spent several days exploring the area and making observations while the company hunted, rested, and refitted. Initially uncertain, Lewis and Clark determined the Jefferson River their best route forward in anticipation of meeting the Shoshone and gaining their assistance. Clark camped at the forks again on July 13-14, 1806, while enroute to the Yellowstone River valley during the return journey.
The confluences of the Three Forks of the Missouri join along the boundary between Broadwater and Gallatin counties, about three miles northeast of the town of Three Forks and within the
Missouri Headwaters State Park.

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    Three Forks of the Missouri (U.S. National Park Service) (2024)

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    Three Forks of the Missouri (U.S. National Park Service)? ›

    Three Forks of the Missouri is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

    Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
    Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is approximately 4,900 miles long, extending from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River, near present day Astoria, Oregon, following the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition plus the preparatory section from Pennsylvania to ...
    https://www.nps.gov › lecl › planyourvisit › basicinfo
    . On July 25, 1805, the expedition finally reached the headwaters of the Missouri River. It was here that Sacagawea had previously been kidnapped by the Hidatsa during a raid on a Shoshone camp.

    What are the Three Forks of the Missouri? ›

    The Three Forks of the Missouri is a high potential historic site along The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The name comes from being the intersection point between the Jefferson River, coming from the north, the Madison River, coming from the middle, and the Gallatin River, coming from the south.

    Is 3 Forks close to Yellowstone? ›

    The distance between Three Forks and Yellowstone National Park is 165 miles. The road distance is 142.1 miles. How do I travel from Three Forks to Yellowstone National Park without a car? The best way to get from Three Forks to Yellowstone National Park without a car is to bus and shuttle which takes 5h 7m and costs .

    Why is it called Three Forks? ›

    The city of Three Forks is named so because it lies geographically near the point, in nearby Missouri Headwaters State Park, where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers converge to form the Missouri River — the longest single river in North America, as well as the major portion of the Missouri–Mississippi River ...

    What is Three Forks, MT known for? ›

    Three Forks is known for some of its popular attractions, which include: Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park. Missouri Headwaters State Park. Bleu Horses.

    What happened at Three Forks Lewis and Clark? ›

    Three Forks of the Missouri is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. On July 25, 1805, the expedition finally reached the headwaters of the Missouri River. It was here that Sacagawea had previously been kidnapped by the Hidatsa during a raid on a Shoshone camp.

    What are the three rivers at Three Forks? ›

    This is the point where three rivers, the Gallatin, the Madison and the Jefferson come together to form the Missouri River. The Missouri begins here, meandering throughout the country and finally emptying its flow in the Gulf of Mexico.

    What mountain range is in Three Forks? ›

    The mountain ranges of this region are the Gallatin, the Madison, the Jefferson, and a part of the Bridger Range. Of these the Madison Range occupies the largest area. It lies in the southern-central portion, almost entirely in the southern half, between the Gallatin and Madison rivers.

    What river runs through Three Forks Montana? ›

    As a route of western expansion, the Missouri River had few equals. Missouri Headwaters State Park, at the three forks, documents the river's illustrious past in the chronology of our Montana through interpretive signs and displays.

    What 4 states touch Yellowstone? ›

    Even though the official address is to the state of Wyoming, Yellowstone is actually in three states. The majority Yellowstone (96%) is in Wyoming. A small section of the park (3%) to the north and northwest is in Montana. And a small section of the park (1%) to the west is in Idaho.

    Why was the Three Forks area considered so important? ›

    The area's rich resources drew many Indian nations, including the Caddo, Osage, and Wichita. The Osage, for example, accessed salt deposits, hunted plentiful fur-bearing animals, and pursued nearby bison herds.

    Where is the valley of the Three Forks of the wolf? ›

    Tucked away in the Cumberland Mountains of Fentress County, Tenn., lies the Valley of the Three Forks of the Wolf River.

    Is Three Forks, MT a good place to live? ›

    While Three Forks has certainly grown since then, it has maintained its charm and the self-proclaimed title as Montana's Best Small Town! Located just 30 miles from Bozeman, it is becoming a place people are looking to call home as Bozeman grows and real estate prices rise.

    Who founded Three Forks? ›

    John Q. Adams, proprietor of the Milwaukee Land Company, founded what is the current Three Forks.

    What names were given at the Three Forks of the Missouri River which was chosen as the path westward? ›

    Here the three rivers they named the Jefferson, Gallatin and Madison come together to form the Missouri River, and they could see the intimidating peaks of the Rockies.

    What three rivers meet in Missouri? ›

    Just west of Bozeman, Montana—where the Gallatin, Jefferson, and Madison rivers converge at Three Forks—America's longest river is born. The Missouri River will travel more than 2,300 miles before it joins the Mississippi in its namesake state at St.

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