Giant Springs State Park - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

Sunrise to Sunset (day use only)

406-727-1212

Non Resident Single Day Entrance Fee - $8 Resident Fee- $0

Dogs allowed on leash

lat: 47.534446 long: -111.228842

Come marvel at this day-use park’s remarkable features and view the variety of birdlife. Take part in our special events, picnic by the Missouri River, visit the fish hatchery and visitor center, walk along the Rivers Edge Trail, view the nearby Rainbow Falls overlook, or visit the neighboring Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center operated by the U.S. Forest Service.

Giant Springs was discovered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805 and is one of the largest freshwater springs in the country. The springs flow at a rate of 156 million gallons of water per day and the water stays at a temperature of 54 degrees. This is also the site of the Roe River, once listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s shortest river. Giant Springs State Park contains over 30 miles of paved and dirt single-track trails in settings that vary from developed to very primitive.

Giant Springs State Park is a day-use only site and no camping is available.

Ranger leading a Nature Walk

Ranger leading a Nature Walk

The Giant Springs in the winter

The Giant Springs in the winter

Sunrise over the Giant Springs

Sunrise over the Giant Springs

Misty winter morning at Giant Springs

Misty winter morning at Giant Springs

Picnic at Giant Springs

Picnic at Giant Springs

The Giant Springs in the summer

The Giant Springs in the summer

Family fun at Giant Springs

Family fun at Giant Springs

Enjoying the many trails at Giant Springs

Enjoying the many trails at Giant Springs

Reading about the history of the Giant Springs

Reading about the history of the Giant Springs

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center

4201 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA
Distance: 0.46 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls

Rainbow Falls, Montana, USA
Distance: 1.08 Away

Outdoor Experiences LC Features Viewpoints

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Roadhouse Diner

Roadhouse Diner

Roadhouse Diner, 15th Street North, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 2.88 Away

Food and Drinks

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C. M. Russell Museum

C. M. Russell Museum

C. M. Russell Museum, 13th Street North, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 3.16 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Blackfeet Outfitters

Blackfeet Outfitters

Blackfeet Outfitters, 10th Avenue South, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 3.60 Away

Tribal Experiences Outdoor Experiences Outfitters

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Crooked Tree Coffee and Cakes

Crooked Tree Coffee and Cakes

Crooked Tree Coffee, 1st Avenue North, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 3.79 Away

Food and Drinks Coffee Houses

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Lewis & Clark Festival

Lewis & Clark Festival

Gibson Park Trail, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 3.87 Away

Festivals and Events

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Mighty Mo Brewing Company

Mighty Mo Brewing Company

Mighty Mo Brewing Co, Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 3.89 Away

Food and Drinks

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Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company

Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company

Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Co. Production and Packaging Facility, 3rd Avenue South, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 3.90 Away

Food and Drinks Breweries and Distilleries

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Great Falls, Montana

Great Falls, Montana

Great Falls, Montana, USA
Distance: 3.91 Away

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The Falls of Great Falls

The Falls of Great Falls

100 1st Ave N, Great Falls, MT 59401, USA
Distance: 4.08 Away

Outdoor Experiences LC Features Walks and Hikes

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The Celtic Cowboy

The Celtic Cowboy

The Celtic Cowboy Pub and Restaurant, 1st Avenue South, Great Falls, MT, USA
Distance: 4.13 Away

Food and Drinks

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Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.

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Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota

Are you close to the Lewis and Clark Trail in the

Are you close to the Lewis and Clark Trail in the Cincinnati area? Do you need to hike off some of those Thanksgiving pounds? Check out the California Woods Nature Preserve!

California Woods, located in the California neighborhood east of Cincinnati, contains 113-acres of forest and year-round education programming for all nature lovers! The park features 53 species of trees, more than 200 species of herbaceous plants and is adjacent to the Magrish Preserve, which has been designated as an Important Birding Area. Lick Run Creek passes through this preserve, and is home to kingfishers, snapping turtles, small fish, a myriad of invertebrates and the occasional visit from grebes, mallards, wood ducks, and even beavers.

Take a hike on one of California’s trails, and be on the lookout for pileated woodpeckers and perhaps you’ll also spot a great horned owl among the tall sycamores. There is also a beautiful butterfly and hummingbird garden located directly in front of the nature center.

https://www.lewisandclark.travel/listing/california-woods-nature-preserve/

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #californiawoodsnaturepreserve #cincinnati #ohio