Knife River Indian Villages Historic Trail

This historic trail follows the Missouri River breaks through the original Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara trading villages where Lewis and Clark spent their first winter. The route passes reconstructed earth lodges and crosses the same creek bottoms where Sacagawea was captured, with muddy sections through Big Hidatsa Village site and challenging climbs up the bluffs to Crow Flies High overlook.

The trail demands moderate 4WD skills for the creek crossings and steep clay banks that turn treacherous when wet. Stock high-clearance vehicles can handle dry conditions, but lockers help in the bottomland gumbo. Open year-round but best May through September when the Missouri isn’t flooding the lowlands. The route offers unique cultural history and river country scenery, plus decent camping spots along Knife River with pit toilets at the visitor center.