Exploring Great Falls, Montana

We found that there isn't a lot to do in the tiny town of Choteau. But we are within driving distance of the biggest city in Central Montana. So we made the drive to Great Falls, Montana, for a full day of activities. We enjoy learning more about Lewis and Clark and their Corp of Discovery's great trek across the west to find a route to the Pacific. We found that Great Falls was another good place to learn more. We were welcomed to town at the visitor center with this statue of four of the group's most famous members.

This group was making good time with their heavy boats floating on the Missouri River on their westward trip. Even though they were having to go against the current, the wide river was still the best way to transport all their heavy cargo.

Then they discovered the five different falls that make river travel troublesome in the Great Falls area. This is a view of Black Eagle Falls today. It takes quite a stretch of the imagination to see what it looked like in 1804. A hydro-electric dam was built to capture the energy of the raging falls. So now the water going over the rocky cliffs is controlled to a trickle of its former self.

There is a bike trail that travels beside many of the Lewis and Clark historical sites in this area. We got some good exercise biking through the golden grass pastures between those sites.

We rode to another of the falls--Rainbow Falls--with barely a trickle flowing over the rock face because of another hydro-electric plant built at this site.

Our bike trail also took us through Giant Springs State Park. Mark is standing behind the tranquil springs, filled with clear water.

This view above the springs shows the water bubbling to the top. Giant Springs is a fitting name since 156 million gallons are springing to the surface here every day.

That water then cascades from that upper pond in front of Mark, to empty into the Missouri River that is behind Mark.

It was also along this bike path that we found more sculptures of the Corp of Discovery. Here Denisa and Sacajawea are pointing the way for Lewis and Clark.

Actually, going that direction along the Missouri River would not be possible because of the five falls in the Great Falls area. In fact, these men had to build wheels and axles, to turn their boats into bulky wheeled wagons. They had to be pulled up the steep banks of the river, and then 18 miles across the prairies to get around the great falls of Great Falls, Montana. A life-size model of this real-life situation was on display at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Free with our national park pass, the center had two floors of very interesting displays, plus two well-made films.

We spent several hours in the Lewis and Clark center. It kept our attention, and we learned a lot. But standing on our legs while reading all those museum exhibits can wear us out more than a ten mile hike. By the time we left, we were hungry and tired. We headed to "Music on the Mo," Great Falls' community market and family festival on the shore of the Missouri River. They host weekly live music and food trucks at Oddfellows Park, and we love evenings like this. After we were fed and entertained, it was time to head back home. It was a good day with a little exercise, a little education, a little music, and a full stomach. Another day in paradise!