On a clear day, the sweeping views from here take in more than 400 square miles. Most of these lands look much as they have for centuries. Human travel routes haven't changed much either. Highway 278 mirrors very closely that Captain Clark and his crew look on their eastward trip in 1806 - an "excellent road." in his words that native Americans had worn into the land over generations. At 7,460 feet above sea level, this mountain pass is one of the highest elevations traveled by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Amid this natural scenery, you stand in the heartland of western Montana's cattle country. Since the mid-1800s, Beaverhead County has been home to more cattle than most any other place in America. Headquarters at the foot of the slope before you, the Hamilton Ranch contains portions of a homestead established here in the late 1800s. Today, with the help of a program called Undaunted Stewardship®, the ranch preserves its historic sites and takes actions designed to maintain the landscape's body and soul. Welcome to a glimpse of the area's ghosts, its life and its future - enjoy your visit!

Erected by

Montana State University (Bozeman), Bureau of Land Management, Montana Stockgrowers Association.