Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Pure Springs Along the Missouri River

By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015

1. Pure Springs Along the Missouri River Marker

Inscription. Over 150 million gallons of water flow from Giant Springs everyday and cascade into the Missouri River.

The springs occur where cracks in the rocks above the Madison Limestone allow water to leak upward to the land surface. It is similar to a leak in a hose where the water, under pressure, will exit upwards through the overlying opening.

Waters of the spring have been tested and found to be very pure. However, it is not advisable to drink the water directly from the springs because birds and other animals live in and use the water.

As you visit the spring today, you can see that William Clark's description is still true over 200 years later:
“…largest fountain or Spring I have ever Saw, and doubt if it is not the largest in America Known, this water boils up from under th rocks near the edge of the river and falls imediately into the river 8 feets and keeps its Colour for a mile which is emencely Clear and of a bluish Cast…”
William Clark

Marker photo caption: Giant Springs gushes into the Missouri River, photo courtesy of Ben Chovanak

Erected by Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition marker series.

Location.

Pure Springs Marker (<i>tall view; Giant Springs and Missouri River in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015

2. Pure Springs Marker (tall view; Giant Springs and Missouri River in background)

47° 32.06′ N, 111° 13.798′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. Marker can be reached from Giant Springs Road 1.3 miles north of River Drive North, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is located in Giant Springs State Park, along the Giant Springs interpretive trail, overlooking Giant Springs, the Roe River, and the Missouri River. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4803 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls MT 59405, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. These Springs Have Witnessed... (a few steps from this marker); Where Does the Water Come From? (a few steps from this marker); The Smallest River Runs Through It (within shouting distance of this marker); A "great" Set of Falls (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cascade County Courthouse (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Portage Around the Falls (approx. 4.6 miles away); The Falls: Obstacle or Opportunity (approx. 4.6 miles away); Commissary of the Plains (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high posts.

Also see . . . Lewis and Clark: Giant Springs. On 18 June 1805, after measuring the

Pure Springs Marker (<i>wide view; marker visible on left; overlooking Giant Falls</i>) image. Click for full size.

By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015

3. Pure Springs Marker (wide view; marker visible on left; overlooking Giant Falls)

"second great Cataract" —the "handsom Fall" — Clark and his five men "proceeded on up the river a little more than a mile to the largest fountain or Spring I ever Saw, and doubt if it is not the largest in American Known." The "emencely Clear" water, which seemed to him "of a bluish Cast," could be seen distinctly for half a mile down the river, which three weeks later he later measured at 270 yards in width. (Submitted on December 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Categories. • Exploration • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels •

Giant Springs cascading into the Missouri River image. Click for full size.

By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015

4. Giant Springs cascading into the Missouri River

Credits. This page was last revised on December 27, 2018. This page originally submitted on December 24, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.