Near Tendoy in Lemhi County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Agency Creek

Looking West to the Salmon River Country

— Beaverhead-Deerlodge & Salmon-Chaillis National Forest —

Agency Creek Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 24, 2017

1. Agency Creek Marker

Click on the image to enlarge the panorama.

Inscription. First Taste of the Columbia "we proceeded on to the top of the dividing ridge from which I discovered immence ranges of high mountains still to the West of us with their tops partially covered with snow. I now decended the mountain about 3/4 of a mile which I found much steeper than on the opposite side, to a handsome bold running Creek of cold Clear water. here I first stated the water of the great Columbia river.

First Camp on the Columbia "after a short halt of a few minutes we continued our march along the Indian road which lead us over steep hills and deep hollows to a spring on the side of a mountain where we found a sufficient quantity of dry willow brush for fuel, here we encamped for the night having traveled about 20 Miles." - Meriwether Lewis, August 12, 1805.

Erected by Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 13, 1805.

Location. 44° 58.739′ N, 113° 26.849′ W. Marker

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is near Tendoy, Idaho, in Lemhi County. It is on Warm Springs Road (Forest Road 158) near Lewis and Clark Highway (Forest Road 013), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tendoy ID 83468, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Idaho — Sawtooth Range.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lemhi Pass (here, next to this marker); A Communication Across the Continent by Water (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Immence Ranges of High Mountains Still to the West of Us…" (approx. 0.2 miles away); From Route ... To Road (approx. 0.3 miles away); Crossing the Great Divide (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Most Distant Fountain" of the Mighty Missouri (approx. 0.6 miles away in Montana); The Beginning of the "Endless Missouri" (approx. 0.6 miles away in Montana); Sacajawea Memorial Area (approx. 0.6 miles away).

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 24, 2017

2. Agency Creek Marker

This marker is on the right.

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tendoy.

More about this marker. This marker is on the Lewis and Clark National Back Country Byway and Adventure Road. The Byway is a 36 mile loop from Tendoy, Idaho to Lemhi Pass and back to Tendoy over gravel roads with a 4000 foot gain and loss in elevation. There are 10 designated stops with pullouts on the Byway and over two dozen information panels and markers on route. Estimated travel time is about 3 hours.

Looking west from Lemhi Pass image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 24, 2017

3. Looking west from Lemhi Pass

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 673 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 3, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.