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

From Indian Trail to Highways

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

1. From Indian Trail to Highways Marker

Inscription. Lewis noted "an Indian road enters the mountain at the same place with the river... and continues along it's border under the steep cliff."
The Indian road Lewis mentioned follows the Hardy Creek drainage to the north. It was an important route for Indians seeking buffalo and other plains animals.
Roads like this were part of a network of trails that made up a transcontinental route called the Old North Trail which extended along the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico, it is one of North America's oldest roadways and has been in use for over 12,000 years. It started as a footpath then evolved into a dog travois path, a horse travois path, wagon trail, and in some places gravel roads and paved highway. It was in continuous use until the automobile became common and the roads moved farther east on the flat country.

Erected by Portage Route Chapter, Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (LCTHF).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list.

Location. 47° 11.304′ N, 111° 48.591′ W. Marker is near Cascade, Montana

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, in Cascade County. It can be reached from Old U.S. Highway 91 near Hardy Creek Lane, on the left when traveling north. The marker is located in the parking area of Tower Rock State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2325 Old U.S Highway 91, Cascade MT 59421, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. 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.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Point of Reference (here, next to this marker); Sentinel of the Rockies (here, next to this marker); Transition Terrain (here, next to this marker); From Too Much to Not Enough (here, next to this marker); July 17, 1805 & July 17, 1806 (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Missouri River Canyon and Old US Highway 91 (approx. 2 miles away); A Volcanic Island in the Rocky Mountains (approx. 2 miles away); Join the Voyage of Discovery (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cascade.

Also see . . .
1. Old North Trail/Crown of the Continent -- National Geographic. Where the trail skirts the eastern flank of the Crown of the Continent region, the Blackfoot Confederacy once controlled a vast area immediately east of the Rocky Mountains from the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada to the Yellowstone River in southern Montana. (Submitted on May 1, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. Old North Trail tours... -- Great Falls Tribune. The Old North Trail is believed to have formed
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

2. From Indian Trail to Highways Marker
thousands of years ago when people from Asia crossed the Bering Sea land bridge and made their way south. The trail was heavily used by the Blackfeet tribes in the area and by the Metis, people of mixed French and Native American blood. (Submitted on May 1, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 30, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 392 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 30, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.