Near Shonkin in Chouteau County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Portaging Across the Prairie
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2025
1. Portaging Across the Prairie Marker
At Lower Portage Camp, the men stashed the white pirogue and cached supplies. This campsite was just one mile downriver from the mouth of Portage (Belt) Creek, around the bluff, out of view, and on private land today.
The men dragged canoes two miles up the creek to where a favorable slope allowed easier access to the prairie. The canoes and baggage were then loaded on hand-built carts for the overland passage on the plain.
Rapids prevented the explorers from advancing their dugouts beyond this point, five miles short of the the Great Falls, the first of five cascades. A single cottonwood tree felled at the mouth of this creek yielded 22' diameter wheels for two two carts.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list.
Location. 47° 35.884′ N, 111° 3.125′ W. Marker is near Shonkin, Montana, in Chouteau County. It can be reached from Morony Dam Road near Sulphur Springs Road. The marker is at the end
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Montana, in Missouri River Country, and specifically in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sulphur Spring: Healing Waters (within shouting distance of this marker); Walking Sacred Ground (approx. 0.2 miles away); Flowing Free for Miles (approx. 1.1 miles away); Land of Many Uses / Sulphur Springs Hiking Trail / Lewis and Clark Reach the Rapids (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lewis and Clark Passed Here (approx. 3.7 miles away); Great Falls of the Missouri River (approx. 3.7 miles away); From Water Comes Power (approx. 3.8 miles away); It's All Geometry (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shonkin.
Also see . . . Great Falls Portage. The route selected by Clark began with an ascent of over 1 mile (1.6 km) up what is now called Belt Creek, about 1 mile below present-day Morony Dam. From there, the expedition boats were carried overland on crude wagons constructed by the team overland to a site near the White Bear Islands, south of the modern city. (Submitted on August 26, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2025
2. Portaging Across the Prairie Marker
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2025
3. Portage Creek
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2025
4. Life=size portaging diorama at the Lewis & Clark Interpredtive Center at Great Falls, Montana
This is NOT "a favorable slope."
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2025
5. Portaging diorama at the Lewis & Clark Interpredtive Center at Great Falls, Montana
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 26, 2025, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
