After leaving the Bismarck area, we camped at two state
parks on the shores of Lake Sakakawea, which was formed by Garrison Dam, the
fifth largest earthen dam in the world. The lake is 178 miles long and 6 miles
wide at the widest point. The lake is named after the young Shoshone wife of Lewis and Clark's interpreter Charboneau. Sakakawea is the preferred spelling of the Hidatsa Indians with whom she lived.
Fort Stevenson State Park
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| The Guard House at Fort Stevenson State Park |
Fort Stevenson State Park is on the northeastern shore of
Lake Sakakawea. The Corps of Discovery camped at two locations near where Fort
Stevenson would later be built. They camped in one site on their way west
(April 9, 1805) and at the other on their return trip (August 13, 1806). When
Garrison Dam was completed, the camp areas were submerged.
The guard house building presents exhibits related to Native American and military life.
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| Hiking View |
The setting is stunningly beautiful with high bluffs along the lake shore, and the hiking trails have sweeping views of the lake.
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| Black Tailed Prairie Dog |
Wild life is abundant and includes a black tailed prairie dog colony, which we visited. We also sighted a thirteen lined ground squirrel, described by Lewis while traveling through present day Montana.
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| Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel |
Lewis and Clark State Park
Lewis and Clark State Park is located on the northwestern
shore of Lake Sakakawea. It was obviously named for the intrepid explorers who
co-led the Corps of Discovery. The expedition camped at nearby Short Creek, but is now submerged beneath the lake. On the
return trip, about 10 miles east of the park, Lewis was accidentally shot by
Cruzatte, a skillful waterman who was very nearsighted. Cruzatte mistook Lewis
for an elk. The injury was not life-threatening but very painful, and it caused
Lewis to have to complete most of the remainder of the trip on his belly.
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| Sunset on Lake Sakakawea |
As we enjoyed hiking and viewing the sunrises and sunsets, we could easily imagine Lewis and Clark enjoying the sights they wrote of so frequently in their journals.
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| A Hiking View |
I am trying to picture Scrappy's reaction to prarie dogs. :)
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ReplyDeleteScrappy did not see the prairie dogs, but he is the one that alerted us to the presence of the thirteen lined ground squirrel. He was in his net tent and was actually sitting up like a prairie dog when he saw it creeping into our camp site. It came as far as the fire ring....pretty amazing.
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