Missouri River Odyssey

Some 800 miles of the Missouri River muscle through mountains and high plains in North and South Dakota and inspire adventurers along the Iowa and Nebraska lines. Trails blazed by the great tribes and Lewis and Clark lead to country that still feels largely undiscovered.

Whether you explore by foot, on horseback, by boat or in your car, you'll come away with a new appreciation for the early explorers. "The journey was comparable to going to the moon, no feat more difficult in terms of time and interaction with native people. This is what it's all about," says Mark Nelezen of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, marveling at the reconstructed Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark's 1804-05 winter home.

North Dakota Office of Tourism

South Dakota Tourism Division

Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism

Fort Mandan