Bitterroot

The Bitterroot Valley stretches north between the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains, with the river of the same name flowing toward the Clark Fork. It is part of the homeland of the Salish, whose journeys took them across the mountains to hunt bison on the plains. In September 1805 Lewis and Clark descended into the southern valley and met a large Salish camp at Ross' Hole. The Salish were travelling to join Shoshone people on a bison hunt, while the expedition continued north along the river.