On July 3, 1806, on their return, Captains Lewis & Clark decided to split up the group, just south of today’s city of Missoula. Clark’s team, including Sacajawea and her baby Jean Baptiste, proceeded down the Yellowstone, past Pompeys Pillar, and spent the night of July 27 at Castle Rock by today’s Forsyth.

The next day they passed Rosebud Creek, spotted numerous herds of Elk, and spent the night of July 29, 1806 on an island just across from the Tongue River by Miles City. Clark observed the abundance of coal in the surrounding hills.

On July 30, the group passed through a difficult stretch of river and went by Makoshika State Park.

The night of July 31 was spent by present day Glendive where they reportedly experienced problems with mosquitoes, grizzly bears and spotted numerous bison.

They traveled huge distances of up to 60 miles a day during this time, until they once again returned to the Missouri River on August 4, 1806, where they met up with Lewis and his party.