The National Park Service's unique contribution to the bicentennial—the Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future —is a traveling education center that will recreate the epic journey and be the unifying component for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial observance.
If you are planning a trip for a group, you will frequently need a permit to float, camp or picnic in certain areas. Below are some of the agencies who oversee these areas.
Montana State Parks — contact the closest regional office to the park you wish to visit.
Wild and Scenic Section of the Missouri River
US Army Corps of Engineers
United States Geological Survey
Missouri River
Yellowstone River
Bureau of Land Management Maps 222 N. 32 nd St. PO Box 36800 Billings, MT 59107-6800 (406) 255-2888
BLM has a waterproof floater’s map for the wild and scenic section of the Missouri River. It comes in two parts and provides information about making the trip as well as a mile-by-mile report. The maps are $4 for each part and are available at most BLM offices (maps 1 & 2 are printed back-to-back and cover Fort Benton to Slaughter River; maps 3 & 4 cover Slaughter River to James Kipp campground).
BLM has also recently published a map in two parts for the Yellowstone River from Livingston to the mouth of the Bighorn River near Custer.
Forest Service’s Forest Visitors Series Map USDA Forest Service Northern Region Headquarters, Federal Building PO Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807 (406) 329-3511
USGS Topographical Maps US Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Box 25280 Denver, CO 80225-0286 1-800-USA-MAPS
Montana Natural Heritage Program Interactive and topographical maps of Montana on the web. Natural Resource Information System
Lewis and Clark Maps Portage Route Chapter Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Inc. PO Box 2424 Great Falls, MT 59403
USDA Forest Service—Northern Region Federal Building 200 E. Broadway PO Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807 (406) 329-3511