For an exciting adventure that the entire family can enjoy, you might consider taking a canoe trip down the Upper Missouri River, exploring the very route taken by Lewis and Clark. Starting in the state of Montana, you can spend six quality days camping and canoeing amongst some of the most spectacular sandstone cliffs and sagebrush grassland hills you have ever seen.
While surrounded by colorful badlands, you will experience gorgeous spots of cottonwood and willow. The nice thing about this particular canoe trip is that while the Upper Missouri River is quite large, it is a gentle river without serious whitewater rapids. Because of this, even the teenagers could travel downstream while getting to see bighorn ship, deer, birds, and other wildlife while learning about the history of Lewis and Clark.
Organized canoe trips are available that start in Great Falls, Montana, running 110 river miles. As you stop along the way, you will get to camp and hike, exploring vast deserts, colorful canyons, and the highlands of southern Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, to include the famous Grand Canyon. Most guided tours require travelers to be a minimum of 16 years of age. The tours begin the second week of June, going all the way into the second week of September.
Best of all, to enjoy a Lewis and Clark canoe adventure, you do not need any canoeing experience. Everything you need to know and all of your equipment will be provided for you, included in the price of the trip. The wilderness is unrivaled and definitely offers the experience of a lifetime. While most families end up spending summers at home or do the same thing over and over, why not break out of the normal routine and offer the family a chance to experience history up close and personal!