Travelers' Rest State Park is home to the only archaeologically verified campsite of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the nation. Centuries before Lewis and Clark, this site has long been known and used by Native peoples, notably the Salish. Travelers’ Rest State Park is home to a remarkable diversity of plants and animals, including 130 species of birds, river otters, beavers, and enormous anthills.

Travelers’ Rest Connection supports Travelers’ Rest State Park through outreach, advocacy, and educational experiences connecting the past to the future.

The unique partnership between Montana State Parks and Travelers’ Rest Connection ensures that Travelers’ Rest State Park provides the highest level of visitor services, as well as unique educational opportunities. From tours to storytelling, from field trips to community events, we support a wide variety of programs for children and adults. These programs are delivered by professional parks staff, AmeriCorps members, and dedicated volunteers.

Join Us + Get Involved

Volunteers You don’t need to be a Lewis and Clark expert or understand archaeology to provide critical service to Travelers’ Rest State Park. Listed here are brief descriptions of the many volunteer opportunities.

Travelers’ Rest Connection Volunteer You can volunteer with Travelers’ Rest Connection at a variety of outreach and fundraising events or on our Board of Directors.

• Special Events Volunteer

  • Set-up activities, distribute event information, direct traffic, help with marketing, etc. for indoor and outdoor activities including lectures, community events, fundraisers and festivals.

• Travelers' Rest Connection Board Member

  • Contribute to efforts to meet our mission to support Travelers’ Rest State Park through outreach, advocacy, and educational experiences connecting the past to the future. For more information and a complete job description, email mstockdale@travelersrest.org.

Click here for the Travelers’ Rest Connection volunteer application.

Montana State Parks Volunteer

• Roving Interpreter

  • Interact informally with visitors as you rove around the Park. Share knowledge about the Lewis and Clark campsite, local flora and fauna, the Native American history of the area, park rules and more.

• B.A.R.K. Ranger Ambassador

  • B.A.R.K. Rangers provide information about the park, highlight pet policies and pet safety, help protect the park. Your canine companion must be a well-behaved and trained dog, that can interact with other dog walkers in the park, while the Ambassador interprets pet policies.

• Education Program

  • Learn curriculum for a variety of field trips and lead school-aged children in place-based educational activities in the spring and fall.

• Naturalist

  • Lead guided walks through the park or nature activities during special events. Help coordinate events like park clean-up days.

• Maintenance Worker

  • Keep the grounds and buildings of Travelers’ Rest looking good and safe for visitors.

Click here for a Montana State Park Volunteer Application today.

Visit Us

Park Hours Spring (May 1 – Memorial Day) Park Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Visitor Center Open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday

Summer (Through August 31) Park Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Visitor Center Open 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily

September Park Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Visitor Center Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fall/Winter (Beginning October 1) Park Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Visitor Center Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday – Sunday; Visitor Center closed Monday and Tuesday

Cost Admission to Travelers’ Rest State Park is free for visitors in vehicles with Montana license plates. There is a fee of $8 per vehicle with out-of-state plates.

**Location ** The park entrance is a half-mile west of Lolo, Montana, on U.S. Highway 12. Take U.S. Highway 93 to the junction with US-12 and head west. Park entrance is on the left.

Events Find an event for every season at Travelers’ Rest from storytelling, kids activities, and day camps to traveling exhibits, our annual auction, and more.

Education Travelers’ Rest offers unique, interactive learning experiences taught by a team of experienced volunteer educators. Every year, approximately 2,000 students come to the park to play traditional Native games, learn the archaeological process, investigate historical replicas, explore the natural environment, and more.