The Clearwater Story: A History of the Clearwater National Forest

Captain Mullan was directed to explore the possibilities of constructing a military road from Walla Walla, Washington to Fort Benton, now in Montana. His field examination started in 1853 and was completed in 1854. He first interviewed the Indians, hunters and priests who had traveled the country. He soon learned that a route from Fort Benton to Missoula was not difficult and in March, 1854, he brought a wagon over this part of the route, reaching Missoula locality on March 31. This narrowed his explorations down to finding a route from Missoula to Walla Walla, which was not easy.

He explored all possible routes, going over the Lolo Trail in September, 1854. The following is quoted from this report of 1863:

"In September, 1854, my party having been ordered in from the field, I decided to proceed to the coast by a new route, and the only one left unexplored, namely, via the Lo—Lo Fork Pass; not that I felt or believed it to be practical for wagons, but more with a view to arm my judgement with such facts as would not leave a shadow of a doubt behind which would cause us to error in the final conclusion in so important a matter. This route I found the most difficult of all examined. After eleven days of severe struggle with climate and country we emerged into the more open region where "Oro Fino" now stands, glad to leave behind us so difficult a bed of mountains. After examining all these passes my judgement was finally decided in favor of the line, via the Coeur d'Alene Pass, as a proper connection for a road leading from the head of navigation on the Columbia to that on the Missouri, and the result was so reported to Governor Stevens, under whose direction I was then acting".

The three principal routes examined by Captain Mullan were the Clarks Fork, St. Regis-Coeur d' Alene, and Lolo Pass. The Burlington Northern and Highway 10 follow the two northern routes and Highway 12 the Lolo Pass. Considering the road building equipment of the time, no doubt Mullan picked the most practical route.

Notice that the name Lo—Lo was well established in 1854. The Oro Fino of 1863 was not the Orofino of today, but a mining town close to the present town of Pierce.