Lolo Pass, Mountain pass in Bitterroot Range, United States
Lolo Pass is a mountain pass in the Bitterroot Range sitting at about 1,595 meters (5,235 feet) elevation between Idaho and Montana. The crossing connects valleys on both sides and serves as a key roadway for vehicle travel between communities on each side.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed this pass in September 1805 with the help of a local guide named Old Toby. The route later became important for fur traders and settlers moving between the eastern and western sides of the mountains.
The Nez Perce people traveled regularly through this pass as part of their seasonal movement between regions. The route remains part of the area's cultural memory as a connection between communities on either side of the mountains.
The pass is accessible by vehicle using U.S. Route 12, which connects communities on both sides of the mountains. Travel during warmer months is easier, as snow and weather conditions can close or limit access during winter and early spring.
The name first appeared in the records of fur traders in the early 1800s and referred to the travel route itself. Local place-name history suggests the word comes from early trade languages of the region.
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