Panoramic Trail Mapping with Terrain360

Loading at Bonneville Dam boat ramp

NPS

About this article: This article was originally published in the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail 2025 Annual Report.

Experience the trail Virtually

Progress of panoramic image capture. Each color indicates the year visual dataset was gathered, with 2025 in red.

NPS

The NPS and partner Terrain360 continue to make remarkable progress on an ambitious multi-year project to digitally preserve and share the trail. This groundbreaking initiative uses advanced 360-degree imaging technology to capture the trail’s historic waterways, overland routes, landscapes, and points of significance traversed by the Corps of Discovery more than two centuries ago, in addition to important sites identified by Tribal Nations and land-based hiking trails.

This June, Tribal Liaison and Cultural Anthropologist Brye Lefler had the opportunity to join one of Terrain360’s certified field teams on the Columbia River. Brye learned about technical aspects of the work while contributing local knowledge of historic sites and navigational conditions around Portland, Oregon.

In 2025, thanks to funding from the Lewis and Clark Trust and the NPS, Terrain360 captured over 2,500 miles of the trail along the Columbia, Snake, and Missouri Rivers, bringing the total length to date up to nearly 4,900 miles. In addition to providing an immersive experience for trail enthusiasts around the world, this high-resolution visual dataset will also serve as a foundational tool for future applications including species detection, geological change monitoring, and historic preservation analysis.

At a Glance

What is Terrain360?
Terrain360 specializes in creating detailed 360° virtual maps combining exploration with precise mapping, catering to various needs and making geographical wonders more accessible.

2,500 Miles mapped in 2025
3 Tribal Nations provided recommendations for mapping locations along Lower Columbia River.

Experience the virtual trail!