An Indian road entered the mountain where the river did and continued along its border under the steep cliff. The road Lewis mentioned follows the Hardy Creek drainage to the north and was an important route for Indians seeking buffalo and other plains animals. Roads like this were part of a network of trails that made up a transcontinental route called the Old North Trail, extending along the Rocky Mountains from Canada to Mexico. It was one of North America's oldest roadways and had been in use for over 12,000 years. Beginning as a footpath, it evolved into a dog travois path, a horse travois path, a wagon trail, and in some places gravel roads and paved highway. It remained in continuous use until the automobile became common and roads moved farther east onto the flat country.