Two timeworn trails once intersected here, where a trail descending the hillside crossed the Patáha Creek valley trail, then continued up the hill to the northeast and eventually to the Snake River, while the valley trail continued southeast toward the Blue Mountains. American Indians of this region used these routes for thousands of years. On the advice of local tribes, the Lewis and Clark Expedition followed the valley trail as a shortcut during their spring 1806 return journey, then from here followed the trail fork to the Snake River, shaving many miles off their eastbound travel. Lewis called this the place at which the road leaves the creek and ascends the hills to the plain. Patáha is a Nimiipuu place name that may come from words meaning bush creek. The place where the two trails merge became known as Three Forks, a name still used today, because travelers could choose one of three routes from here.