Important Pathways of Turtle Mountain
- the mytholigical route of the Turtle-and-the-Serpent struggle, particularly the Hero's Path from Devil's Lake, ND along US Highways 2 and 3; through the International Peace Garden; north along Manitoba Highway 10 and then up the Turtle's Back terrain feature (located at the Lake William area of Turtle Mountain Provincial Park).
- the natural highway formed by glacial eskers and moraines which connects southern North Dakota with Turtle Mountain (and was probably the main Neolithic route into the area).
- the Knife River Trade Route (as the most ancient provable route) from the Knife River Quarries along the aforesaid moraine/esker route northwards to Boissevain and Turtle Mountain.
- the Turtle Mountain Buffalo Herd cycle, which forms a circle between Turle Mountain and the Missouri Escarpment.
- the Mandan Trail, roughly connecting the Escarpment through the Buffalo Herd, to link up with the old Knife River Trade dispersion routes.
- the War-Roads and Peace-Roads designating approved traditional approaches to Turtle Mountain.
- La Verendrye and Alexander Henry the Younger route which follow (mostly) a Peace Road from the Red River Valley to the Mandan Villages by passing around the northern side of Turtle Mountain.
- David Thompson surveys (which tend to follow all of the old trade routes).
- Smuggling Trails, generally infiltrating the heavy bush and valleys of Turtle Mountain beginning with horses and moving to alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and lately, farm fertilizer.
- Dakota Refugee Routes (1861, 1876, and 1891) which pass on either side of Turtle Mountain as well as through it.
- Boundary Commission Trail, forming a lattice-work across the prairies from east to west, which incidentally intersects the old Medicine Line.
- the Mounties March West, which follows the main route of the Boundary Commission Trail, mostly drivable along Highway 3.
- the Railway Era, which follows the most ancient trails and buffalo routes as the paths of least resistance.
- Modern Highways, which are superimposed on all of the above, frequently preserving previous pathways.
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Copyright © 2002 Moncur Gallery. All Rights Reserved. Republished with permission.
This is document available from: http://turtlemountain.org/exhibits/mythandhistory/pathways