Cayuse
Nation / Tribe

Cayuse

The Cayuse were a small but influential nation who inhabited the plateaus and river valleys of the Blue Mountains region in present-day northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. Though Sahaptian in cultural affiliation, they spoke a language isolate (Cayuse) and were renowned horsemen who had amassed large herds, making them powerful participants in regional trade and warfare. The Corps of Discovery passed through Cayuse territory in October 1805 on the outbound journey and again in the spring of 1806 on the return, though direct interactions were limited compared to their more extensive contact with neighboring Nez Perce and Walla Walla peoples.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons / Wikipedia: Cayuse people

1 treaties 2 mapped locations

Most Mentioned in Cayuse-tagged Entries

Territory & Encounter Locations

Pin color = Planning (1801–1804) Westward (1804–1805) Fort Clatsop (1805–1806) Return (1806) Post (1806–1812)
Master expedition route Approximate territory
Hat Rock Trail
Columbia River
Hat Rock Trail
Explore Hat Rock Trail near Hermiston, Oregon - a short but scenic 0.4 km path leading to an iconic basalt formation along the Lewis & Clark Trail with Columbia River views.
0.3 mi · 252 images · Hermiston, OR

From the Heacock Memorial Archive

2 lewis-clark.org articles that mention Cayuse, preserved here for Robert Heacock’s photography. The articles were written by that site’s contributing authors.

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