Missoula has nearby day float options aplenty, all of which are within an hour’s drive of town. If you see someone in a swimsuit with a tube slung over their back walking down the street in July it’s safe to bet they’ve just come off the Clark Fork. This river floats lazily through downtown Missoula, making it a popular choice for a quick after-work float. It’s not a difficult run to navigate, meaning you can show up with an inner tube, or NRS’s newest paddle raft. Your choice. The Sha-Ron put-in at the edge of town in East Missoula provides a great place to start for this classic run. A series of easy rapid sections appear throughout the float, which adds some entertainment particularly for those in a tube. Your boat of choice affects which take-out to count on. With a tube, floaty, or paddle board, most of the beaches in town offer accessible landing points, whereas McCormick Park or Silver Park near the baseball park can accommodate raft-size boats.
Ease isn’t everything, though, and hopping in your car to head out of town in search of a quieter spot for a day float can be worth it. The Black Foot river offers variable river conditions, excellent scenery, and fishing access. Plus, many of its put-ins are quite close to Missoula. The upper portion of the Black Foot sits in a patch of public land, where you can find the first put-in near the town of Lincoln. This section of the river runs slow and smooth, allowing ample opportunities for spotting the abundant local wildlife on the banks. Paddler skill becomes an important question beyond this section, in the plains region. The first section of rapids near Scotty Brown ridge are unproblematic for floaters or paddlers of intermediate skill, but further down the river below the old Sperry Grade Access Site are a series of class III rapids that add another level of difficulty. These rapids contain the most technical portion of the Blackfoot, with large waves and several drop-offs. Beginner paddlers should approach this section with caution. The remaining rapids before the final take out at the Weigh Station don’t get bigger than class II, making them accessible to most alert paddlers. Overall, the Blackfoot offers enormous potential along its 132 mile run for eager river enthusiasts looking for a day float, regardless of skill level. Just be sure that you’re ready for the challenges associated with whatever stretch you decide to take on.
Not all day floats necessitate the navigation of rapids. The Clearwater River Canoe Trail, which is about an hour drive outside Missoula on highway 83, boasts the wildlife access of the Blackfoot without the risk of flipping your boat in a rapid. A host of varied wildlife frequents this run, including: warblers, nesting common loons, bitterns, catbirds, snipes, great blue herons, belted kingfishers, common goldeneyes, western painted turtles, large trout, muskrats, and beavers. So, while you take in the scenery from the comfort of your canoe or kayak, expect to encounter a range of birds and other animals. The take-out of this float sits on the north end of Seeley Lake and offers access to a 30-minute long return trail, which allows you to hike back to your vehicle at the put-in. If you want to squeeze in a little more time with the local wildlife be sure to stop at the viewing blind on the return trail.
While each day float varies in difficulty and accessibility, they all share one commonality, fun! Whether you are a Missoula local, fresh transplant, or just a tourist stopping by, make sure to give these rivers a try. Additionally, while these rivers primarily run throughout the summer, make sure you check out American Whitewater’s website or stop by our shop to ensure they are still floatable. Happy floating!