Rec Resources - Trail Head River Sports

Our goal behind our Rec Resources page is to help you get out on the water but know the sections listed here are not a complete list and we recommend good river maps like the River Rat Maps. We sell maps for most of the rivers around the state!

Understand River Flows

Section Breakdown for Local Rivers

Montana River Permit Applications

Day Floats

Overnight/Multiday Floats

Whitewater

Surf Spots

Shuttle Services

Understand River Flows (CFS cubic feet per second)

The mathematical formula is: river width x depth x speed (flow and gradient) = CFS. CFS stands for cubic feet per second. The measure is literally how many cubic feet of water pass an imaginary line across the river in one second.

CFS readings are taken at select points along rivers, and readings vary with location. As a general rule, the higher the CFS reading, the more water is flowing past that point at that time.

Section Breakdown for Local Rivers

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Blackfoot River

Harry Morgan to River Junction 2.2 mi
River Junction to Russell Gates 12.4 mi
Russell Gates to Roundup 11 mi
Roundup to Riverbend 6.7 mi
Riverbend to Whitaker Bridge 3.7 mi
Whitaker Bridge to Johnsrud Park 6.1 mi
Johnsrud Park to Wisherd Bridge 6.2 mi
Wisherd Bridge to Weigh Station 4.6 mi
Weigh Station to Confluence 2 mi

Clark Fork

Schwartz Creek to Turah 8.2 mi
Turah to Sha-ron 8.4 mi
Sha-ron to McCormick Park 4.7 mi
McCormick Park to Confluence of Bitterroot 6.7 mi
Kelley Island (Mullan Rd) to Kona Bridge 4. mi
Kona Bridge to Harper’s Bridge 4.9 mi
Harper’s Bridge to Single Tree 7.5 mi
Single Tree to Petty Creek 14.1 mi
Petty Creek to St Johns (rest stop) 5.2 mi
St Johns to Cyr 2.7 mi
Cyr to Tarkio 9.7 mi
Tarkio to Forest Grove 5.2 mi
Forest Grove to Big Eddy 12 mi
Big Eddy to Sloway 8.6 mi
Sloway to St Regis 6.4 mi

Bitterroot sections

Hannon Memorial to Darby Bridge 3.8 mi
Darby Bridge to Wally Crawford 6.5 mi
Wally Crawford to Angler’s Roost 9.7 mi
Angler’s Roost to Veterans Bridge 6.6 mi
Veterans Bridge to Woodside Bridge 3.1 mi
Woodside Bridge to West Tucker 5 mi
West Tucker to Bell Crossing 6.5 mi
Bell Crossing to Stevi Bridge 7.1 mi
Stevi Bridge to Florence Bridge 10.5 mi
Florence Bridge to Lolo 12 mi
Lolo to confluence 10.3 mi

Rock Creek

Confluence to Gilles (now know as Kyle Bohenson memorial Bridge) 8.7 miles
Gilles to Windlass Bridge (aka concrete bridge) 6.1 miles. Below this point, the river is permitted for commercial use by the forest service.
Below the Windlass Bridge there are nearly 35 access points floaters use so stretches vary widely as do the ease of access, most are steep and challenging to use especially at higher flows. There can be river wide obstructions nearly everywhere but the stretch from mile 24 to mile 26 wood debris is very common.
There is also the white water stretch from Harrys Flat to what is labeled as Camp 2 or down to Lower Fire Ring, Whitewater at higher flows can be technical and 11+ to III.
People die on Rock Creek regularly because boater focus is fishing. There are an extraordinarily large number of floaters that do not wear a PFD.

Montana River Permit Applications

Experience the best Montana has to offer. Permits and special restrictions are in place on some of the local rivers in Montana as a way to protect the recreational experience.

Learn how to apply

Smith River – The Smith River features an incredible 59-mile stretch of river with only one put-in and one take-out point. Due to the demand for floating use and the need to manage the resource and recreational experience, a limited number of float permits are issued. The application for the Smith River permit is due each year in mid-February.

http://stateparks.mt.gov/smith-river/

Upper Bitterroot and West Fork Bitterroot River – A permit is required for commercial fishing and floating on the West Fork of the Bitterroot and a portion of the upper Bitterroot (Hannon Memorial FAS to Wally Crawford FAS). There is no permit required of the general recreating public but there are special angling and boating restrictions that apply to nonresidents and commercial outfitters. Call (406) 542-5564for more information.

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/permits/floating/bitterroot.html

Madison River – If you are organizing a competitive event or plan to recreate in a group of 15 or more on the Madison River and adjacent public lands, a Special Recreation Permit is required.

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/permits/floating/madison.html

Blackfoot River – Commercial use, organized group events and competitive events on the Blackfoot River require a Special Recreation Permit. All persons sponsoring or conducting commercial uses and competitive events requiring a special recreation permit should apply to FWP at least 60 days before the use is intended. All persons sponsoring or conducting an organized group activity should contact FWP at least 30 days before the activity is intended to begin.

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/permits/floating/blackfoot.html

Alberton Gorge – A permit is required to conduct commercial use on the Alberton Gorge of the Clark Fork River. Contact the FWP Region 2 office in Missoula for more information (406) 542-5562.
Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers – A permit is required to conduct commercial use on the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers. Contact the FWP Region 3 office in Bozeman for more information (406-994-3552). There is no permit required of the general recreating public but there are special angling and boating restrictions that apply to nonresidents and commercial outfitters.

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/permits/floating/beaverheadBigHole.html

Day Floats

Missoula sits at the confluence of hundreds of excellent outdoor opportunities. From fly-fishing, to backpacking, to ATVing, the amount of options can be daunting. And sometimes when the weather gets hot during the summer all you want is to be on the water with the sun in your face and a cold drink in your hand. Luckily, 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 river.

Check out these day floats close to home for a true Missoula experience.

Locations

Clark Fork River: Brennan’s Wave

From Missoula: 0 miles away

Difficulty: Medium