General Description & Characteristics -- No more than a
parent will admit that one child is the favorite, I would never admit to having a favorite
river. If I did, however, this might be it. Within a couple of hundred miles of its
source, America's longest river is already big and wide, and the swift current of late
spring and summer make it a joy for floaters. The land is rugged, with some spectacular
rock formations and hillsides with the beginnings of the pine forests of the higher
country. There are a few fast spots that can be rocky with lots of waves, but no difficult
rapids. This land has substantially the same appearance as when it was explored by
the Lewis and Clark expedition two centuries ago.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- The 149 mile segment from
Fort Benton, MT to highway 191 (James Kipp State Park) is officially designated as the
Upper Missouri Wild & Scenic River. This makes a perfect week long canoe trip. If you
go in late June or thereabouts, you will have daylight until after 10 PM, allowing ample
time each day for hiking to the many ridges and overlooks. This is a popular river, and
traffic is increasing in recognition of the Lewis & Clark bicentennial, but it
is not crowded compared to the popular float streams of the eastern U.S., except the
shorter sections on major holiday week ends. You can go in the early autumn and avoid most
of the crowds, but the water flow will be much lower and you might want to take a few more
days for the trip. There are a couple of intermediate access points that allow a somewhat
shorter trip, but don't fail to see the "White Cliffs" region (see below).
Interesting Features -- While this entire run is scenic, the most
spectacular section is toward the middle part. It is known as the "White Cliffs"
region because of the unusually colored sandstone formations.
There are abandoned settlers log cabins in many locales. Some of these
were occupied until the mid-twentieth century. You can visit most of these (some may
be fenced off), but please do not disturb the structures or any artifacts you may see.
Take along a copy of the journal of Lewis & Clark (see link below)
-- you can read their descriptions of the same scenery you will see. Their campsites are
marked on the excellent maps that are available from the BLM. Some of these camp sites are
noted with markers along the river.
The land along the river is in mixed ownership with some being BLM
(federal) land, some state land, and some private. The federal land has been designated at
the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument. There is much ranch land, and cattle
are grazed throughout. Some might be offended at some of the signs of the cattle industry
here, but hopefully you can find campsites that have not been too recently grazed.
Watch along the ridges (or even right down by the river) for small herds
of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.
The weather in this region can be quite variable in the summer.
You may have 100 degree heat, or the weather may turn cold and rainy. Be prepared!
Camping -- Excellent campsites abound on the river, with gravel
landings leading up to small cottonwood groves. The landings may be muddy at certain water
levels, making access to the campsites more difficult. There are a few designated camp
sites, but they have no particular amenities.
Additional Information --
| Canoeing Information |
|
| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service |
Missouri River Canoe
Company is an excellent provider of shuttle service and canoe rentals and also offers
lodging near the river |
| River Flow Data |
- River flow information
from USGS gauge at Fort Benton.
- If you have difficulty obtaining information from this link, CLICK HERE and follow directions to your area of interest.
|
| Parks on/near the River |
Upper
Missouri Breaks National Monument |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the
River |
Fort Benton |
| Books |
|
| More Pictures |
Canoe camping photo
Gallery
|
| Environmental
Issues/Organizations |
American Rivers is the primary river
conservation group in the US. Their web site
has information about the campaign to restore and protect the natural qualities of the
Missouri River. |
| Acknowledgments/Contributors |
|
| Miscellaneous |
"In the Wake of Discovery (a 2004 recreation of the
Lewis and Clark exploration: http://www.lewisandclark-2004.com/
|
