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Northwestern
Montana is home to more than just grizzly bears and Big Mountain’s
mystical snow-ghost trees. As springtime temperatures begin to rise,
the powder-coated mountains begin to melt, trickling downward into the
vast creek and river drainages of Glacier Country. Runoff brings out
paddlers of all varieties – rafters, kayakers, canoeists and the like
can be found lurking at the region’s plenitude of river put-ins and
take-outs.
Below you’ll find five of the locals’
favorite runs, from park & play hydraulic features, to lily
dippers’ delights (mellow floats suitablefor beginners and families) to
the most burly and bodacious boofs like Kootenai Falls. Glacier Country
serves up a smorgasbord of whitewater hydrotherapy. We invite
journalists to come test the waters…
Brennan’s Wave, Clark Fork River, Missoula. Strap your kayak on your bike trailer (like the fuel conserving locals)
and pedal downtown under the Higgins Street Bridge; there you’ll find
the man-enhanced Brennan’s Wave (named after world-class Missoula
kayaker Brennan Guth, who lost his life in 2001 while kayaking in
Chile). Paddlers in sparkling helmets and sub seven-foot playboats line
up in the mega-eddy, waiting their turn to cartwheel in this
well-sculpted souse hole.
Alberton Gorge, Clark Fork River. Located just 30 minutes west (downstream) of Missoula, this friendly,
class II-IV stretch is a whitewater playground for both seasoned river
rats or green-horned novices. Springtime in “The Gorge” brings big
water and once-a-year play spots that only appear at highest flows.
But, as summer comes into bloom, the Clark Fork is quick to shed its
chilly, chocolate-colored winter weight, making way for warmer, green
waters and legendary surf waves like “Fang” and “Cliff Sides”.
Swan River, Bigfork. The raucous “Wild Mile” of the Swan runs adjacent to downtown Bigfork
and offers thumping, “convenient” whitewater on the edge of this
charming community. Serving up non-stop, class III-IV+ churning rollers
and glassy waves, this run connects the Swan Reservoir with Flathead
Lake.
Kootenai River, Libby. The
Kootenai is one of the biggest rivers under the Big Sky. This-1.5 mile,
class III-V run begins with an optional 20-foot waterfall and is
followed by monster waves, cavernous holes, and the infamous
“Superwave”, one of the fastest, most dynamic surf waves in the
Northwest.
Middle Fork of the Flathead River, West Glacier. The Middle Fork of the Flathead, a designated wild & scenic
watershed, offers nearly 75 miles of dreamy whitewater. From the
narrow, class III-IV pool-drop rapids of the Upper Middle Fork
(accessible only on foot, horseback or in a small, fixed-wing
airplane), to the easily accessible, class II-III whitewater and
playful surf waves of John Steven’s Canyon, the Middle Fork offers a
range of aquatic experiences.
River Adventures in Montana
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