A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

There’s a famously good reason that locals go surfing on their lunch hour. It’s the same reason that experts and newcomers go fly-fishing side by side in the middle of downtown and that freestyle kayaking competitions are hosted here. The Clark Fork River runs right through town. Just about everybody spends time on, in, and around the river. Why not star in your own movie? We’ll provide the iconic setting, the authentic extras, suitable gear and experienced guides. We’ll even throw in a picnic lunch. From high-adrenaline whitewater to a relaxing float with a backdrop of ponderosa pines, mountain shorelines and bald eagles, come have a blast and splash around with us.

TUBING/STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING Whether gliding along a smooth lake surface or navigating the ebb and flow of a river, tubing and stand-up paddleboarding attract a wide range of water enthusiasts looking to relax under Montana’s big sky. Easy access to the water and a variety of rental vendors equals a stress-free day of discovery.

FLY FISHING Nestled in sheer wild wonder, Missoula offers the perfect setting for a peaceful day of casting a fly rod on the river. With an impressive number of skilled, award-winning fishing outfitters and guides, three rivers, and Rock Creek’s blue-ribbon trout stream, Missoula has been named one of the country’s top ten fly-fishing towns.

WHITEWATER RAFTING Hitting the rapids is exhilarating no matter your vessel of choice, but whitewater rafting—led by any one of Missoula’s several rafting guides—lends a sense of community to the whole experience. With a variety of rafting expeditions tailored to your needs and preferences, it’s an adventure made for you.

KAYAKING Kayaking draws quite the crowd with Brennan’s Wave, in the heart of downtown. A wave system created in memory of a local kayaker, Brennan’s Wave brings Montana’s outdoors into Missoula’s city limits.

SURFING Missoula houses one of the only mountain surf shops in the country and thrill seeking ratchets up to a whole new level here as more and more people are choosing to chase the nonstop ride of a rushing river. Watch surfers conquer the water at Brennan’s Wave near Caras Park.

 CLARK FORK RIVER. TAYLAR ROBBINS THE HISTORY BEHIND MONTANA’S NEWEST STATE PARK

Milltown State Park is Montana’s newest state park, where “rivers, trails and history converge.” Just 10 minutes from the heart of Missoula, this park opens up 635 acres of terrain and several miles of river frontage where folks can hike, watch for wildlife or put in for their next river float. The panoramic view where two rivers meet is perhaps the most iconic feature, and this confluence tells a story.

The park site we now enjoy for recreation has played a vital role throughout the region’s history, shaping the lives of Indigenous peoples, European explorers, early lumberman and immigrant workers, industrialists and environmentalists. The Milltown Dam itself was built over a century ago, as the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad connected the region to new markets and spurred the building of industrial developments, such as the Bonner Dam and mill, Western Lumber Mill and the Milltown Dam. Fast forward, and Milltown State Park is now the site of a federal Superfund dam removal and river restoration project, restoring the confluence of the Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers.

Without the dam, Milltown State Park has been transformed back into a healthy habitat for local flora and fauna, and a rich ecological hub for fish, bird and wildlife migration. The Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers allow fish passage into the headwaters for the first time in over a century, and the site offers an educational opportunity to explore our relationship to the landscape and the science behind river restoration.

This is only a small glimpse into the vast history behind Milltown State Park—there’s always more to learn about the recreational areas we now enjoy freely around Missoula.

MISSOULA, MONTANA: 10 Best Places in North America to go Paddling in the City

USA Today

Like a Local

Brennan’s Wave is a man-made wave on the Clark Fork River in downtown Missoula. It’s the perfect place to watch kayakers, surfers and maybe a brave tuber.