The Bitterroot River flows some 80 miles north from the confluence of West and East Forks near Conner, Montana before joining itself to the Clark Fork River. Compared to the state’s other rivers, its flow is gentle, its width of moderate size. Crossing through Montana’s iconic Bitterroot Valley, its shores and waters shelter and support countless plant, animal and insect lives. The river teems with Cutthroat, Rainbow and Brown Trout, making the Bitterroot River a popular destination for fly fishing. Likewise, eagles, osprey and herons fish find their meals in these waters, while bears, elk, white-tailed and mule deer drink from the flow and graze from the plentiful grasses that sprout nearby.
For humans, the river offers a wealth of natural beauty and serves as a reminder of a time long before our own. The river takes its name from Montana’s state flower, the Bitterroot, which grows along its banks and throughout the Bitterroot Valley. The Salish tribe camped along the river’s banks and traversed its waters, whereas Lewis and Clark later traveled along the waterway during their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase.
The Bitterroot offers present-day nature lovers tranquil wildlife viewing and a diverse range of outdoor recreations, a tradition we count ourselves fortunate to join.
The Blackfoot River has become iconic to native Montanans and tourists alike, thanks in part to Norman Maclean’s semi-autobiographical collection, A River Runs Through It (1976) and its film adaptation (1992). Nature enthusiasts from far and wide have come to know the Blackfoot for its excellent trout fishing and a sweeping grandeur synonymous with the state itself. The river flows westward 130 miles from northeast of Lincoln, Montana before giving itself over to the Clark Fork River 5 miles east of Missoula. Like the Bitterroot, the Blackfoot offers a home to Cutthroat, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout among its fish species. Its mammal species include white-tailed deer, bears, and elk while waterfowl and raptors soar in the skies above the stream.
The Clark Fork River spans over 300 miles, making it one of the state’s longest rivers and its largest by volume. Before joining with the Flathead River near St. Regis, Montana, the Clark Fork flows directly through the heart of Missoula, making it the jewel of downtown. Whether one chooses to view the river from the banks of Caras Park or to experience its waters more intimately by river surfing, the Clark Fork strongly unites the state’s untamable natural beauty with the city’s thrumming urban landscape.
Outside the city, the river is a haven for wildlife and a paradise for fly fishers. Among other species, the Clark Fork is home to river otters, beavers, ducks, osprey, moose and a variety of trout. The river takes its name from explorer William Clark, who traversed the region along with Meriwether Lewis and company in the early 19th century. Long before the Lewis and Clark expedition, Native Americans used the river for fishing and as a gathering place.
In recent history, industrial mining and toxic runoff has threatened the health of the river and its natural inhabitants, the Clark Fork finds itself in an era of recovery thanks to a greater awareness of its pollution and efforts to reverse the damage wrought by human hands. We pride ourselves on sharing in this recovery story, making sure that we do not endanger the river’s well-being or that of the creatures that call it home as we share its aesthetic beauty with our guests.
