From wild whitewater to family-friendly floats, fly-fishing and wildlife viewing, rivers in Montana can offer some of the most varied and spectacular floating in the American West. Whether you're paddling on a multiday trip through wilderness canyons, drifting a popular trout stream or tubing a lazy stretch on a hot afternoon, Montana's rivers deliver a quiet that's hard to find anywhere else.
- Yellowstone River: The Yellowstone River offers scenic, gentle floats and thrilling whitewater rafting, primarily near Gardiner and Paradise Valley, Montana. Popular options include guided scenic raft trips for wildlife viewing (osprey, eagles, elk), whitewater in sections of Yankee Jim Canyon and calm tubing near Big Timber.
- Flathead River: The Flathead River offers a variety of floats from scenic, family-friendly excursions to whitewater rafting. Area activities range from popular half-day scenic trips (lasting two to four hours) to extensive multiday wilderness adventures. Notable operators, such as Glacier Guides and Flathead Raft Company, serve the area.
- Blackfoot River: The premier 132-mile recreational river near Missoula is famously known as the centerpiece of Norman Maclean’s novel “A River Runs Through It.” The river is known for its natural beauty and excellent fly-fishing, as well as its whitewater rafting and tubing opportunities. Access the official Blackfoot River Float Map from Montana FWP for detailed information on access sites and river miles.
- Missouri River: Floating the Missouri River in Montana, particularly through the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, offers scenic, beginner-friendly, multiday canoe and kayak trips past the White Cliffs and badlands. Prime, calm, free-flowing sections run from Fort Benton to Judith Landing, while popular trout fly-fishing occurs below Holter Dam near Craig.
- Jefferson River: The Jefferson offers an easy float, with a slow-moving current that allows for easy wildlife watching. This river is popular for birding, historic exploration and multiday trips with Jefferson River Canoe Trail primitive campsites.
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