The Bitterroot River : Paddling &
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Floating the Bitterroot River? The
Sea Eagle 9 Inflatable Raft
is an excellent raft to use, for both fly fishing and recreational
floating. This inflatable raft is very durable, affordable
and extremely easy to set up.
Learn more about the Sea Eagle 9 Inflatable Raftt
 The
Bitterroot River offers the rafter or floater an enjoyable
trip down one of the more scenic rivers in Montana. The Bitterroot
Valley is wide and lush, offering the floater excellent views
into the Bitterroot and Sapphire mountains.
The best floating
on the Bitterroot River begins at the confluence of the East
and West Forks, near Connor. From Connor, the river flows
for more than 80 miles to its confluence with the Clark
Fork near Missoula. Except for several in-stream obstacles,
the river has no whitewater stretches, allowing for anyone
to float the river safely, whether it be by raft, drift boat
or canoe.
The upper stretch
of the river has moderate flows. Several diversion dams are
found in the upper stretches of the river near Hamilton that
can be either easily portaged or floated through during higher
water.
The Bitterroot
River continues with a moderate flow until it nears Corvallis.
In late summer during low-water years, the section of river
between Corvallis and Stevensville can become very slow due
to irrigation demands. This stretch of the Bitterroot River
may not even be floatable during very low water periods. Before
floating this stretch of the river in late-summer, be sure
to check current river flows and inquire at local guide shops
for the latest river conditions.
Below Stevensville,
the Bitterroot River picks up more flow and floating can resume
without any problems. Just below Stevensville, the Bitterroot
River flows through the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Sanctuary, providing
great opportunities for wildlife viewing.
After several miles,
the Bitterroot River leaves the wildlife refuge and continues
on towards the Clark
Fork without interruption, with slightly slower current
flows found during the last ten-mile stretch.
Bitterroot River
: Selected River Miles
Listed below are
selected river miles for the Bitterroot River in Montana.
Clicking on any of the links (opens new window) will provide
more detailed information about each fishing access site (FAS).
Confluence of West
and East Forks Bitterroot River: 83
Hannon
Memorial FAS: 81.8
Wally
Crawford FAS: 67
Demmons
FAS: 57.4
Woodside
Bridge FAS: 54
Tucker
Crossing West FAS: 47.3
Bell
Crossing FAS: 40.6
Bass
Creek FAS: 30.2
Florence
Bridge FAS: 23.4
Chief
Looking Glass FAS: 21.4
Lolo: 10
Highway 93 Bridge: 5
Confluence with Clark
Fork: 0
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