About
Missouri River, Montana — 1805 Lewis Clark, 2300 mi Longest US. From Fort Benton to the Fred Robinson Bridge, 149 miles of the Missouri River wind through the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument — the same corridor Lewis and Clark paddled in 1805. The Upper Missouri Nations — Blackfeet, Assiniboine, and Gros Ventre — called these breaks home for millennia before European contact. Designated both Wild & Scenic and a National Monument in 2001, the river runs Class I water averaging 9,200 CFS through optimal flows of 5,000 to 15,000. White cliffs mark the Fort Benton to Coal Banks Landing section, while Coal Banks to Judith Landing passes through the most remote country — badlands punctuated by wildlife sightings. The final stretch from Judith Landing to Fred Robinson Bridge completes the Lower Breaks through lower canyon walls. Commercial outfitters including Missouri River Canoe Company and Upper Missouri River Guides run multi-day trips through Chouteau, Blaine, and Phillips counties, following the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail markers that dot the corridor.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.