Of all the scenic river trips Missoula, The Clark Fork River is the best and one of our favorites. A quiet, beautiful canyon with wildlife and Montana scenery. The Clark Fork River is home to eagles, osprey, elk, moose and deer. We love to float this section first thing in the morning or in the afternoon to early evening for better wildlife viewing. It has a few fun splashes but is perfect for a relaxing family trip with great places to swim and soak up the stunning Montana scenery along the way.
What to Pack: Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat/Visor, Nylon Windbreaker, Strapped Sandals/Shoes, Binoculars, Quick-dry Shorts, Fleece Outerwear, Snacks and Reusable Water Bottle. We recommend synthetic material clothing and/or swimsuit for the river. Bring any cotton clothing for changing into after the day of rafting and leave in your car!
The Tarkio Canyon is a mild stretch of water providing a relaxing float on the Clark Fork River for one of the greatest scenic river trips Missoula. Take it in and kick back while soaking up the scenery and rock formations. Your experienced, friendly guide will share the colorful heritage of our early settlements, mining claims and the history of the river. You will view abundant wildlife and it is a very beautiful and relaxing trip. There are a few ripply rapids but none that would cause one to fall out of the boat.
This is a great 3 hour float good for folks that want to avoid whitewater.
Scenic river trips are beautiful, relaxing, and inexpensive. Enjoy the great outdoors! We offer five options for scenic trips in Western Montana and the Inland NW on three different rivers which are especially focused for families with small children or adults and seniors that don’t want to risk falling out of a raft. View all scenic river trip options. Looking for a nice scenic river trip Missoula? Take an unforgettable trip on the Clark Fork and you will see how special this majestic river can be with it’s sandy beaches and gorgeous scenery. Headed to Idaho? Check out the options on the Coeur d’Alene or Spokane Rivers.
Would you rather experience this river by inflatable kayak or stand up paddleboards? Check out our Kayak Adventure or Group Flotilla experiences for your trip options!
MISSOULA MONTANA AREA TRIPS – CLARK FORK RIVER
All trips include: Life Jackets, wet suits if needed for comfort, splash jackets, water shoes, guide, boat, paddles, shuttle back to your vehicle at our raft shop on the Clark Fork River, group transportation from Missoula (arrange in advance), and private parking. Full days include locally sourced lunch featuring fresh garden grown produce grown on site. Free Shuttle Available for groups in Missoula (arrange in advance). Customers meet at our river shop. Shop is 30 min West of Missoula, Montana or 2 hour drive East from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Trips run April-November, weather permitting. Please arrive 30 minutes before departure for check in. Clark Fork River trips run about 2-3 hours on the water without lunch and 4-5 hours with lunch and an additional sandy beach stop to swim during mid summer weather.
Private Guided Clark Fork Scenic Float with Lunch (Meets 30 minutes west of Missoula at the river shop) Enjoy a private guided boat trip and private shuttle back to your vehicle for up to 8 people on the Tarkio Canyon and scenic stretch of the Clark Fork River for a 4 to 5 hour river tour (varies due to water flow). Meet at our shop and we’ll take care of everything for your group. We provide all the gear needed, shuttle back to your vehicle, drinks, and stream side catered lunch half way through your trip. Ages 4+ $945/boat up to 8 people. Departures Daily: 10:30am (Mountain Time Zone)
Private Guided Clark Fork Scenic Float Half Day No Lunch (Meets 30 minutes west of Missoula at the river shop) Enjoy a private guided boat trip and private shuttle back to your vehicle for up to 8 people on the Tarkio Canyon and scenic stretch of the Clark Fork River for a 3 to 4 hour river tour (varies due to water flow). Meet at our shop and we’ll take care of everything for your group. We provide all the gear needed, shuttle back to your vehicle, drinks. Ages 4+ $765/boat up to 8 people. Departures Daily: 10:30am (Mountain Time Zone)
Clark Fork River Scenic River Float with Lunch (Meets 30 minutes west of Missoula at the river shop) Kickback on this 4 to 5 hour scenic float trip (varies due to water flow) through Tarkio Canyon and an open vista while we calmly float a six mile stretch of river stopping for lunch on a sandy beach. We often see deer, elk, beaver, eagles, osprey and variety of waterfowl on this stretch. You will pass by mining camps and Quarts Creek Tributary and a few other creeks running into the mighty Clark Fork River. All gear provided. Adults $105 Youth (Age 4-17) $95 Departures Daily: 10:30am (Mountain Time Zone)
Clark Fork River Scenic Float No Lunch *Most popular scenic river float from Missoula (Meets 30 minutes west of Missoula at the river shop) This scenic trip is a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this part of Western Montana. The Tarkio Canyon is calm stretch of the Clark Fork River. It is a perfect gentle river float trip. We pass through tall canyon walls where we are fortunate enough to see eagles, beavers, and ospreys. You will pass by mining camps and Quarts Creek Tributary. This relaxing float takes two to three hours, depending on river flows. Your experienced guide will not only be there to take you down the river, but can also answer any questions in regards to the canyon. This is your Scenic River Trip Missoula! See more details. Adults-$85 Youth (4-17)-$75 Departures Daily: 9:30am or 2:30pm (Mountain Time Zone)
Wondering what to pack? Check out our list here: WHAT TO PACK.
