Riverbeta
Missoula / Bonner

Blackfoot River

The river of A River Runs Through It, flowing west from the Continental Divide near Lincoln to its confluence with the Clark Fork at Bonner. Mostly Class I-II float water with a few Class III rapids that firm up during spring runoff, then a relaxed float and tubing river as flows drop through summer. The lower ~27 miles, Russell Gates to Johnsrud, run through the cooperative Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor managed by FWP, BLM, and private landowners.

Runs
5
Class range
I–III
Length
42.1 mi
Season
May–Sep
No. 01 · The river

Where the runs sit

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Every run drawn as its actual river channel, colored by today's runnability. Hover a line for the run; tap to open it.
  • Too low
  • Low
  • Prime
  • High
  • Too high
No. 02 · Runs

The sections, top to bottom

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Listed headwaters to confluence. Pick a run for live conditions, rapids beta, and the whole plan.

  1. Scotty Brown Bridge to Johnsrud Park

    TOO LOW
    II-III · 31.6 mi · 15 ft/mi · ≈ 10 hrs · Full-day

    The full American Whitewater reach — a long ribbon of Class I-II canyon water with a handful of real rapids, friendly at moderate spring flows and mellow by late summer. Most paddlers run it in segments; the corridor's float-in campsites make it an easy overnight.

    978 cfs todayprime 1,500–6,000

  2. Russell Gates to Roundup

    TOO LOW
    II-III · 11.1 mi · Half-day

    The upper-canyon whitewater leg of the Recreation Corridor. Continuous Class II water with rock gardens that sharpen toward Class III at spring flows, finishing at Roundup Rapid — the biggest rapid on the river — right at the take-out bridge.

    978 cfs todayprime 1,500–6,000

  3. Roundup to Johnsrud Park

    TOO LOW
    II-III · 16.4 mi · ≈ 6 hrs · Full-day

    The classic Blackfoot whitewater day run — the section most Missoula outfitters use for commercial trips. Mostly Class I-II water between distinct rapids, with Roundup Rapid at the top and Thibodeau in the lower half; big friendly wave trains at spring flows.

    978 cfs todayprime 1,500–6,000

  4. Whitaker Bridge to Johnsrud Park

    TOO LOW
    II-III · 5.9 mi · ≈ 3 hrs · Half-day

    The half-day whitewater sampler — American Whitewater calls Whitaker Bridge the put-in for 'the most bang for your buck.' Thibodeau Rapid and The Ledge inside six miles, on the busiest stretch of the river.

    978 cfs todayprime 1,500–6,000

  5. Johnsrud Park to Weigh Station

    PRIME
    I-II · 10.6 mi · ≈ 3 hrs · Half-day

    Missoula's summer float — the mellow lower canyon from the Johnsrud beach scene down to Bonner. Easy Class I-II water that becomes the region's tubing mecca as flows drop.

    978 cfs todayprime 500–5,000
No. 03 · Where to start

Where to start

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The Blackfoot is built for learning — the corridor stacks its runs from tubing water to the river's biggest rapid, with road access the whole way. New to rivers entirely? The start-here guide walks through the whole first season.
  1. First float
    Johnsrud Park to Weigh StationClass I–II

    Missoula's summer float — easy Class I–II through the mellow lower canyon. Learn what moving water feels like under a boat before any of it pushes back.

  2. First whitewater
    Whitaker Bridge to Johnsrud ParkClass II–III

    The half-day sampler: Thibodeau and The Ledge inside six miles, on the busiest stretch of the river — real rapids with other boats around.

  3. Stepping up
    Russell Gates to RoundupClass II–III

    Continuous Class II that sharpens toward III at spring flows, finishing at Roundup Rapid — the biggest on the river. Run it when Whitaker feels easy.

No. 04 · Reference

Gauges & outside resources

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Where the live readings come from, and the outfits with the deeper river-by-river database.
Gauges & flow
  • USGS 12340000 · Blackfoot River near Bonner, MTUpdates every 15 min
Run databases
  • American WhitewaterNational run database; per-run pages with rapid-by-rapid detail, access advocacy.