Slicing through the Rockies of Western Montana, the Clark Fork River echoes the power of Class III whitewater with rapids named Fang, Tumbleweed , Cliffside and Boat Eater. Tumbling and jolting, grinding and swirling, the river calls to the adrenaline starved and the adventurous, like William Clark of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, for whom the river is named. Guides will be screaming in their last dig, “PADDLE!! ALL FORWARD!!” as the raft crests the waves headed back towards Idaho. When the waters are calm keep an eye on shore as osprey, mergansers, harlequin ducks, beaver, or deer may greet you on a perfect family rafting trip. ROW Adventures does a wonderful job as your outfitter for these trips. However, Red Horse Mountain Ranch will handle all the coordination to get you on the water.
Clark Fork River Rafting
For a fantastic day of Montana whitewater rafting fun, look no further than the Alberton Gorge section of the Clark Fork River. This superb one-day rafting trip in Montana is a big volume, big ride river with lots of roller coaster waves and fun Class II-III (intermediate) white water rafting. Bounce through rapids like Boat Eater, Fang, Cliffside and Tumbleweed, just to name just a few!
Well isolated from any roads, the Alberton Gorge of the Clark Fork flows through a deep canyon with dramatic rose-colored cliffs. Between the rapids of the Clark Fork are calm stretches where you may jump in for a swim, or sit back and relax to enjoy the spectacular scenery. Warm weather and water, coupled with quiet pools between the rapids, make this the perfect family rafting trip.
On your rafting adventure you’ll see dozens of birds, including osprey, mergansers and if you’re lucky, some Harlequin Ducks. We may also see deer, elk and beaver. Along the way your guides will spin a few yarns about this magnificent river named after William Clark of Lewis & Clark. Its headwaters are in the Beaverhead and Rocky Mountains near Butte, Montana, where the American Indians called it the ‘Arrowhead’ River due to a semi-transparent stone found near the river that was used to make arrowheads.
The all-day whitewater trips must leave the ranch between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. and will return back to the ranch at approximately 6:30 p.m. This is a full day trip!