The Gorge offers beautiful scenery, including massive purple cliffs, deep green pools, sandy beaches, and Ponderosa Pine forests.
The Clark Fork is a working-class river that has suffered indignities at the hands of mining companies and railroads for a century, but it still has plenty of fight left in it. West of Missoula, the river drops into the Alberton Gorge, a deep, rock-walled canyon that produces some of the biggest, most consistent whitewater in the state.
The Gorge is a roller coaster of Class III and IV rapids with names like Triple Bridges, Tumbleweed, and Fang. At high water in June, the waves are massive, towering walls of green water that will swallow a raft whole. By August, it becomes a technical boulder garden that requires precise maneuvering. It is the most popular whitewater run in Montana for a reason. It is accessible, it is beautiful, and it will thoroughly test your nerve.
Put-in / access: Cyr Bridge Access (47.0016, -114.3934)
Take-out: Tarkio Access (47.0142, -114.5218)
Difficulty: Class III+
Mileage: 12 miles
Season: May through August. Peak runoff in June creates massive wave trains.
Hazards: Triple Bridges, Tumbleweed, and Fang rapids. High water requires a strong combat roll or immediate self-rescue.
Permits: None required for private boaters.
Guided trips: Yes, heavily guided. Montana River Guides is the primary outfitter.
Camping: Cyr Bridge and Tarkio both have basic facilities. Dispersed camping on Forest Service land nearby.
- The Gorge offers beautiful scenery, including massive purple cliffs, deep green pools, sandy beaches, and Ponderosa Pine forests. 2. Abundant wildlife can be observed, such as beavers, bald eagles, deer, elk, otters, osprey, and occasional black bears. 3. The rapids offer great playboating opportunities and are generally straightforward for intermediate whitewater boaters, with easy access and shuttles.
Visitor Access
- Nearest town: Alberton
- Difficulty: Class III+
- Season: Runnable year-round, except for especially cold/clear winters when ice dams can form. Optimal paddling is generally May-September, with commercial trips peaking July-August.
- Mileage: 9.7 miles
- Permits & fees: A permit is required for commercial use on the Alberton Gorge. No specific permits or fees are mentioned for private paddlers, but it's advisable to check with Montana FWP for any updates.
- Hazards: Major hazards include Tumbleweed Rapid (Class III, wave-hole), Fang (big waves, can flip rafts, midriver hole). Ice dams can form in the Gorge during especially cold/clear winters. Split Rock (Class II+) and Ice Box (wave train) also present features to navigate.
- Guided trips: Yes - Pangaea River Rafting, Trail Adventures, Montana River Guides, Adventure Missoula, ROW Adventures.
- Camping: Camping is available along the river, specifically after the first rapid at the Cyr put-in on river left. Other campgrounds are available in the surrounding area. Confirm current flows, closures, AIS inspections, and land-manager rules before you put in. Cold water and wood hazards kill—this guide is informational, not instruction.