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Montana | Missoula County / Blackfoot River corridor

Blackfoot RiverJohnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to Weigh Station Fishing Access Site

A mellow lower Blackfoot float from the busy Johnsrud Park beach to the concrete Weigh Station take-out east of Bonner.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 10.6 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAllow 3–5 hours with current
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Blackfoot River flows through the Missoula, Montana valley.
River contextBlackfoot River near Missoula; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 10.6 river milesJohnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to Weigh Station Fishing Access Site
DifficultyeasyRiverbeta and local outfitter guidance describe mostly Class I–II water that is approachable for competent recreational paddlers, while spring high water creates fast current and tall waves.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Weigh Station, then drive to Johnsrud Park.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current Montana FWP access, conservation-license and special recreation rules before unloading.
CampingOptions nearbyThis is a day-use itinerary. River camping is prohibited in the Recreation Corridor except at designated FWP float-in campsites that require a permit or reservation; do not camp at Johnsrud or Weigh Station.
SeasonMay-SepMay through September. Summer tubing is popular as flows drop and water warms; spring high water needs stronger boat control.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A popular, easy lower-corridor float with reliable public water access and a straightforward shuttle.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Johnsrud is busy on hot summer days; arrive early and keep the ramp clear.

Finish

Take-out

Weigh Station Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Verify the Weigh Station take-out and any BNSF bridge-work closure before launch.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Johnsrud is busy on hot summer days; arrive early and keep the ramp clear.
  • Verify the Weigh Station take-out and any BNSF bridge-work closure before launch.
  • Respect private shoreline and use only established access paths.

Watch for

  • USGS 12340000 trend and 350 cfs low guard
  • High-water current, tall waves and moving wood
  • FWP and BNSF closure notices below Weigh Station

Plan this paddle

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Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Blackfoot River flows through the Missoula, Montana valley.
Blackfoot River near Missoula; same-river context, not an endpoint or current-conditions photograph river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management via Wikimedia Commons
U.S. government work / public domain

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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Why this scoreData reliability: checking

This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteBlackfoot River near Bonner, MT
DischargeChecking
Gauge heightChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range500 cfs to 5,000 cfs
Low threshold350 cfs
High threshold7,500 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreRiverbeta Blackfoot River Johnsrud Park to Weigh Station reach guide
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named reach and accessJohnsrud Park FAS to Weigh Station FAS; 10.6 miles

    Riverbeta documents the named reach, public endpoints and Class I–II character; FWP and Visit Montana document the access sites.

    Source

  • Scoring band350 cfs low guard; 500–5,000 cfs prime; 7,500 cfs high guard

    Riverbeta reports these community zones against direct USGS 12340000. Verify live telemetry, trend and current conditions.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 12340000 Blackfoot River near Bonner

    Direct Blackfoot River telemetry; recheck current value and trend immediately before launch.

    Source

  • Camping and closure policyDay use; designated FWP float-in sites only for overnight camping

    FWP prohibits camping outside designated float-in sites, and Riverbeta flags possible BNSF bridge-work closures below Weigh Station.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Montana

All 50 routes
Montana route guideBrowse every tracked Montana route.Missoula County / Blackfoot River corridorJump to routes in this region.

More on Blackfoot River

All 36
Angevine Fishing Access Site to Marco Flats Fishing Access SiteMissoula County / Blackfoot River corridorEasy · About 3.6 river milesAngevine Fishing Access Site to Weigh Station Fishing Access SiteMissoula County / Blackfoot River corridorEasy · About 5.2 river milesJohnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to Angevine Fishing Access SiteMissoula County / Blackfoot River corridorEasy · About 5.6 river milesJohnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to K. Ross Toole Fishing Access SiteMissoula County / Blackfoot River corridorModerate · About 3.7 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Clark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Sha-Ron Fishing Access · about 11 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river milesClark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Jacobs Island Park · about 11 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 10 river milesClark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Silver Park Boat Landing · about 11 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 14 river milesClark Fork RiverSha-Ron Fishing Access to Jacobs Island Park · about 12 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river miles

Quick answers

Blackfoot River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to Weigh Station Fishing Access Site route on the Blackfoot River?

Paddle Today watches Blackfoot River near Bonner, MT and treats 500 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to Weigh Station Fishing Access Site route on the Blackfoot River start and end?

This route starts at Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) and ends at Weigh Station Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge), about 10.6 river miles on the water.

Is the Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site to Weigh Station Fishing Access Site route on the Blackfoot River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.

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