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Montana | Missoula County / Blackfoot River corridor

Blackfoot RiverRoundup Fishing Access Site to Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site

The full 16.4-mile lower Recreation Corridor run from Roundup at Highway 200 through rock gardens and Thibodeau Rapid to Johnsrud Park.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 16.4 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAllow 6–8 hours with spring 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 16.4 river milesRoundup Fishing Access Site to Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site
DifficultyhardRiverbeta documents Class II–III water, Roundup Rapid at the bridge and Thibodeau Rapid in the lower half. This full corridor run is for experienced paddlers with a practiced rescue plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Johnsrud Park, then drive to Roundup on Highway 200.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current Montana FWP access, conservation-license and special recreation rules before unloading.
CampingOptions nearbyRiver camping is prohibited except at designated FWP float-in campsites with a permit or reservation. Thibodeau campground fees and availability can change; this itinerary is published as a day run.
SeasonMay-SepMay through September. Spring snowmelt provides the Class II–III character; late summer is lower and more technical over rock gardens.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A full-day, experienced-paddler corridor run linking the Roundup and Johnsrud public access sites.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

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

Scout Roundup Rapid and confirm the take-out is below the feature.

Finish

Take-out

Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Break the run at intermediate FWP access sites if daylight, flow or group ability changes.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Scout Roundup Rapid and confirm the take-out is below the feature.
  • Break the run at intermediate FWP access sites if daylight, flow or group ability changes.
  • Check FWP corridor notices, permits and current campground status before departure.

Watch for

  • USGS 12340000 trend and 1,050 cfs low guard
  • Roundup and Thibodeau Rapids, rock gardens and spring wood
  • FWP camping, permit and closure rules

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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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

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

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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
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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
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Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
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Preferred range1,500 cfs to 6,000 cfs
Low threshold1,050 cfs
High threshold9,000 cfs
Evidence strength behind the rangeLocal route guidance
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreRiverbeta Blackfoot River Roundup to Johnsrud Park 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 accessRoundup FAS to Johnsrud Park FAS; 16.4 miles

    Riverbeta documents the named Class II–III reach, Roundup and Thibodeau features, and both public endpoints.

    Source

  • Scoring band1,050 cfs low guard; 1,500–6,000 cfs prime; 9,000 cfs high guard

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

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 12340000 Blackfoot River near Bonner

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

    Source

  • Camping policyDesignated permit float-in campsites only

    FWP prohibits camping outside designated float-in sites in the Recreation Corridor; this route is a day-use itinerary.

    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

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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 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river milesClark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Jacobs Island Park · about 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 10 river milesClark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Silver Park Boat Landing · about 22 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 14 river milesClark Fork RiverSha-Ron Fishing Access to Jacobs Island Park · about 24 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river miles

Quick answers

Blackfoot River paddling FAQ

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

Paddle Today watches Blackfoot River near Bonner, MT and treats 1,500 cfs to 6,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

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

This route starts at Roundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) and ends at Johnsrud Park Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge), about 16.4 river miles on the water.

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

This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.

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