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Montana | Missoula County / Blackfoot River corridor

Blackfoot RiverRoundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor)

A 24.2-mile Blackfoot reach from Roundup through the documented lower access chain to Marco Flats.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 24.2 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timePlan a full daylight run with spring wood
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

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 24.2 river milesRoundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor)
DifficultymoderateA public-access Blackfoot corridor reach with current, bridge features, strainers and cold water requiring competent boat control and conservative scouting.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the named FWP access, then drive to the upstream launch. Use a shuttle vehicle with room for boats and safety gear.
PermitsCheck posted rulesConfirm current Montana FWP access, conservation-license and special recreation rules before unloading.
CampingOptions nearbyRiver camping is prohibited in the Recreation Corridor except at designated FWP float-in campsites with a permit or reservation. Confirm campsite availability, fire rules, bear-resistant food storage and portable-toilet requirements before relying on an overnight.
SeasonMay-SepSnowmelt, thunderstorms and cold water shape the season. Recheck telemetry, trend, forecast and FWP notices immediately before departure.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A 24.2-mile Blackfoot reach from Roundup through the documented lower access chain to Marco Flats.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

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

Use only the named FWP Fishing Access Sites and established paths; verify seasonal gates and parking.

Finish

Take-out

Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor)
Open mapDirections to take-out

Respect private shoreline and current FWP closures, including any bridge-work restrictions below Weigh Station.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the named FWP Fishing Access Sites and established paths; verify seasonal gates and parking.
  • Respect private shoreline and current FWP closures, including any bridge-work restrictions below Weigh Station.
  • Keep the trip within daylight and the group’s rescue capability.

Watch for

  • USGS 12340000 flow and trend as context
  • Cold water, spring wood, strainers and bridge features
  • FWP access, closure, permit and designated-campsite rules

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

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

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

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 access chainRoundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor); 24.2 miles

    Montana FWP’s Blackfoot access map names both public endpoints; the route follows the documented downstream access sequence.

    Source

  • Gauge contextUSGS 12340000 Blackfoot River near Bonner

    Direct same-river telemetry. Riverbeta’s numerical flow guidance is published for named route reaches; no numeric range is verified for this endpoint pair.

    Source

  • Direct gaugeUSGS 12340000 Blackfoot River near Bonner

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

    Source

  • Camping and accessDay use; designated FWP float-in campsites only for overnight camping

    FWP prohibits camping outside designated float-in sites in the Recreation Corridor; verify current permits and closures.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Photos

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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 (water-entry edge) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor) route on the Blackfoot River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Roundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor) route on the Blackfoot River start and end?

This route starts at Roundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) and ends at Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor), about 24.2 river miles on the water.

Is the Roundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor) route on the Blackfoot River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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