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Montana | Missoula County / Blackfoot River corridor

Blackfoot RiverRussell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor)

A long Blackfoot Recreation Corridor reach from Russell Gates through the documented upper and lower public access chain to Marco Flats.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 36.7 river miles; staged multi-day itinerary
DifficultyHard
Typical timePlan a full daylight run or lawful staged itinerary with designated-campsite and shuttle margin.
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 36.7 river miles; staged multi-day itineraryRussell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor)
DifficultyhardA long Blackfoot corridor itinerary with remote stretches, spring Class II–III features and cold-water rescue consequences; use a prepared crew and staged shuttle.
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

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A long Blackfoot Recreation Corridor reach from Russell Gates through the documented upper and lower public access chain to Marco Flats.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

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Start

Put-in

Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area)
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.
  • Designated float-in campsites require advance planning and are not interchangeable with vehicle-access take-outs.

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

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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

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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 chainRussell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor); 36.7 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 accessDesignated FWP float-in campsites only for staged overnight travel

    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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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

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

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

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

Clark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Sha-Ron Fishing Access · about 30 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river milesClark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Jacobs Island Park · about 30 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 10 river milesClark Fork RiverMilltown State Park to Silver Park Boat Landing · about 30 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 14 river milesClark Fork RiverSha-Ron Fishing Access to Jacobs Island Park · about 31 straight-line mi awayModerate · About 5 river miles

Quick answers

Blackfoot River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) 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 Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor) route on the Blackfoot River start and end?

This route starts at Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) and ends at Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor), about 36.7 river miles; staged multi-day itinerary on the water.

Is the Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area) to Marco Flats Fishing Access Site (official access-area anchor) route on the Blackfoot River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard 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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