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Montana | Missoula County / Blackfoot River corridor

Blackfoot RiverRussell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site to Roundup Fishing Access Site

An 11-mile upper Blackfoot Recreation Corridor run from Russell Gates to the Roundup access at the Highway 200 bridge, finishing above the corridor’s largest rapid.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceAbout 11.1 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAllow 5–8 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

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceAbout 11.1 river milesRussell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site to Roundup Fishing Access Site
DifficultyhardRiverbeta and local guides describe continuous Class II with Class III features at spring flows, including Bear Creek Rapids and Roundup Rapid at the Highway 200 bridge. This is for experienced paddlers with a practiced rescue plan.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Roundup, then drive to Russell Gates 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. Russell Gates has an endpoint campground context, but this itinerary is published as a day run; do not camp at Roundup or on private banks.
SeasonMay-SepTypically paddled May–July at snowmelt flows. Check telemetry, trend, wood, weather and FWP restrictions immediately before launch.

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

An experienced-paddler upper-corridor run with a public Russell Gates start and Roundup bridge take-out.

Access map

Skip map

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Start

Put-in

Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site (public ramp/access area)
Open mapDirections to put-in

Scout Roundup Rapid from Highway 200 and take out below the rapid; do not launch into an unscouted feature.

Finish

Take-out

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

Confirm FWP site fees, conservation license, parking and special-recreation rules.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Scout Roundup Rapid from Highway 200 and take out below the rapid; do not launch into an unscouted feature.
  • Confirm FWP site fees, conservation license, parking and special-recreation rules.
  • Expect remote road sections and limited cell coverage.

Watch for

  • USGS 12340000 trend and 1,050 cfs low guard
  • Spring wood and Bear Creek Rapids
  • Roundup Rapid Class III and bridge take-out

Plan this paddle

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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

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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
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
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WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
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 Russell Gates to Roundup reach guide
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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 accessRussell Gates Memorial FAS to Roundup FAS; 11.1 miles

    Riverbeta documents this first Blackfoot Recreation Corridor leg and the FWP/Visit Montana records document 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 and identifies the 11.1-mile reach as Class II–III. Verify live telemetry and local wood/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 campsites in the Recreation Corridor; this route remains 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.

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All 36
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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 to Roundup 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 Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site to Roundup Fishing Access Site 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 Roundup Fishing Access Site (water-entry edge), about 11.1 river miles on the water.

Is the Russell Gates Memorial Fishing Access Site to Roundup 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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