Montana’s Missouri River Canoe

TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 17-foot Wenonah canoes, which hold two to three paddlers, plus all necessary gear. This is a great trip for beginners and seasoned paddlers. An average day’s travel consists of 2-5 hours of paddling depending on the wind and weather. Travel distances run 10 to 14 miles per day with the exception of scheduled layover days. Hiking options will be available along the river. To protect the environment, Wilderness Inquiry uses “Leave No Trace” camping techniques.

WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 40 F in the evening to 100 F during the day. Rainfall can vary, and you should expect at least a day or two of rain. Strong head winds can also be a factor on this trip.

YOUR GROUP: The group size ranges from 10 to 14 participants, plus two or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities. Our trips are cooperative in nature. Wilderness Inquiry staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.

ACCOMMODATIONS: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4-person tent (although other arrangements can be made). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.

MEALS: The food we bring is plentiful, nutritious, and primarily vegetarian (because this keeps better than meat). Since we will be carrying the food on all the portages, we will have light, but delicious meals. You can expect meals like burritos, pesto pasta, and vegetable stir-fry for dinner; bagels and sandwiches for lunch; pancakes, french toast, oatmeal, and granola for breakfast. If you have special dietary restrictions, be sure to list them on your registration.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.

COVID POLICY: We continue to monitor and update our COVID-19 policies. Wilderness Inquiry strongly encourages everyone to be fully up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination and take other necessary steps for the health and wellness of all. We ask you to self-screen for any signs of illness prior to your trip’s departure. Please contact Wilderness Inquiry if you are exhibiting signs of illness. We will also continue to follow all guidance and requirements of locations that we travel, keeping in mind some international destinations do require vaccinations and/or negative covid tests. We will update this policy as new information and guidance becomes available.

SAFETY WHILE ON TRAIL:  Though not required, some individuals may choose to wear a mask, and we expect all participants to respect this choice. Please ensure proper hygiene including, but not limited to, hand-washing and/or sanitizing before eating and after using the restroom. Individuals who become ill or test positive for COVID-19 during a Wilderness Inquiry experience will be isolated to the best of the group’s ability and are responsible for their own transportation and expenses to depart the trip.

The Missouri River runs through the 377,000-acre URL{Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument;http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm.html}, created by President Clinton in January of 2001 and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The 149-mile Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River, designated in 1976, flows through the monument.

In the Missouri Breaks of central Montana, modern visitors can view a landscape that has remained unchanged for centuries. These rugged badlands, scenic White Cliffs, and high rolling prairies attracted the Blackfoot Native Americans, Lewis and Clark, and a few hearty settlers, all of whom turned out to be mere visitors. The region has been described in many ways: “scenes of visionary enchantment” by Lewis and Clark, Karl Bodmer described a formation as “it was like an old Gothic Chapel with a chimney and pines…growing around the wall,” and William Clark also wrote of the country as harsh and desolate. Stephen Ambrose’s acclaimed book, Undaunted Courage, and Ken Burns’ documentary have also generated interest and attracted people from throughout the world.

With a vision of the United States spreading from ocean to ocean, President Thomas Jefferson conceived of an expedition to explore the vast expanse of the Louisiana Territory and the Pacific Northwest. Jefferson gave the expedition its primary objectives to find a transportation route through the Louisiana Territory to the Columbia River and in doing so to learn about native cultures and the resources of the region. President Jefferson chose his personal secretary and friend, URL{Meriwether Lewis;http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/i_r/lewis.htm}, to head the expedition. With the acquisition of the Louisiana Territory, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked upon an epic adventure of discovery, which included traversing this very same stretch of Montana’s Missouri River. Their epic adventure stands the test of time and will continue to amaze and inspire people for generations.

The picturesque White Cliffs and numerous igneous intrusions have been slowly exposed by the meandering Missouri River. Since carving its way through millions of years of rock, the Missouri has helped geologists unravel the geological mysteries of this land. Exposed layers of shale and sandstone indicate the presence of a great inland sea: various angles of this layering represent folding, faulting, or uplifting and the many caves, pillars, and arches are results of differential erosion. Geologists theorize that the Missouri River once meandered its way to the Atlantic Ocean, but a great glacial mass that formed over what is now Canada altered its course to the south and east near Coal Banks Landing. The combination of these geologic events formed the impressive, yet harsh, region that Lewis and Clark would experience with their “URL{Corps of Discovery;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corps_of_Discovery}.”

The wild inhabitants of the land have remained much the same since early exploration. Ungulates, including bighorn sheep, mule deer, antelope, and elk, still roam this land and browse on the vegetation. Bald and golden eagles, prairie falcons, and sparrow hawks perch on the cliffs or soar overhead. The fertile bottomlands and riparian zones also support diverse wildlife such as sharp-tailed grouse and prairie dogs.

While traveling the river with Wilderness Inquiry paddlers will camp at sites used by Lewis and Clark, read from their expedition journals, and view the same landscape that awed these legendary explorers. Our groups discuss local history and current issues pertaining to land rights and endangered species. The URL{Missouri Breaks;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Missouri_River_Breaks_National_Monument} provides visitors with a true American adventure and a taste of early 19th century exploration.