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The Clark Fork River...
The Clark Fork is a museum of ancient rock and stunning scenery, tranquil currents full of beavers and otters that play and live beneath the shadows of sweet smelling ponderosas, juniper and fir trees. Moose, deer, black bear and elk forage inside the diverse ecosystems along the shores of the Clark Fork River while deep, dark currents swirl into big waves, large drops and perfect whitewater.

Close By...
Missoula, Montana, Spokane, Washington and Coeur d Alene, Idaho are easy driving distances from some of the best whitewater and scenery in Montana, the Clark Fork River's Alberton Gorge. Scroll below to learn more about the rich and interesting history of the Clark Fork River or click on a picture below to learn more about the numerous rafting trips we offer on the Clark Fork River.

If You Could Only Raft One River While You're Here, This is It!
The Clark Fork River glides through downtown Missoula. Just beyond the city, the 360 mile river squeezes through the Alberton Gorge, a gorgeous gorge of stone and eagles, scenery and whitewater, beauty and solitude. With 7 class III rapids and dozens of fun class II waves, the Clark Fork River is the perfect family whitewater adventure in Montana.

Hours of Operation

• 8 am to 8 pm
  
• Conveniently Located Near Coeur d' Alene, Idaho / Missoula, Montana / Spokane, Washington
  
• Trips Available for all Ages!
  
• Wet suits, booties, drinks and shuttle provided!
  
• Great Price, Exceptional Quality, First Class Service!
  
• "Number 1 in Safety / Number 1 in Fun!"

Current Weather

Links :. Missoula City Map :. Missoula Activities & Things to Do :. Missoula History :. Places to Stay

The Clark Fork River History

Glacial Lake Missoula

The Flood That Shaped the Northwest
The history of the Clark Fork River is also the geologic history of Missoula. It is a history as dynamic as the river is beautiful. It all started in the icy depths of Glacial Lake Missoula. 12,000 years ago, the Clark Fork River and most of the areas mountain valleys sank beneath an ancient lake called Glacial Lake Missoula. The primal lake was nearly 2,000 feet deep, created by an ice-dam blocking the outlet of the Clark Fork River near present day Idaho. In a cataclysmic event, triggered by the continually growing lake (the size of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined), the ice dam exploded, releasing the entire contents of Glacial Lake Missoula.

No Escape
The flood outran the land, scouring Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon all the way to the Columbia River until finally recollecting itself in the Pacific Ocean. It left behind the story of water, rock and power. Across the Inland Northwest to the shores of Oregon, Glacial Lake Missoula's signature can be found.

See It Today!
That ancient signature can not only be seen but also felt on the Clark Fork River and Spokane River with Pangaea River Rafting. The Clark Fork of the Columbia is Montana’s largest river by volume, greater than the mighty Missouri at the state border. Starting just five miles from the Continental Divide, the Clark Fork River drains an extensive portion of the Rocky Mountains in Montana. This Rocky Mountain basin includes 1/3 of Montana’s human population, wilderness areas, national parks and forests, productive river valleys, the country’s largest superfund complex, and such fabled waters as Flathead Lake, the Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers, and Rock Creek. The Clark Fork River is approximately 360 mi (579 km) long.

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark

The Famous Explorers
In the 19th century the Clark Fork Valley was inhabited by the Flathead tribe of Native Americans. It was explored by Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition during the 1806 return trip from the Pacific. The river, whose official name is Clark Fork's of the Columbia, is named for William Clark. However, some older maps represent the middle segment of the river as the Missoula River.

The Route They Should Have Taken
Although the river was named after Lewis and Clark, they didn't float the river on their westward journey; instead they opted to cross the Bitterroot Mountains in Idaho, a land devoid of game, thick with snow, uncompromising and raw. We refer to the Clark Fork River as the "river Lewis and Clark should have taken." Even today game is abundant and we never have to eat our horses.

The Alberton Gorge, Clark Fork River

The River Gorge
The Alberton Gorge is a dramatic river gorge on the Clark Fork River. When people talk about running the famous Clark Fork Rapids, they are talking about the Alberton Gorge. Pangaea River Rafting offers the most entertaining, informative and fun whitewater rafting trips on the Alberton Gorge. Leave Boring Behind!.

World Famous
The famed Alberton Gorge, with its incredible scenery and recreational treasures, makes a perfect family trip on a hot summer day. Located 35 miles west of Missoula, the Gorge is a canyon section of the Clark Fork River with Class II and Class III whitewater perfect for all abilities, from the complete beginner to the seasoned expert. The Alberton Gorge is a paradise, for visitors and locals alike. This popular stretch of river, contains seven major rapids as well as several smaller ones that offer wet and wild memories forever.

Speaking of forever...

The Alberton Gorge is protected forever

The following is reprinted with permission from the Five Valley's Land Trust http://www.fvlt.org/protection/accomplishment/alberton.html

Publicly Owned
After more than a decade of work, including an extended six-year public process, a series of land transactions were finalized in late November 2004 bringing key private lands along the Alberton Gorge into public ownership. “The Alberton Gorge holds special meaning for Montanans and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere. We’re pleased to be part of a collaborative effort to protect the Gorge for future generations,” said Mike Hanson, Chief Operating Officer of NorthWestern Energy.

The Jewel of Montana Saved
Located thirty-five miles west of Missoula, the Gorge extends for seven spectacular miles. Through it, the continual wearing force of the Clark Fork River has carved dramatic canyon walls that reveal sheer cliffs of ancient, rose-colored bedrock and steep slopes of pine, fir, and spruce. The narrowness of the canyon combined with deep channel drops and submerged rocks create spine-tingling whitewater that draws more than 25,000 kayakers and rafters each year making it by far the most important whitewater recreation destination in western Montana.

Important Habitat
The Alberton Gorge is also a critical area for fish and wildlife. The Clark Fork River through the Gorge harbors thriving populations of rainbow and cutthroat trout, and the area provides excellent habitat for elk, deer, wolves, eagles, osprey and other wildlife. In addition, the Gorge serves as an important natural corridor for migrating wildlife traveling between mountain ranges on both sides of the valley. “The Gorge is one of western Montana’s scenic and recreational treasures,”states Five Valleys’ Executive Director Wendy Ninteman. “The Five Valleys Land Trust is thrilled to play a role in assuring that it will remain as it is for future generations.”

Hard Work Pays Off
“The Alberton Gorge is a gem,” states River Network President Don Elder. “The dramatic canyon provides crucial habitat for fish and wildlife, unsurpassed scenic beauty, and whitewater that is widely considered the most challenging and exciting in all of Montana. We have long sought protection for the Alberton Gorge, and thanks to the sustained good work of our many conservation partners, this goal has now been realized. We are proud to have played a role, and we are delighted that this gem has been secured for the people of Montana for generations to come.”

Helpful Clark Fork River Links

River Flows
Clark Fork River Flows please click here

River Map
Clark Fork River Map please click here

River Regulations
Montana FWP Clark Fork River Recreation Information please click here

Interactive City Map of Missoula, Montana
Missoula Discovery Map please click here

Interactive City Map of Spokane, Washington
Spokane CVB Interactive City Map please click here