The Clark Fork is one of the most treasured rivers in Montana. It stretches across the state and into Idaho, running for approximately 310 miles along Interstate 90.
Beginning near the historic town of Anaconda, the river has a fascinating history and marks one of Montana’s primary locations for trout fishing.
What Is the History of the Clark Fork River?
The Clark Fork River has been vital to the existence of several Native American tribes in the area for hundreds of years. In the 19th century, the Lewis and Clark Expedition trekked through the basin, eventually naming the river after explorer William Clark.
Rancher and explorer John Francis Grant built his home near the river in the 1860s and built the first irrigation system, using water from the river in the running of his ranch. This would later become the famous Grant-Kohrs National Ranch Historic Site.
From the 1880s onwards, the Clark Fork became littered with heavy metal residue from the nearby towns of Butte and Anaconda, famous at the time for their industrial mining and smelting operations. The damage from the pollution was so great that the river was nearly destroyed.
In 1908, a flood washed millions of tons of toxic particles into the river, causing widespread pollution that affected the soil and groundwater for 12 miles.
To address the damage, the Anaconda Settling Ponds were set up to catch mining waste. The river today is starkly different from what it once was and is nearly free of all heavy metals.
As such, it’s a symbol of healing and restoration.
Clark Fork River Geography
The Clark Fork River is located in western Montana and northern Idaho. The river begins near the town of Butte, Silver Bow County, at the convergence of Silver Bow Creek and Warm Springs Creek.
It then travels north and northwest for around 310 miles before entering Idaho’s Pen Oreille Lake. The Clark Fork then becomes the Pen Oreille River until it reaches the Columbia River.
The most prominent tributaries of the Clark Fork are the Blackfoot, Bitterroot, St. Regis, and Flathead rivers. The mountains and valleys surrounding the river are some of the most beautiful in the region, housing wildlife preserves, national forests, and the famous Glacier National Park.
The Clark Fork is one of the longest rivers in Montana and is thought of as the headwaters of the Columbia River Basin.
It provides food and shelter for several wildlife species and serves as an integral part of the local ecosystem. Among other creatures, river otters, muskrats, beavers, geese, ducks, and kingfishers are often spotted in and around the river.
Throughout the Deer Lodge Valley, the river is used by ranchers and farmers for growing hay and watering livestock. It is also a site of recreation, attracting outdoors enthusiasts and anglers to enjoy its serene waters.
Clark Fork Watershed Stats
- Covers 14 million acres
- Comprises 28,000 miles of rivers and streams
- Supports 350,000 people
- Sustains agricultural operations via irrigation water
- Provides community drinking water from ground and surface water sources
What are the Activities and Attractions Around the Clark Fork?
The Clark Fork Valley is home to a variety of geological formations, picturesque landscapes, wildlife species, and thriving communities. There’s always something to do, in and around the river!
From fishing and river rafting to playing golf and visiting historic sites, the Clark Fork is the center of endless recreational opportunities.
Fishing
The most popular activity along the Clark Fork River is fishing. Rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout are abundant across many sections of the river.
According to Big Sky Fishing, the best place to fish is between the headwaters and the confluence with the Flathead River, near the community of Paradise, Sanders County.
At its origin, the Clark Fork River is narrow enough to jump across without getting wet. But after Missoula, it broadens into one of the state’s widest rivers.
Both ends make for a great fishing experience, depending on what your style of fishing is.
Anyone over 15 years old must obtain a Montana fishing license before fishing from the river.
Water Activities
Along with fishing, the Clark Fork lends itself to other water activities like rafting and kayaking.
You can start rafting using small inflatable rafts and kayaks near the river’s origin in the Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area, but this section has slow water for the first 20 miles.
By the time the river reaches Missoula, the flow is much faster. There are a few white water rafting and general river tours you can take along the river in this section, including those that run through Alberton Gorge.
This section of the Clark Fork also happens to be one of the most scenic and is a popular location to simply relax and enjoy the view of the river.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
Originally established at Cottonwood Creek in 1862 by John Grant, the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is an ode to the Western cattle industry.
Today, the main house of the ranch and other significant buildings are preserved in an effort to maintain the ranch’s legacy.