Riverboarding: Missoula's Best Summer Adventure - Montana River Guides

Riverboarding: Missoula’s Best Summer Adventure

#1 Missoula Adventure this Summer: Riverboarding!

Not many people know that Missoula’s Clark Fork River is the number one riverboarding destination in North America. Missoula adventure outfitter Montana River Guides has been guiding whitewater river board trips on the Clark Fork River’s Alberton Gorge since 1995.  Guided river board trips through the spectacular Alberton Gorge are offered daily at 9am, 2pm and 4 pm. Our guides provide all of your equipment along with a thorough orientation and safety briefing. After a practice session where you learn how to maneuver in river current, you’ll follow your guide down the river.

riverboarding trips

A smiling river boarder attacks Fang Rapid with Montana River Guides

The Ultimate Missoula Whitewater Adventure

River boarding is a blast. If you can swim, possess enthusiasm and are looking to cool off, river boarding is hard to beat. Missoula’s best summer adventure includes big fun class II and III rapids along with some fun surf waves deep in this remarkable canyon. You’ll learn river trip basic risk management principals, hand signals and how to read water so you can pull maneuvers like eddy turns, peel outs, ferries and even surfing. While everyone gets their own board, we run the river as a team. Guides are ready to team up and assist guests who want to be lined up just right in the rapids.

Experiencing thrilling whitewater at face level going headfirst down a rollicking river is hands down the funnest, most exciting, guided outdoor adventure in Montana. The Clark Fork River and the Alberton Gorge are perfectly suited for river boarding because of the clean channels, fun rapids and surfable waves. At lower flows we pull over and take turns surfing at a variety of different waves.

Missoula Adventures

Now that August has arrived, so have the lower river levels and surfable waves at Triple Bridges, Ice Box and Fang. Icebox in the 3,000 cfs range is one of the most exciting surfs on the Gorge. At late summer flows the river is more technical but easier to maneuver in than at higher levels.  Our normal half day trips go through the middle canyon and it’s bigger rapids. Full day trips start near the Alberton Gorge Ranch and run through Eyeopener, Swimmers, the Shelf, Potter’s Plunge and Cliffside before taking a break at Sandy Beaches.

River boarding Trips in MissoulaMontana River Guides has been guiding river board trips on the Gorge for over twenty years. Owner Mike Johnston started out as the lead river board guide and was eventually replaced by Bret “Gentle Muscles” Mollenhauer. Josephine Johnston took over from Bret and now Jo’s younger brother Sam is MRG’s lead river board guide. The longer we have been at the Gorge the more we have come to appreciate it as one of Montana’s hidden adventure gems.

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138 Big Bend Ln, Alberton
5
5
We have taken many rafting trips over the years and hands down this was one of the best ones yet!!! We took a private full day rafting tour with river side picnic and couldn’t have had a better time!! Our guide set up the best lunch spread at the waterside including fresh fruit and veggie trays, salad, sandwiches, chips/salsa, and the best homemade cookies!!! We had many stops, chances to swim, small cliff jumping, and the most beautiful scenery!!! Shout out to Amy as being the most fun guide to our crazy “Billy Goat Cyrus” group from Texas!!! Request her and you won’t be disappointed!!!
5
Our Montana River Guide trip down the Clark Fork was the highlight to our Montana vacation. Our guide let us paddle some while we were going thru the rapids which was an awesome experience. Weather and sun on the morning trip made for some great pictures.
5
We did a scenic float with our young kids. This was the absolute best thing we did our whole trip! So beautiful, so much fun. Amy was our guide and she was incredibly fun, knowledgable and kind. Cannot wait to float with them again!
5
There were three of us over 60 year old gals on our trip. Our guide, Jack, was outstanding. We felt safe and secure under his care the whole time while having the time of our lives. The beautiful scenery and wildlife were a bonus to the incredible river with its rapids along with calm areas to relax & enjoy the ride. Top on my list of the other incredible things we did this summer.
5
One of the best experience in the US was spending our Sunday with Montana River Guides! The crew was able to accommodate to over 60 of us on the YSEALI alumni tour and all of us thoroughly enjoyed our time on the river - Whitewater Rafting or Scenic Tour. Guides are 100% professionals who have fun with safety in mind. Highly recommend and must visit when you're in Montana. Thanks for the memories!