Smith River 5 day Exploration:
Description: Leaving civilization behind, this 60-mile rafting adventure descends a stunning limestone canyon in Montana's Big Belt Mountains. The Smith River is the only river in Montana where all river travelers must have a permit, and for good reason. The scenery, fishing, birding, archeology, geology and history are arguably some of the best in the lower forty-eight states. While meandering the curves and eddies of the Smith, we will discuss the adventures of Lewis and Clark and the history of the Blackfeet Indians, both of whom sought sustenance in the Smith River ecosystem. Whether you are a birder spotting some of Montana's finest fowl or an angler pulling in a brown trout, the Smith River is an adventure of a lifetime.
Fishing: The Smith River is one of Montana's premiere rainbow and brown trout fisheries. It is known for it's unequaled beauty, outstanding trout habitat and terrific bird life! Enjoy the sounds of the river as you fish with our experienced guides. Whenever angling new waters, experienced guides are important. Ours are some of the best in Northwest Montana. All equipment and tackle is provided for guests.
Hiking: Each day, we will have an opportunity to hike. We will look for wildlife, head up to the canyon rim for a view from above, or explore Native American archeological sites. The hikes are easy to moderate, and not more than 3 miles.
Wildlife: This area is know for mountain lion, black bear, bobcat, wolverine, flying squirrel, otter, beaver, mergansers, osprey, belted kingfishers, dippers, killdeer, American redstarts, yellow warblers, ruffed grouse, hawks, owls, common raven, swifts, hummingbirds, pileated woodpeckers, chickadees, Swainson's thrush, varied thrush... the list goes on.
Tour Itinerary:
Day One - We meet in Great Falls and then shuttle to the Camp Baker put-in where our river adventure begins. Today's topics include river safety, general fishing, wilderness preservation, Montana State Parks, and the National Forest Service.
Day Two, Three and Four - We discuss aquatic ecology and fish species as our float continues. Anglers will love the 10 - 20 inch rainbow and brown trout in this spectacular fishery. We will keep our binoculars at hand while checking off the bird species that frequent this migration path. As mentioned above, the guides will lead moderate hikes that will add another dimension to the Smith River adventure.
Day Five - Today's topic is the future of habitat preservation and the use of public lands. We will have our final lunch on the river, say our "fair wells" and return to Great Falls by 5 pm.
What is included: Transportation to and from Great Falls; gourmet meals from our Day One lunch to our Day Five lunch; deluxe camping (including elevated sleeping platforms, air mattresses, bedding, and camp lounge chairs); Hyside brand performance rafts; and of course, our expert guides. For serious anglers, we recommend the drift boat option for an additional $1000 per angler (two person maximum in a drift boat).
Meeting Notes: Meeting Notes: This trip meets at 7:00 am on June 28th in Great Falls MT and ends in the late afternoon on July 2nd. You will want to fly in and out of Great Falls MT (If you have extra time, check out the excellent Lewis and Clark Museum).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Montana
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
