Blackfoot River (Montana)

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General data

Name: Blackfoot River (Montana)
Water system: Columbia River
Water type: River
Progression: Clark Fork River -> Lake Pend Oreille -> Pend Oreille River -> Columbia River -> Columbia River Estuary -> Pacific Ocean -> Planet Earth
Climates: Mountain
Continents: North America
Countries: United States of America

The Blackfoot River, sometimes called the Big Blackfoot River to distinguish it from the Little Blackfoot River, is a snow-fed and spring-fed river in western Montana. The Blackfoot River begins in Lewis and Clark County at the Continental Divide, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the town of Lincoln (4,536 ft; 1,383 m).

The river's headwaters are between Rogers Pass (5,610 ft; 1,710 m) to the north and Stemple Pass (6,376 ft; 1,943 m) to the south. It flows westward through the town of Milltown and enters the Clark Fork River approximately five miles (8 km) east of the city of Missoula (3,210 ft; 980 m).

The Blackfoot River is renowned for its recreational opportunities, most notably fly fishing, but also rafting, canoeing, and inner tubing.

The Blackfoot is a fast, cold river with many deep spots, making it prime habitat for several varieties of trout.

The river is featured in the 1976 novella A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean, as well as the 1992 film starring Brad Pitt, directed by Robert Redford.

Blackfoot River (Montana)

General data

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