- Dates: Daily July 7 - September 4, 2023*
- Rates: $120 (adults) | $105 (youth)
- Recommended Minimum Age: 12, prior to July 10 (After July 10, children ages 7 and up are welcome).
- Whitewater: Class l-III rapids
- Meet: Superior, Montana
- Time: 9:00 a.m. PDT
- Duration: Full Day
- Lunch Included: Yes
*Please note we require a minimum of 6 guests to run a trip. Trips typically operate daily in July and August. If you have less than 6 in your party, you can still reserve space and we will work to place you with another group in order to confirm your trip.
*Dates subject to change due to water levels and availability.
The region's most popular trip, the Clark Fork River through Montana's Alberton Gorge is an exciting, splashy ride through Class II-III whitewater. Thousands of people visit the Clark Fork each year for its amazing scenery and fun rapids. Our trips include a delicious riverside lunch, professional guides, and rafting gear. All we need are eager, enthusiastic rafters (first-timers and experts alike) that are ready to have an unforgettable day on the river!
We use 13' paddle rafts so everyone is a participant. Each raft has a professional guide who teaches everyone how to paddle and as a team as you navigate the rapids.
Our season begins around the first week of July and goes until early September, depending on water levels. Rafters as young as 7 are welcome (check with us about early July water levels as it might be best to wait till mid-July to take kids younger than 9.) First-time rafters are welcome and all participants should be in good health and comfortable in water.
The Alberton Gorge is well isolated from any roads with magnificent rock formations and dramatic rose-colored cliffs rising vertically on both sides of the river. You'll see dozens of birds, including osprey, mergansers and if lucky, some Harlequin Ducks. We may also see deer, elk and beaver. Along the way our guides will spin a few yarns about this magnificent river named after William Clark of Lewis & Clark. Its headwaters are in the Beaverhead and Rocky Mountains near Butte, Montana, where the Indians called it the 'Arrowhead' River due to a semi-transparent stone found near the river that was used to make arrowheads. When the Clark Fork leaves Montana, on its way to Lake Pend Oreille and the Columbia River, it carries more water than any river in Montana.
Packing list
Many days on the Clark Fork are hot and sunny and you'll simply need a swimsuit, T-shirt and proper footwear. However, if the forecast is for cool weather in western Montana, you should try and bring a set of synthetic tights/leggings, a synthetic sweater/shirt and a raincoat. Our guides often find that synthetic leggings with a pair of nylon shorts over the top are the perfect combination for cool days. If it gets even cooler, adding a synthetic sweater and/or raincoat completes the outfit. The weather in Montana may be different than Coeur d'Alene or Spokane, so come prepared for a variety of conditions. Avoid all cotton materials as cotton makes you colder when wet!
For Warm Days:
- Sun screen and sun hat
- Towel for end of day
- Nylon shorts or swimsuit
- Camera
- Tennis shoes or sport sandals with straps
- Head strap for glasses
- Personal water bottle - optional
- Windbreaker and/or raincoat in case of cloudy weather
For Cool Days:
- Synthetic leggings or tights is highly recommended
- Synthetic top*
- Rain coat* (good waterproof kind - not nylon windbreaker)
- See other items under "For Warm Days" too
Sample Itinerary
9:00 AM PDT: Meet in scenic Superior Montana.
10:00 AM: After a safety talk and demonstration you'll hit the river!
12:00 PM: You'll stop for lunch on the beach and then back to floating.
4:00-4:30 PM: Back to your vehicles.*
*Please note that due to the nature of the trip times may vary.
Weather
You can find local weather information here.
July 7 - September 4, 2023*
- Adult: $120
- Youth: $105
- Group Special: Groups of 16 or more go for $110/ adult and $95/youth!
*Please note we require a minimum of 6 guests to run a trip. Trips typically operate daily in July and August. If you have less than 6 in your party, you can still reserve space and we will work to place you with another group in order to confirm your trip.
*Dates subject to change due to water levels and availability.
*Prices plus 3% Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Department Use fee and 7% Land & Water Access fee
Many of our guests have requested information regarding gratuities - while all of our guides strive to provide an excellent trip for our guests in every way...if you feel that your trip was extraordinary and would like to leave a gratuity for your guide, we recommend 10-20% of your trip cost. Of course, all gratuities are optional and at your sole discretion.
MEETING LOCATION Google Map Link
This trip meets near St. Regis and Superior, MT.
DIRECTIONS:
From Spokane, Coeur d'Alene and points WEST:
Take I-90 East to Exit 37 - Sloway Road. At bottom of ramp, turn right and follow Sloway Frontage Road (also known as Old US HWY 10) 4 miles to Sloway Gulch Road on your left. At the corner is a blue yurt-like building, a gray shop building and a collection of cars for sale. Turn LEFT on Sloway Gulch Road, also marked with a brown Forest Service sign "Sloway Gulch Road 389," and proceed 60 yards to a fork. Stay RIGHT at the fork and go up a hill about 100 yards. You will see a sign on your left for ROW Adventures and a red school bus.
From Missoula and points EAST:
Take I-90 West to Exit 43 - Dry Creek Road. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and cross over the Clark Fork River. At the T intersection, turn LEFT on to Sloway Frontage Rd (also known as Old US HWY 10). Go 2 miles to Sloway Gulch Road on your right. There is a gray shop building on the west side of the junction. Turn RIGHT on Sloway Gulch Road, also marked with a brown Forest Service sign "Sloway Gulch Road 389" and proceed 60 yards to a fork. Stay RIGHT at the fork and go up a hill about 100 yards. You will see a sign on your left for ROW Adventures and a red school bus.
The closest airports are in Spokane, WA and Missoula, MT as well as a small municipal airport in Superior for private aircraft.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Here at ROW Adventures, our first and foremost goal is for you to have an enjoyable and safe experience. While most of our trips are suitable for beginners, some of our trips are more active than others and it’s important that you understand the physical requirement of the trip you choose.
All rafting trips are active adventures that involve some level of physical exertion and possible exposure to the elements including but not limited to wind, rain, heat, sun, cold temperatures and cold water conditions. ROW Adventures is able to accommodate people with physical limitations, disabilities, and medical conditions; please speak with your Adventure Consultant if you think you will require any additional assistance while on the trip. We ask that you consult your doctor if you have health or medical conditions that could impact your ability to participate in an active and outdoor adventure. In general, all trip participants must be able to do the following:
- Wear all protective and safety equipment that is required by ROW Adventures and recommended/required by industry-wide standards.
- Load and unload, on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion, the bus and/or van providing transportation for ROW Adventures activities.
- Reach the river access points (put-in and take-out) on their own, or with the aid of a qualified companion.
- Enter and exit the raft, kayak and/or inflatable kayak on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion.
- Remain seated and balanced in a floating raft, canoe, kayak or inflatable kayak w/ the aid of adaptive equipment, if necessary.
- Perform all on water activities, including following instructions that like paddling commands from the guide in class I and higher whitewater on their own or with the assistance of a qualified companion.
- Float on their back when entering moving and still water. The participant must be capable of turning from face-down to face-up in the water with the aid of a Personal Floatation Device and must be able to hold their breath while underwater.
- Remain calm and keep breathing under control in the event of a whitewater swim.
- Get out from under a raft, whether the raft is up-right or capsized, in moving water.
- Climb into the raft, with the help of another person, should an involuntary swim happen at any point on the river.
- Make progress toward the shoreline or a raft by swimming in moving water and must be able to exit the river and ascend the shoreline once reached.
- Participate as an active paddler when instructed by the guide for the duration of the trip.
- Move about the campsite on their own or with the aid of a qualified companion on all trips that include overnight camping and/or lunch.
Click HERE to see Terms and Conditions.
Important Notice: ROW has an excellent safety record, but you should know that whitewater rafting is
inherently risky. You will be required to sign a "Release and Assumption of Risk" agreement prior to the trip,
recognizing and accepting the risks involved. If you're interested in trip cancellation, travel or accident
insurance, contact our office. We do not allow alcoholic beverages or any drugs
Overall Rating
Clark Fork adventure
Fun Day on the River
Simply the Best!
It was beautiful and we were treated to first class fun. Our guide made us feel special as he wouldn't let the other rafts ALL from the air force base, splash us oldies. But they sure tried to take our guide out, to no avail 😊. We laughed so hard it hurt. We also learned about the river and its history.
We would love to find out more about the other trips available.
I'm rating this as 100% perfect in every way.
Respectfully,
John and Caroline Griffin