In Town Nature Floats – You’re All Invited!

McClay Flats: Clark Fork River

This section of the river offers a leisurely canoe trip for wildlife watchers. Scan the gravel bars for Spotted Sandpipers, Killdeer, and Common Mergansers. The alder- and willow-lined bank harbors migratory birds such as Willow Flycatchers, Yellow Warblers, and American Redstarts. Wherever you find a sandy bank, look for the nesting holes of bank and Rough-winged Swallows. If you see a hole a little larger than the others, it's probably a Belted Kingfisher nest. Great Blue Herons build their colonies in the cottonwoods on Kelly Island and near Council Grove State Park. If you see a huge pile of peeled willow sticks by the riverbank, you've found one of a number of beaver lodges along this stretch of the river. You can put in your boat at the Maclay Flat Nature Trail area and take out at the Kona Bridge about six miles downstream or go a total of ten miles to the site of the old Harper's Bridge. The total float time during high water in spring and early summer may be about two to three hours depending on your boat, but when the water is low, give yourself at least six hours to make the trip. Your float will start at Maclay Flat on the Bitterroot River near where it merges with the Clark Fork at Kelly Island.  To reach the put in access: From the stoplight on Highway 93 just south of Missoula, head north 2 miles on Blue Mountain Road to the Maclay Flat parking area. Take out at Kona Bridge off Mullan Road.  Facilities include parking, boat access, fishing, restrooms and walking trails.  Wildlife species of interest include: Great Blue Heron rookery, Hooded Merganser, Turkey Vulture, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle, Red-naped Sapsucker, Bank Swallow, Pygmy Nuthatch, Beaver and the Bull Trout.

Tower Float

From the bank of the Clark Fork River, you can see into the islands and thickets that attract both forest and water birds. Osprey, Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls nest nearby. Great Blue Herons and river otters hunt for fish in the river. Common Mergansers swim by. Bank Swallows build nests in the sandy banks. At the edges of the willows, you can hear the meow of Gray Catbirds.  In 2001, the City of Missoula purchased about 80 acres along the Clark Fork River at the north end of Tower Street. The land protects a critical piece of the Clark Fork River corridor, which is lush with cottonwoods, aspens and willows and supports extensive wildlife habitat. The Clark Fork river corridor is a cornerstone to Missoula's open space program. In addition, it provides public river access and supports a trail system that might eventually link downtown with Kelly Island.  From Reserve St., turn west on 3rd Street then turn north onto Tower Street. You find a small parking area at the end of Tower Street.  Species of Interest include: Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Great Horned Owl, Western Wood Peewee, Willow Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, McGillvary’s Warbler and Beavers.

Downtown Clark Fork Float

A sunny float down the Clark Fork will reward you with more than views of downtown Missoula. Beat the summer heat with a cool float by downtown and, you'll see Osprey nesting on specially built platforms, Belted Kingfisher perched on cottonwood branches and Red-winged Blackbirds as they defend their willow islands from other males. Be sure to look beneath the bridges for colonies of nesting Cliff Swallows.  In the evenings, you'll see them flying above the river hunting for aerial insects. You can see other aerial acrobats downtown; Violet-green Swallows nesting in holes in buildings and Vaux's Swifts nesting in abandon chimneys.  If you have time to go ashore, be sure to check the interpretive signs along the Riverfront Trail that describe historic buildings in Missoula and the early history of the area. Cottonwood, willow, red-osier dogwood thrive along the river corridor. Another great stop is Toole Park's Native Prairie Restoration Area at Toole Park, which is filled with bluebunch wheatgrass, rough fescue, yarrow, and rabbitbrush. A group of dedicated volunteers, led by local botanist John Pierce, have spent countless hours planting and weeding this unique slice of prairie in the city. Nearby is the Waterwise Garden, just east of the Higgins Street Bridge, which is a great place to learn about plants native to Montana that require less watering than exotic species and support more butterflies and other native insect pollinators.  Then be sure to get back on the river and enjoy that relaxing suntan.