River float There are endless options for float trips around Missoula. My favorite quick trip is a mellow four-mile float on the Clark Fork River from Kelly Island to Kona Bridge. Our floating party met at Kelly Island after work on a Thursday, dropped the boat in the water and loaded up the gear we had packed the night before. The shuttle is short, but to enjoy more time on the river we found a buddy who wanted an excuse to ride his bike and was willing to shuttle the car for us. We hit the water with plenty of daylight to soak in the sun, cast some lines and tossed back a few beers. The casual two-and-a-half-hour float, which included a couple stops to fish deep holes, took us to an island about one mile upstream from our takeout. We set up our tents on a gravel bar, built a small fire and placed our cowboy dinners in the coals, passing the time with snacks, stories and listening to owls. The next morning we were roused from our slumbers by a cacophony of bird song, and we packed the boat and shoved
winds through a forested canyon following its namesake creek. After three miles on the relatively flat trail, camping is allowed (a good landmark is the second outhouse). From here the canyon opens to meadows and offers many places to set up a tent or throw down a bag and sleep under the stars. We loaded our mountain bikes, packs and helmets in the back of the rig at 5 p.m. Not making time to prepare dinner, we called in a carryout order, grabbed our burritos and were on our way. Using backpacks to haul gear meant packing light so we only brought the essentials: sleeping bag and pad, ultra-light tent, water bottle and pump, long underwear, toilet paper, lighters, snacks, three beers each and the necessary photo by Cathrine L. Walters tools to fix a flat. We left the packed parking lot at 5:30 p.m., pedaling through runners, hikers and Bike camp bikers. Even with a few stops for photos we Bike camping in the Rattlesnake Nareached the three-mile marker in less than tional Recreation Area and Wilderness is an hour. Following a side trail that cut off one of Missoula’s best quick and close-tointo the trees lead us to a well-used camphome adventures. Starting at the main site near the creek. Before setting up our Rattlesnake trailhead, the old logging road
off. After a quick 30-minute paddle we were at the takeout by 7:00 a.m. Our early start left ample time for a shower, breakfast and a cup of joe before landing back at work by 9.
photo by Cathrine L. Walters