Dates
Fri-Sun, July 3-5
July 4 lands on Saturday in 2026.
Primary Plan
Coal Banks to Judith Landing
About 47 river miles. Classic Upper Missouri weekend stretch.
Pace
15-20 mi/day
BLM's typical non-motorized daily travel estimate.
Status
Planning draft
Shuttle, boat count, and camps need final confirmation.
Itinerary
Built around Missouri River Outfitters' three-day White Cliffs rhythm: two fuller paddling days through the best scenery, then a shorter Sunday morning to reach takeout and return to Fort Benton.
Working model: Coal Banks to Judith Landing, roughly 47 river miles. Camps, hikes, and exact mileage may shift with weather, river traffic, group pace, and available public land.
Friday, July 3
Arrive + launch
Meet at Missouri River Outfitters, stage shuttle, launch at Coal Banks Landing
- Meet at Missouri River Outfitters, 1856 State Hwy 387, Fort Benton, MT 59442. MRO's guided version starts at 8:30 AM; for our rental trip, aim for an early check-in unless the group agrees otherwise.
- Pay rental balances, sign waivers, confirm paddles/PFDs, water, ice, BLM river-use fees, and final weather check.
- Shuttle about an hour to Coal Banks Landing, rig boats, and do a quick safety and paddling talk before launch.
- Target 14.5-21.5 river miles, depending on launch time and wind. This first stretch should give everyone time to settle into their boats.
- Possible stops: teepee rings, petroglyphs, Neat Coulee, a favorite swimming hole, Corps of Discovery camp markers, historic landmarks, and the first White Cliffs formations.
- Camp on public land only, keeping tents away from cottonwoods, private land, and fragile cultural sites.
Saturday, July 4
Big river day
Heart of the White Cliffs: scenic paddling, hiking, and camp
- Early coffee, pack camp tightly, and get on the water before heat and afternoon wind build.
- Target 16-24 river miles. This is the big scenic day through the main White Cliffs corridor, so keep a camera handy and leave room for slow stops.
- Possible hike: Hole in the Wall. Add other short public-land stops only if wind, heat, and group energy cooperate.
- Keep boats grouped with lead and sweep boats. Pause for cliff views, swimming where safe, and short hikes without spreading the group too far apart.
- Plan the second camp far enough downstream that Sunday is a 7-11 mile finish rather than a grind.
- Evening: simple group dinner, secure tents and boats for wind, and keep a clean camp.
Sunday, July 5
Takeout + return
Short final float, Judith Landing takeout, return to Fort Benton
- Target 7-11 river miles, with an early enough start to reach Judith Landing around midday.
- Possible stops: Corps of Discovery May 29, 1805 / May 7, 1806 camp area and prairie dog town, if timing and access make sense.
- Pack out trash and human waste; wash out boats to avoid the posted extra cleaning fee.
- Return rental gear or leave it in MRO's designated locked boxes as instructed at check-in.
- Return shuttle vehicles, then regroup in Fort Benton. MRO's guided version plans a Fort Benton return around 3:00-4:00 PM; use that as a rough planning window.
- Optional buffer: stay Sunday night in Fort Benton if flights or long drives make the return tight.
Outfitter Logistics
We are planning to rent from Missouri River Outfitters and use a self-guided version of their 3 Day White Cliffs itinerary. John will handle craft and shuttle reservations for the group. Rental groups stop by the storefront before the trip to pay the balance, sign waivers, and review the itinerary.
Location:
1856 State Hwy 387
Fort Benton, MT 59442
Phone: 406-622-3295 or 866-282-3295
Boats
John will reserve all craft together for the group. Let him know whether you want a two-person canoe, one-person canoe, or kayak. Old Town 169 canoe, solo canoe, or Old Town Castine kayak: $40/day. Old Town 186 three-seat canoe: $50/day. Wenonah Escape Kevlar canoe: $60/day.
Camp Comfort
Cooler $10/day, table $10/day, camp chair $2/day, canoe seat-back $2/day, camp pillow $2/day.
Sleep Kit
Two- or four-person tent $20/day, sleeping bag $10/day, sleeping pad $5/day, big 65L dry bag $5/day, 45L dry bag $2/day.
Kitchen + Sanitation
Kitchen box $30/day, camp stove $10/day, action packer $10/day, bathroom bucket system $3/day, toilet and tent $10/day. Bags are sold separately.
Reservation Notes
Canoe/kayak rentals require a $50 deposit per boat. John will handle the craft reservation once the boat preferences are in. MRO suggests booking at least 2 weeks ahead, or at least 1 month ahead for large groups.
Pickup Add-Ons
The rest of the equipment can be added on site on Friday, July 3 when we pick up. MRO notes that kitchen boxes should be reserved in advance if the group wants one.
Route
The working route is Coal Banks Landing to Judith Landing, river mile 41.5 to 88.5. The map below is the official BLM Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument map and shows the river corridor, access points, roads, camps, and broader monument boundary.
Launch at Coal Banks Landing and take out at Judith Landing. The route is about 47 river miles through the White Cliffs section.
Getting There
For anyone coming from Los Angeles, plan to arrive on Thursday, July 2. Fly into Great Falls, rent a car there, and drive up to Fort Benton that evening so Friday can be used for grocery pickup, gear check, outfitter pickup, and getting to the river without rushing.
Best target airport: Great Falls International Airport (GTF). It is the closest practical commercial airport to Fort Benton and has rental cars on site.
Recommended Flight Plan
- Book Los Angeles (LAX) to Great Falls (GTF) for Thursday, July 2 so there is time for the drive, groceries, gear check, and a relaxed Friday launch.
- Expect a one-stop itinerary rather than a direct flight. GTF is served by Alaska, Allegiant, Delta, and United.
- Useful connection hubs to check from LA: Denver, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Phoenix/Mesa.
- GTF airline information
Rental Car + Drive
- Rent at Great Falls on Thursday, July 2, then drive north to Fort Benton. Plan on roughly 45-60 minutes, plus grocery and fuel stops.
- GTF lists Avis/Budget, Hertz, Enterprise, and National/Alamo rental counters at the airport.
- Build in buffer time for gravel roads, wet-weather delays, and the holiday weekend.
- GTF rental cars
MRO Shuttle Options
- John will handle shuttle reservations for the group.
- Vehicle shuttle: MRO drives your vehicle from the put-in to the takeout while the group is on the river. Best for smaller groups or anyone continuing north/east afterward.
- Van shuttle: best for larger groups or round-trip service to and from Great Falls airport. MRO says vans hold up to 10 people and include trailers for boats and gear.
- MRO says vehicles are at the takeout by noon on the final river day at the latest, but late/early takeouts can add complications or charges.
Cost Estimates
These are planning ranges, not quotes. Flight, hotel, and rental-car prices move quickly around holiday weekends, so use this as a budgeting baseline and verify before booking.
Rough solo traveler range: about $850-$1,600 before personal gear purchases, depending mostly on airfare, hotel choice, rental-car sharing, and final craft/shuttle split.
Travel Days
- LAX to Great Falls round trip: roughly $325-$700+ per person, based on current one-stop pricing signals. Book early if possible.
- Great Falls rental car for 3-4 days: plan around $250-$500 total before splitting, depending on car class, fees, and insurance choices.
- Gas and road snacks: roughly $40-$100 per car for airport, Fort Benton, grocery, shuttle, and buffer driving.
Hotels
- Plan for two travel nights: Thursday, July 2 before the river and Sunday, July 5 after takeout.
- Great Falls hotel rooms: roughly $100-$250+ per room per night around summer travel dates.
- Budget estimate: $200-$500 total per room for two nights, or about $100-$250 per person if sharing a room.
River + Group Costs
- BLM river use fee: $5/person/day, so about $15/person for a 3-day float.
- Craft rental: plan roughly $120-$180 per boat for 3 days, depending on canoe/kayak choice. Split two-person canoes between paddlers.
- Shuttle: John will handle the reservation. Final per-person cost depends on group size, vehicle plan, and whether we use vehicle shuttle, van shuttle, or both.
- Add-ons: coolers, tents, sleeping pads, dry bags, kitchen box, stove, or toilet setup can add $5-$90+ per person depending on what the group shares.
Food + Personal Extras
- Group groceries for 3-4 days: roughly $60-$140 per person, depending on meals, snacks, beverages, and cooler space.
- Restaurants/coffee before and after: roughly $40-$120 per person.
- Fishing license: add this if you plan to fish. Check the Montana FWP license page for current resident/nonresident pricing.
- Forgotten gear buffer: keep $25-$100 aside for sunscreen, dry bags, batteries, camp fuel, ice, or last-minute supplies.
Fishing Option
Anyone who wants to fish should grab a Montana fishing license before the trip, bring a compact rod setup, or ask MRO at pickup whether rod rentals or loaner gear are available.
Before casting: check current Montana FWP regulations for seasons, limits, and any special rules for species like paddlefish or sturgeon.
License
- Buy a Montana fishing license through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks before leaving for the river.
- Have a digital or printed copy accessible offline; cell service can be spotty in the Breaks.
- Montana fishing licenses
- Current Montana fishing regulations
Rods + Tackle
- Bring a travel rod, small tackle box, pliers, and a way to secure gear inside the canoe.
- Good all-around options: small jigs, spinners, crankbaits, soft plastics, and basic catfish bait if you want to try slower water.
- If you do not want to fly with gear, ask Missouri River Outfitters at pickup whether poles or tackle can be rented, borrowed, or added locally.
- Pack barbless or de-barbed options if the group wants easy catch-and-release handling.
Fish You May Catch
- Walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish, freshwater drum, goldeye, carp, and suckers are all possible in the Upper Missouri system.
- Shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish also occur in the Missouri, but treat them as special-regulation fish and check rules before targeting or handling.
- Use wet hands, keep fish in the water when possible, and release anything you are not keeping quickly.
- Montana fish species field guide
Helpful Links
Official pages first, then practical booking and route-planning resources.
Official Planning
River Conditions
Travel + Planning
Packing
A shared checklist for a hot, remote river weekend with wind, storms, and limited cell service in the mix.
Everyone brings
- Personal flotation device, worn on the water
- Dry bags for sleeping kit, clothes, and essentials
- Sun shirt, hat, sunglasses with retainer, sunscreen, lip balm
- Rain shell, warm layer, and dry sleeping clothes
- Water capacity for at least one gallon per person per day
- Headlamp, personal meds, small first-aid items
- Cash/check for BLM fee envelopes
Group gear to assign
- Canoes or kayaks, paddles, spare paddle, throw rope
- Portable toilet or approved human-waste bag system
- Satellite messenger, first-aid kit, repair kit
- Kitchen kit, stove, fuel, lighter, dishwater strainer
- Maps, printed boater guide, and offline navigation
- Coolers, drinking water, meals, snacks, coffee
- Vehicle shuttle plan and spare keys
Email John
Clicking I'm In opens an email to johnblaverman@gmail.com.
Include your name, whether you need a boat seat, whether you can drive shuttle, and any gear or food notes.
Next Decision
Once people have committed, John will lock the headcount, reserve MRO craft and shuttle, then assign group gear.
Use your commit email for boat seats, driver availability, extra tents, food allergies, or anything the group should know before booking.
Open Items
- Final headcount and boat count
- Craft preferences and add-on list for John
- Friday arrival time and meeting place
- Meal plan and shared grocery list
- Emergency contact and float plan