During spring
and early summer, this section can be dangerous. Check with one of the shops
for the latest information.
Float Trip 2: Hannon Access (the bridge just south of the West Fork Road) to Wally Crawford (Como Bridge)
By far this is
the most heavily floated section, yet the fishing is excellent. Plan a full day
float or a short float to Darby Bridge.
Float Trip 3:
Wally Crawford to Angler's Roost Campground
Be sure to
register at Angler's Roost. Plan for a full day float, and be prepared to
portage at Sleeping Child Dam.
Float Trip 4:
Angler's Roost to Woodside (Corvallis Bridge)
Be prepared for
a sharp turn and a huge rock just above Hamilton's Main Street Bridge. Below
the bridge you will have to portage around a diversion dam. If you go over it,
unload your passengers on the right bank above the dam. After you float under
the silver bridge south of town, the river forks to the left past Blodgett Park
(an exit site) or to the right. The right channel gets very low late in the
summer, and the left channel can be snaggy and dangerous during high water.
Float Trip 5:
Corvallis Bridge to Tucker West
Stay in the
left (west) channel. This mid-section of the river from Tucker West to Bell
Crossing loses a great deal of water from late July on, which makes for slow
floating and, on low water years, some boat dragging.
Float Trip 6:
Bell Crossing to Stevensville
A full day
float.
Float Trip 7:
Stevensville to Florence
This is a very
full day float if you fish hard. Plan on taking out after the cocktail hour.
Float Trip 8:
Florence Bridge to Lolo Sewage Treatment Plant
This too is a
very long float both in mileage and slow water. You may shave off a couple
miles by launching at Chief Looking Glass Campground. Keep in mind that you
will have to portage your boat about 40 yards up a bank to the parking lot. Due
to the warm summer water conditions, the fishing is generally poor until fall.
Bitterroot
River Mileage Chart
The following
mileage between access points is approximate calculations starting from
Missoula and moving to Hannon Memorial south of Darby.
- Maclay Bridge (Missoula-North
Avenue) to Buckhouse Bridge (Missoula-Highway 93): 5.8 miles
- Buckhouse Bridge to Lolo
Treatment plant: 10.5 miles
- Lolo treatment plant to Chief
Looking Glass: 12.7 miles
- Chief Looking Glass to Florence
Bridge: 2.2 miles
- Florence Bridge to
Stevensville Bridge: 10.1 miles
- Stevensville Bridge to Bell
Crossing Bridge: 9.5 miles
- Bell Crossing to Victor
Crossing: 2.7 miles
- Victor Crossing to Tucker
Crossing: 4.2 miles
- Tucker Crossing to Woodside
(Corvallis bridge): 4.8 miles
- Woodside to Silver Bridge
(Hamilton city limits): 3.1 miles
- Silver bridge to Main Street
Bridge: 2.0 miles
- Main Street Bridge to
Angler's Roost: 4.5 miles (Ask for permission at Angler's Roost
campground.)
- Angler's Roost to Como Bridge:
9.8 miles
- Como Bridge to Old Darby
Bridge (private): 6.3 miles
- Old Darby Bridge to Hannon
Memorial: 3.8 miles
