Flathead River

Montana

The Flathead River is 219 miles of free-flowing water in northwest Montana that spans an area from the Canadian border to the heart of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The designated reaches of the Flathead includes the North, Middle, and South Forks of the river. These forks travel through some of the most wild, rugged country in the United States, including Glacier National Park, Great Bear Wilderness, and Bob Marshall Wilderness before joining near Hungry Horse to create the mainstem Flathead River, a major tributary to the Columbia River.

Recreational
Scenic
Wild
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Designated Reach

October 12, 1976. The North Fork from the Canadian border downstream to its confluence with the Middle Fork. The Middle Fork from its headwaters to its confluence with the South Fork. The South Fork from its origin to the Hungry Horse Reservoir.

Outstandingly Remarkable Values

Ecology

The Flathead River system supports many complex and diverse native plant communities which include sagebrush, old-growth spruce and fir trees, river bottom disturbance species, mature cottonwood groves, and rough fescue grasslands. Although these native communities may not be remarkable on their ...Show More

Fish

The Flathead River system is nationally and regionally an important producer of resident and/or migratory fish species as the river provides exceptionally high-quality habitat for indigenous fish species. Additionally, all life-histories are present. Particularly unique are the west slo...Show More

Geology

The Flathead River system includes some rare and exemplary geologic features which contribute to the unique beauty and value of the river corridor. Features such as the Goat Lick, Meadow Creek Gorge, and the colored riverbed rocks are awe-inspiring geologic features that add to the character and ...Show More

History

The three forks of the Flathead provide outstanding resources to interpret the early history of the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, including ranger stations and work centers still serving their original purposes. These historic sites were centers of activity in the early 20th cent...Show More

Prehistory

All three forks of the Flathead River were used by native peoples to move to and from the plains. Traditional travel routes followed the North, Middle, and South Forks with major travel routes crossing both the North and South Forks from east to west. Most of the sites represent campsites of smal...Show More

Recreation

The Flathead provides a combination of wild, scenic, and recreational segments. Users experience varied levels of challenges accessing the river, ranging from multiple days to hike and pack in, or a 14-mile hike/all-day packstock trip, or air delivery, to a paved vehicular river access site. The ...Show More

Scenery

The three tributaries of the Flathead River, the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork, all offer beautiful vistas of protected lands. Distant, middle ground and streamside trees and shrubs provide contrast to forest openings and rock outcrops. In late fall, the yellow larch are striking agains...Show More

Wildlife

The three forks of the Flathead River occur within one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states, where natural processes such as fire, flooding, plant succession, wildlife migration, and predator-prey dynamics shape the landscape and its wildlife. River corridors provide travel way...Show More

Classification/Mileage

Recreational Wild Scenic
Recreational — 80.4 miles; Wild — 97.9 miles; Scenic — 40.7 miles; Total — 219 miles.
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Video

The River Wild was filmed on several rivers — the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Rogue River just outside the town of Medford, Oregon; and the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Montana all had some footage shot. However, the big rafting action scenes took place on Montana’s Kootenai River. Permission to film in this region was granted for the very first time by the Kootenai Indians who hold this ground to be sacred. There was one caveat to the film crew receiving permission to film here: the actual location where shooting took place was never to be disclosed to the public.

Hang on tight for a suspense-filled action-thriller starring Oscar-winner Meryl Streep in a stunning performance that will take your breath away! Streep portrays a former river guide who arranges a white-water rafting trip to celebrate her son's birthday and salvage her shaky marriage. Her skills and courage are soon put to the test when three mysterious strangers threaten to turn their vacation into a living hell. Also starring Kevin Bacon and David Strathairn, this "pulse-pounding thrill ride" (Rolling Stone Magazine) explodes with action, suspense and unforgettable storytelling from the director of L.A. Confidential.