Badlands or Breaks of the Upper Missouri River

5 days / 4 nights

2025 Available Dates

Do you have 8 or more people? You can have a private trip! Pick any launch date, not necessarily one from this list. Call us for more information.

June 10-14
June 19-23
June 26-30
July 15-18
July 29 - August 2

Trip Details

Enjoy the Badlands, aka Upper Missouri River Breaks, with the highly coveted layover day! During this day, we don’t pack up camp, but rather enjoy the morning leisurely and have the option for a long hike to Clark’s viewpoint, where Clark thought he first spotted the Rocky Mountains. Even if you journey just a mile off the river, the landscape opens, and you can truly start to grasp the expansiveness of this section of the monument. If you have time, opt for the longer trip.

Montana’s Badlands aka “The Missouri River Breaks” are less traveled, wilder and absolutely stunning. The Monument borders expand significantly as the landscape steepens, becomes more rugged and far reaching. Visit several in-tact homesteads, catch sight of trophy-size Bighorn Sheep, cross the Nez Perce Historic Trail, explore dinosaur bone beds and revel in the multi-colored, vast landscape. Hike above the river at various points to absorb the magnificent view.

Difficulty level:
Appropriate for all ages 4+
This trip is certainly an adventure. However, the Upper Missouri is a flat water river with no rapids. Plus, we are there to help!

Overview

Every day we canoe between 14-21 miles. We offer optional (but amazing) hikes every day ranging from a short jaunt up a hill to view tipi rings to a bit longer hike to a viewpoint or to a homestead.

We provide all necessary camping equipment, gourmet meals (locally sourced or food from our own garden or that we foraged, hunted or fished), expert guides and as much historical, geological and wildlife interpretation you can handle.

General Information

$1400 per adult
$1260 per child (10 and under)

Deposit requirement:

We require a $400 deposit per person to secure your spot. We require final payment 60 days prior to the trip departure.

Cancellation policy detailed below.

Departure location:

All trips start and end at our headquarters in Fort Benton, MT.
Address: 2210 Main St.

Scroll down for additional logistics information

Sample Itinerary

 

 Day 4

  • 7:00am – coffee

  • 7:30 – start packing

  • 8:00 – breakfast

  • 9-9:30 – be on water

  • Optional stop & hike – Gist Homestead if you didn’t already check it out

  • 11:00-1:00pm - HIKE & LUNCH – Woodhawk Bottom (RM 131.2)

  • 2:00 – be on water

  • 3:00-3:30 - CAMP – Hideaway Coulee RM (136.7) or another dispersed campsite. From the campsite, there are options to hike back towards the hills to look for dinosaur bones and other interesting fossils. It is also one of the healthiest groves of trees on the river, and thus is a spectacular birding spot early in the morning

  • 4:00-5:00 - hors d'oeuvres

  • 6:30ish – dinner, dessert, fire, etc

    Day 5

  • 7:00am – coffee, start packing

  • 8:00 – breakfast

  • 9:00-9:30 – be on water

  • 10:00ish – stop somewhere for potty break

  • 12:00 – arrive at James Kipp Recreation Area, pack up the vans, say our goodbyes to the river and start the 3 hour drive back to Fort Benton. It doesn’t take long before everyone is napping :-)

Major Points of Interest Along the Way:

Murry Dugout, Hagadone Homestead, Dauphin Rapids, Stafford Ferry, McGary Bar (Lewis and Clark campsite), Chimney Bend, Cabin Rapids homestead, John Ervin Homestead, Gist Bottom Homestead, Clark’s Viewpoint Hike or another loop hike near Gist Bottom, Cow Creek, Cow Islands, Fort Igles Rifle Pits, James Kipp Homestead, Nez Perce Nee Mee Poo Trail, Wookhawk Bottom & viewpoint hike, Power Plant, Loomis Homestead, Hideaway Coulee and the Hideaway Gang, Charles M Russell Wildlife Refuge, Grand Island and so much more.

Day 1

  • 10:00ish - 12:00ish – arrive at Judith Landing, unload gear, load boats, perhaps eat lunch and shove off!

  • Stop – Murry dug out, RM 90.8

  • CAMP – McKeever Rapids, RM 96

  • Afternoon hike: Hagadone Homestead or float down and walk back

  • 5:00ish – hors d'oeuvres & cocktails

  • 6:30ish – dinner, dessert, fire, etc

Alternative options:

  • Continue past McKeever Rapids, stop at Hagadone Homestead, camp at a dispersed site along the way, Connie’s Bottom (RM 100.5), Stafford Ferry (RM 101.8) or McGarry Bar (RM 103.3)

 Day 2

  • 7:00am – coffee, start packing

  • 8:00 – breakfast

  • 9-9:30 – be on water

  • Optional stop & hike – Hagadone Homestead if you didn’t do it night before, McGarry Bar – Lewis and Clark campsite May 27, 1805

  • 12:00 - 1:00 - LUNCH – Greasewood Bottom (RM 109.6) or another dispersed, shady spot along the river

  • 2:00 - 4:30ish - stops and potty breaks along the way

  • 4:30ish - CAMP – Gist Bottom/Bullwacker Creek (RM 122.6)

  • 4:00-5:00 - hors d'oeuvres & cocktails

  • 6:30ish – dinner, dessert, fire, etc

  • Exploration options – John Irwin Cabin, Gist Homestead

 

Day 3 - Layover Day (if you are spending 5 days in the Badlands.

  • 7:00am – lazily drink coffee and DON’T pack up anything :-)

  • 8:00 – breakfast, prepare for a hike for those who are interested

  • BIG HIKE – Clark’s viewpoint or somewhere in between (we have found some really, really neat loop hikes that are roughly 6-7 miles and absolutely stunning)

  • Lunch on hike with snacks

  • Afternoon/evening – swim, enjoy the quite, nap, river spa day, games, early cocktail hour, etc.

  • 4:00-5:00 - hors d'oeuvres

  • 6:30ish – dinner, dessert, fire, etc.

 

Additional Information

Discounts

  • Early booking discount – 5% early off when you send a deposit prior to January 31st

  • Large group – enjoy a 5% discount when you party reaches 10 or more people

  • Returning customer - 5% discount for returning customers 

  • Kids - Children 10 or younger receive 10% off the adult trip price.

  • Veteran (active and retired service members) - 5% in honor of Robert Hartung, a best friend who served his country and left us too soon

  • Journalists - please contact us for details and arrangements

Shuttle Service

Are you flying into Great Falls? Don’t know how to get to Fort Benton? We can help.

For our guided trip folks, we can offer shuttle service for $145 each way (for the van, not per person). Thus, if there is multiple people, you can split the cost. Sometimes, renting a car and storing it at our headquarters is less expensive. Send us an email or call if you are interested in arranging a shuttle through us.

Deposit, Final Payment & Cancellation Policy,

We require a $400 deposit per person to secure your spot. We require final payment 60 days prior to the trip departure. Reservations made within 60 days of trip departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Due to the seasonal nature of our business, cancellations can prove very costly to us. However, we understand that things happen outside of our control. Refunds of monies will be given at the following rates:

  • Prior to 60 days before launch date, we will refund your deposit less 50%.

  • 60 days or less before launch date, no refunds will be given.

  • In certain circumstances, you can opt to hold credit with us for monies paid, and postpone your trip for the following summer. A $300 handling fee will be applied. The remaining funds will be applied to a trip in the future. Contact us for details.

Travel Insurance

Why is travel insurance so important?

In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.

For more information on the available plans click here or contact Travelex Insurance 800-228-9792 and reference location number 26-0056.

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The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC #22276. V94

Have questions?

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us below.