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White Cliffs 3, 4, or 5 Day Adventures
Trip Snapshot:
Duration: choose from a 3, 4, or 5 day adventure.
Difficulty level: Appropriate for all ages 4+
Departure location: Fort Benton, MT
Retrace the most famous and visited section of the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition into the West and experience the Upper Missouri River much like they did—undisturbed and magnificent.
Camp in actual Lewis & Clark campsites, visit tepee rings and petroglyphs and hike to spectacular off-river locations, including a slot canyon, the famed Hole in the Wall and learn about the spectacular and unique geology of this uncovered formation. Every night we read from the journals of Lewis and Clark and share stories of early homesteaders and the Native peoples who inhabited the area. Every day we canoe between 8-21 miles. We offer optional (but amazing) hikes every day ranging from a short jaunt up a hill to view tepee rings to a bit longer hike to a viewpoint or through an outstanding slot canyon.
“The hills and river Clifts which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance…. The water in the course of time in decending from those hills and plains on either side of the river has trickled down the soft sand clifts and woarn it into a thousand grotesque figures… at a distance are made to represent eligant ranges of lofty freestone buildings…. As we passed on it seemed as if those seens of visionary inchantment would never have and can, end.” - Meriwether Lewis
The difference between our 3, 4, and 5 day trips:
Many ask what difference a day can make. In very simple terms, the major difference is the pace. We offer the same hiking and explorations opportunities for both trips.
However, with only 3 days, each day is more packed with activities. With an extra day, the overall pace is much more relaxed. On the 4 day trip, the middle day is split into two days with compared to the 3 day trip. If you have limited time, the 3 day trip is perfect - at least you get to see the river! If you have time, we recommend the longer option for more time to relax, unwind and be in nature. We recommend the 4 day trip for families with younger children - the pace is very manageable and they love the hiking and swimming!
The 5 day trip includes the same itinerary as the 4 day trip but with the addition of a layover day. Although not typically on our list of scheduled trips, this option is great for private groups wanting to spend a bit more time on the river together.
Sample Itineraries
White Cliffs 3 Day Adventure
3 days is the minimum amount of time needed to paddle the 46 miles and fit in a few of the most popular hikes. The days are full and eventful: enjoy serene, peaceful paddling, and once out of the canoe, explore the magnificent and varied hiking opportunities and relax riverside. We focus on relaying the fascinating history and creating a cohesive group experience. If you are short on time, this is the perfect trip.
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Launch day! Meet at our headquarters in Fort Benton. Everyone is transported in our shuttle vans to the launch point, either Coal Banks Landing or Virgelle Ferry, about a 45 minute drive downriver. We paddle just over an hour, about 5 river miles, to a riverside lunch spot and take a jaunt up a hill to teepee rings and a fabulous overlook. After lunch, enjoy a serene and magnificent 8 mile paddle as the famed White Cliffs appear, then we arrive at camp: Eagle Creek (also Lewis and Clark Campsite May 31, 1805). Situate your personal items in your tent & refresh with a swim. When the group is ready, the guides lead everyone on the Neat Coulee hike, a stunning slot canyon. (Moderate difficulty, about 3 miles, 2 hours, relatively zero elevation gain but a few rock scrambles.) Around 5:30, enjoy hors d'oeuvres & cocktails. Gourmet dinner & dessert are served and clean up completed. Afterwards, we offer optional walks just outside camp to petroglyphs or the Expedition camp marker. When permitted, the guides will close the evening with a prudent campfire.
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Coffee is ready by 6:30am. Enjoy the sunrise and morning solace while the guides prepare a hearty, homemade breakfast. While they clean up, you pack your personal items. The guides will help tear down all the tents, load the canoes. Embark on a beautiful 8 mile paddle past the Grand Natural Wall and Citadel Rock. Take a break and optional hike (if weather permitting) to the magnificent the Hole in the Wall. Lunch is served post hiking. The afternoon paddle ranges from 14 to 17 miles broken into several chunks with breaks. Along the way, formations include, Dark Butte, Seven Sisters, Steamboat Rock and more. We typically camp at Slaughter River - Lewis and Clark Campsite May 29, 1805 & July 29, 1806. Other options are available. Once arriving at the chosen camp, swim, relax & play games. Appetizers, cocktail hour and dinner lead into a peaceful evening full of relaxation. This night is usually memorable. Walk upriver with a life jacket and float to camp, go to the Expedition marker or don a party shirt.
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Take out day. Enjoy the last morning and take it all in. The paddling distance today is roughly 12 miles, and we stop midway for a bathroom break and to stretch the legs. The White Cliffs formation slowly descends under the multi-layered shale formation and the river corridor opens into the Judith River basin as we get closer to our final destination - Judith Landing Take Out. The guides set out lunch under shade cottonwood trees while they work hard and fast to load all the gear and canoes onto our trailers. The drive back to Fort Benton is 2 hours. Once back, we unload, regroup and say our goodbyes.
Pricing & Availability
$950 per adult
$855 per child (10 and under)
Available Dates:
June 8-10
June 17-19
June 24-26
July 13-15
July 27-29
As always, if you are interested in a private trip, please contact us. We can usually accommodate any launch date request.
White Cliffs 4 Day Adventure - most popular short trip
4 days allows for the perfect balance between serene, peaceful paddling and having ample time out of the canoe to experience the magnificent and varied hiking opportunities, explore, indulge in the history, spend quality time with your fellow travelers, and, of course, relax riverside. If you’ve dreamt of seeing the White Cliffs, retracing Lewis and Clark’s expedition and bringing Undaunted Courage to life - this is the trip for you.
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Launch day! Meet at our headquarters in Fort Benton. Everyone is transported in our shuttle vans to the launch point, either Coal Banks Landing or Virgelle Ferry, about a 45 minute drive downriver. We paddle just over an hour, about 5 river miles, to a riverside lunch spot and take a jaunt up a hill to teepee rings and a fabulous overlook. After lunch, enjoy a serene and magnificent 8 mile paddle as the famed White Cliffs appear, then we arrive at camp: Eagle Creek (also Lewis and Clark Campsite May 31, 1805). All set up is complete while you relax. Around 5:30, enjoy hors d'oeuvres & cocktails. Gourmet dinner & dessert are served and clean up completed. Afterwards, explore, play games, relax, unwind. We offer optional walks just outside camp to petroglyphs or the Expedition camp marker. When permitted, the guides will close the evening with a prudent campfire.
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Coffee is ready by 6:30am. Enjoy the sunrise as the guides prepare a hearty, homemade breakfast. Afterwards, set out on a hike to the Neat Coulee slot canyon, a stunning and surprising feature in the prairie. (Moderate difficulty, about 3 miles, 2 hours, relatively zero elevation gain but a few rock scrambles) After hiking, cool off in the river while the guides set out lunch and snacks. After lunch, the guides will finish packing and load the canoes. Today’s paddle ranges from 8 miles to 13 miles and include spectacular formations: Grand Natural Wall, Citadel Rock, Hole in the Wall and Dark Butte to name a few. Bird life is abundant. There are several options for camping: Hole in the Wall (regular or dispersed) or Dark Butte. Once arriving at the chosen camp, swim, relax & play games all afternoon. Appetizers, cocktail hour and dinner lead into a peaceful evening full of relaxation.
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Coffee is ready by 6:30am. After a very short paddle downriver, you will have the option for another magnificent hike with stunning view: Hole in the Wall (Moderate difficulty, about 2 miles, 2 hours, elevation gain and rock scramble; some choose to turn around at the overlook). Following lunch and swimming, paddle between 12 to 17 miles. Along the way, formations include, Dark Butte, Seven Sisters, Steamboat Rock and more then arrive at camp #3 - Slaughter River - Lewis and Clark Campsite May 29, 1805 & July 29, 1806* There are other options for camping if needed: Flat Rock or The Wall. Once arriving at the chosen camp, swim, relax & play games all afternoon. Appetizers, cocktail hour and dinner lead into a peaceful evening full of relaxation. This night is usually memorable. Walk upriver with a life jacket and float to camp, go to the Expedition marker or don a party shirt.
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Take out day. Enjoy the last morning and take it all in. The paddling distance today is roughly 12 miles, and we stop midway for a bathroom break and to stretch the legs. The White Cliffs formation slowly descends under the multi-layered shale formation and the river corridor opens into the Judith River basin as we get closer to our final destination - Judith Landing Take Out. The guides set out lunch under shade cottonwood trees while they work hard and fast to load all the gear and canoes onto our trailers. The drive back to Fort Benton is 2 hours. Once back, we unload, regroup and say our goodbyes.
Pricing & Availability
$950 per adult
$855 per child (10 and under)
Available Dates:
May 19-23 - Private
June 4-8
June 12-15
June 18-21
June 26-29
June 27-30
July 2-5
July 9-12 - Private
July 10-13
July 16-19
July 23-26
July 30 - August 2
August 6-9
August 13-16
August 20-23
August 29 - September 1
September 3-6
September 5-8 - Private
September 10-13
As always, if you are interested in a private trip, please contact us. We can usually accommodate any launch date request.
White Cliffs 5 Day Adventure
This trip itinerary is almost identical to the 4 day trip above.
The major difference is it includes a layover day - where we stay at the same camp for two nights. The layover day is open for extensive exploring and relaxing. It is such a treat to wake up in the morning and not have to pack up anything. Although we typically don’t have any on our regular summer schedule, this trip is best for private groups who simply wish to spend more time together in this magnificent place. If you are interested in this option for your group, let us know.
Pricing & Availability
$1305 per adult
$1260 per child (10 and under)
Contact us to request a launch date
Reservation Information
Deposit and Cancellation Policy
We require a 25% 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. We accept check or you can conveniently and seamlessly book online.
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 50% of your deposit.
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 a 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.
Discounts Available
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 R. Hartung, best friend
Journalists - please contact us for details and arrangements
What We Provide
Equipment supplied by Upper Missouri River Canoe Guides
Wenonah fiberglass and Kevlar canoes with paddles (12 oz. carbon fiber bent shaft). Read more about our high-end gear and equipment - definitely the best on the river!
Canoe backrests
Life jackets
Waterproof dry bags sufficient to carry all of your gear (multiple sizes, large and small)
Tent - varying sizes & capacities (we will coordinate sleeping arrangements)
Inflatable extra thick ThermaRest sleeping mattress
Complete camp kitchen, including chairs and tables, utensils, etc.
Large waterproof tent to cover dining area
First aid kit
Gear Boat (on most trips)
Food: 3 meals per day starting with lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, including ALL cooking and clean up. Varying snacks throughout the days. Browse our sample menu
A cooler of locally-crafted beer
Drinking water, juice, iced tea, lemonade, Gatorade, coffee, hot chocolate, tea
Drinking ice: multiple coolers of drinking ice for beverages and cocktails. We encourage you to bring any and all beverages you prefer.
We bring multiple reference books, including the only comprehensive mile-by-mile history digest authored by us. We also bring games appropriate for adults and kids!
In Addition
Advice and logistics assistance throughout the planning process
Detailed preparation and packing list
Consistent and reliable communication for everyone in your group
Pre-trip meeting then night before Launch (not mandatory). We meet at the Grand Union Hotel (or another convenient location depending on where you are staying). During this meeting, we will do introductions, give you dry bags and instruction on packing them efficiently, answer any last minute questions you might have, establish a time to meet at our headquarters the next morning and offer a brief safety talk.
Logistics and Planning
We recommend you stay in Fort Benton the night before the trip. Great Falls is also an option.
Night before Launch - 5:00pm - (not mandatory) Attend our pre-trip meeting at the Grand Union Hotel. We will do introductions, give you dry bags and instruction on packing them efficiently, answer any last minute questions you might have, establish a time to meet at our headquarters the next morning and offer a brief safety talk.
Launch Day - 7:30-8:00am - We meet at our headquarters at 2210 Main St. You can park your car safely and securely outside our shop and leave any valuables or heat sensitive electronics in our locked shop as well. After we finish packing up, we hit the road. For the White Cliffs, the launch point is Coal Banks Landing (45 minute drive).
Take-out - It never fails to be a reluctant endeavor, but all good things must come to an end. We meet our shuttle vans at the take out around noon and typically arrive back at our headquarters between 3-4 o’clock. Thus, we recommend you stay in Fort Benton or Great Falls this night.
For the White Cliffs, the take out location is Judith Landing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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You provide the following:
Your personal clothes and gear (reference our comprehensive list when packing)
Sleeping bag (you can rent a clean, lightweight bag for $30 if absolutely necessary)
Pillow
Sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.
Optional snacks, beverages and alcohol
Gratuity for the hard working guides: We recommend the following gratuity guideline: $15 - $25 per person per guide per day. But, any amount is appreciated and welcomed
Additional considerations:
Travel Insurance - For your convenience, we work with Travelex Insurance Services to provide plans to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Inquire for information.
Shuttle to and from the airport - flying in and don’t want to rent a car? Contact us for current pricing and scheduling information.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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
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We will provide a gourmet lunch (locally sourced or food from our own garden or that we foraged, hunted or fished), snacks and beverages including, cold water, iced tea/lemonade & seltzer water. We can loan you a cooler and provide ice if you wish to bring additional beverages. Browse our sample menu page and get hungry for our amazing food.
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NO WAY! We have guided folks from age 2–90 years old. There are no rapids, and this canoe trip is accessible to all ages and ability levels. Beginner paddler? No problem. We will offer expert paddling guidance on and off the water.
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We primarily use double canoes and folks will be split according to their travel companions. We have 3 and 4 seater canoes for families with children. If there are is an odd number, someone will be with a guide. We take the canoe configuration seriously and factor in the composition of the group. Solo? Good for you! You will most likely be in a canoe with a guide (not a stranger).
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During the day, we stop regularly to stretch our legs and offer potty breaks. The guides carry supplies and take care to make everyone comfortable. We generally camp at 1-3 sites that have normal pit toilets, depending on the itinerary. If we decide to camp at a site that does not have an established pit toilet, you will have the pleasure of enjoying a ‘toilet’ system erected by the guides. We find a private, gorgeous location away from camp, erect a privacy tent and set up a toilet (a five gallon bucket with a regular toilet seat fitted to the top) - otherwise known in river language as ‘the groover.’
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We do not offer formal showers, but most folks choose to bath in the river. Biodegradable soap is recommended. Please pack all items you need on a regular basis.
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Relaxing in camp is a wonderful choice also. The guides will provide a thorough overview of what to expect, duration and difficulty of each hike so you can opt in or out. On most hikes, you can simply go part of the way and turn around and head back to camp to relax.
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In short, no. This canoe trip takes us deep into the remote prairie of North central Montana. Consider this a wilderness adventure. There is no place to plug in a device to charge it. The guides generally bring a small solar charger which you can utilize. We recommend you consider purchasing a small solar charger and battery bank. If you primarily use your smart phone for pictures, put your phone on airplane mode right away (you should anyway because there is no cell phone reception), and your battery should last 3-4 days or more. We recommend you embrace the lack of connection :-)
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No! In the spring (May and June), we do encounter mosquitos in the early morning and evening, but the annoyance is nothing a little bit of bug spray can’t handle. Towards late July and August, we find ourselves dealing with an increased fly population, but again, they are more of an annoyance. We recommend you bring along a s
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This trip takes you through the grassland prairie of north central Montana. During the main paddling season the weather is typically hot and sunny; temperatures in the 90’s are common, but fortunately humidity is very low. Evening temperatures are normally in the 40’s and 50’s.
June is a terrific month - everything is green, the flowers are blooming, the river is flowing a bit faster, and there is generally less river traffic. However, the weather can be unpredictable during Spring. Rain is likely and expect to experience the infamous and tenacious Missouri River mud.
July and August are incredibly reliable as far as weather is concerned. It is mostly hot with long days, virtually no bugs, and a bit more river traffic. The heat may be a challenge for some, but also enjoy the opportunity to swim often in the shallow and refreshing river.
September brings the nostalgia of fall colors, warm days, cool nights and generally less people, and, again, chance of intermittent inclement weather.
Have additional questions?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us below.
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The Upper Missouri River Guides Difference
Ready to plan your Upper Missouri
River adventure?
Use the link below, email us (info@uppermissouri.com), call or text (406-616-2001)