Preparing and Packing for a Canoe Trip
Montana’s Upper Missouri River is a wilderness canoe adventure taking you into the heart of central Montana by way of a mild, meandering river. Relish in the chance to escape the doldrums of everyday life, disconnect from digital connectivity and relax with no other duties than paddling, rolling out your sleeping bag and enjoying yourself! That being said, the river is not a dangerous place for individuals who are prepared – both physically and with proper equipment. Montana is also famous for its weather variations, and your equipment, which you carry in your canoe, plays a pivotal role in ensuring you pass through the entire trip, regardless of Mother Nature, in comfort and safety.
Physical Preparation
You should be in reasonably good physical condition. An average day on the Upper Missouri will involve paddling 12-25 miles. The current is slow, thus downriver progress hinges on your ability to also paddle most of the time interspersed with short periods of drifting rest and snack and hydration breaks. We generally say: we paddle at a pace in which you can still take pictures. Of course, weather and wind can necessitate stronger paddling, but this adventure is certainly appropriate for all ages and ability levels. The guides will also offer continual paddling instruction.
Weather Conditions
May and June in Montana can be very unpredictable in terms of weather. We might experience rain and sunshine, cooler and warmer temperatures at varying times throughout the day or trip. One thing is for sure, the river water might be a bit chilly. Especially for May and early June trips, consider purchasing Neoprene socks or gloves. We will still need to wade in the water, and thus the feet tend to be chilly at times. Neoprene socks come in varying thicknesses and can be worn with river shoes or sandals and make a significant difference in deflecting the wind and holding in the heat for our precious digits. Gloves are also very nice to keep your hands warm. In terms of clothing, bring layers. There is plenty of room in the canoe, and best-case scenario, your extra warm layers live in the bottom of your dry bag and you never have to use them! In short, come prepared for anything and the more the merrier.
July and August on the Upper Missouri River is generally hot and dry. Of course, come prepared for anything, but less is definitely more. Clothes dry quickly and can be worn several times. Bathing suits/clothes are a must, as we swim often to keep cool and enjoy the lazy river.
September brings us back to ‘be ready for anything.’ (Oh how we hate how short summer is!)
River Conditions
The entire length of the Upper Missouri that lies within the wild and scenic designation area is classified as a Class One river, which means that there are no rapids, and the river is generally free from hazards. The riverbanks are typically composed of soil and vegetation, and some places can be muddy.
The current flows about 3-5 miles per hour and is usually strongest in early summer and diminishes somewhat by mid-July. The water temperature is usually warm enough for swimming by late June.
Equipment & What to Bring
Equipment supplied by Upper Missouri River Canoe Guides
Wenonah fiberglass and Kevlar canoes with paddles (12 oz. carbon fiber bent shaft)
Canoe backrests
Life jacket
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)
Read more about our high-end gear and equipment - definitely the best on the river! Also, we discuss our safety protocols and emergency plans on this page.
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*
Drinking water, juice, iced tea, lemonade, Gatorade
Read more about our love of food and browse our sample menu - we can’t wait to cook for your and nourish your adventure.
*Snacks - folks often bring snacks, you are always free to do so. Keep in mind, no one has EVER gone hungry on one of our trips…
Essential equipment you SHOULD bring
Sleeping bag & pillow
Quality rain gear, such as Gore-Tex pants and jacket, or rubberized nylon rain suit
Hat – wide brim offer sun protection
Warm jacket – fleece or wool
Clothes: socks, shirts, long (lightweight) hiking pants, shorts and t-shirts
Sun blocking clothes: long-sleeve shirt and pants, light colored cotton (if you like to minimize sun exposure)
Layers - extra shirts, lightweight coats, long underwear, vests are all a great idea!
River sandals or shoes (prepare to get them wet) - see below for more info
Quality sun glasses (extra pair recommended) and croakies
Hiking shoes – lightweight
Lightweight leather gloves – to prevent paddling blisters
Personal first aid kit, including meds
Personal hygiene kit (don’t forget chapstick!)
Hand & body lotion - essential for the dry Montana air
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Drinking water bottle (1.5 L) - preferably NOT a clear Nalgene (the water gets warm) - insulated is better, such as a Hydroflask or other version
Small day pack for hiking (usually just to carry water bottle, sunscreen, camera, etc)
Headlamp, extra batteries. We also love the inflatable, solar powered lanterns
Towel – (we usually just air dry but some folks like to have a towel after swimming)
Remember less is more! But, we also want you to be as comfortable as possible. Bring a regular size pillow (don’t settle for those inflatable or small camping pillows or resort to stuffing your extra clothes in your sleeping bag stuff sack). There is plenty of room for your favorite pillow.
Pro tip #1: I always bring an old bed sheet. Sometimes the sleeping bag is too hot, but you still want a little covering. And it’s a nice option for a layer between you and the Thermarest mattress.
Pro tip #2 & #3: Wet wipes & ear plugs (no explanation necessary!)
Optional equipment
Camera** (consider a waterproof case or bag) - we will provide smaller dry bags for your day use, but redundancy is never a bad thing.
Binoculars
Nature guidebooks, diary
Lightweight sandals for camp (to get out of your wet shoes)
Compact, small games
Alcohol and/or non-alcoholic beverages
Electricity: There are zero opportunities once we leave Fort Benton to charge devices. Consider packing extra batteries for longer trips or if you are an avid picture-taker. These days, many folks like to use their phones for pictures. This is also a great option. If you put your phone on airplane mode immediately when we leave, it should last for quite a while. For either: (1) consider a way to ‘tether’ it to you, perhaps with a ‘lease’ of some sort (electronic devices falling into the river is always a sad, sad outcome and (2) consider purchasing a small solar panel to recharge your device. These can be very inexpensive and really help to alleviate any stress with regards to conserving battery life. They are just handy things to own.
A note about rain gear: Perhaps the most important piece of equipment that you will need to provide for yourself is quality rain gear. We personally use full Gore-Tex suits, including a lightweight jacket and full-length pants. We do not recommend ponchos, since the wind can get under them and leave a person wet and cold. For trips late June-August, the temperatures can be very warm. In the event of rain, it will still be warm, therefore, lightweight jacket and pants are much preferred to a heavy, rubberized set.
For May-late June or September trips, the temperatures can drop into the forties. You may consider a rubberized nylon rain suit, consisting of jacket and pants, which is totally waterproof, however, water repellent is sufficient. These are available at most sporting goods stores, online or you can rent these from us (please give us advanced notice.) It is likely that you will not experience rainy weather on the trip, but if you do, dependable rain gear can provide you with protection needed to keep you comfortable and dry!
A note about footwear: One thing that is certain on a river trip is that your feet will get wet and muddy! When launching and landing canoes, it is necessary to wade into the river, which is often muddy, in order to avoid damaging the bottom of the canoe that can be caused by dragging the hull over rocks and gravel. You should bring footwear that can be soaked several times a day and stay on your feet if you were to step into the often deep and always infamous Missouri River Mud (Crocks are not appropriate for river shoes). River sandals are also a good choice but offer less support than a shoe. Popular brands are Keens and Chacos. For hiking off-river and for evenings in camp, you should bring a lightweight hiking boot or tennis shoe.
A note about alcohol: We do not supply alcoholic beverages, but you are welcome to bring your own (and the guides usually like to share). If you are not a drinker, no problem at all. Also, if you enjoy libations, but aren’t sure if it is a necessary and integral part of your experience - I have to say, an ice cold cocktail along the river bank after a long day of sun and fun is pretty hard to beat… just food for thought. If you wish to bring beer, we can provide a small cooler with ice. Please let us know ahead of time. (Note, if you are on a 6 or 7 day trip, we can also resupply your beer halfway through. Also, large quantities of beer are heavy and hard to keep cold on hot days… so plan to consume or share if the ice melts :-) We do recommend spirits - easy to carry, don’t have to keep cold and lots of bang for your buck. Boxed wine is also a fabulous option. We will provide plenty of ice to make mixed drinks for cocktail hour for the entire trip.
Other beverages: We will provide all the drinking water that we need for the trip, as well as ice to make chilled beverages. In camp, we will serve ice cold non-alcoholic beverages to quench your thirst, including 100% fruit juice, iced tea, lemonade and pitchers of water. In the mornings, we will serve fresh brewed coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Note: if you have a non-alcoholic beverage you prefer (bubbly water, soda, etc.), please consider bringing them along. We will help find a place to pack them – either in a rubber food box or other appropriate container. It is nearly impossible to gather/predict everyone’s preferences when it comes to ‘other beverages,’ so if there is something you like to drink daily, please bring it. These beverages do not need to be cold since we provide drinking ice when we arrive at camp.
A note about gratuity: Our guides work hard to ensure your trip is safe, memorable and fun. They, of course, appreciate your generosity with regards to gratuity. Unless otherwise specified, all tips are split evenly. We recommend the following gratuity guideline: $15 - $25 per person per guide per day. But, any amount is appreciated and welcomed.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Montana’s Upper Missouri River is a wilderness canoe trip. Most of the river is inaccessible to rapid emergency services, and cell phone communication is unavailable in most locations on the river. Rescues are staged by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management using jet-boats or helicopter, and evacuations may take up to a full day.
We carry a Garmin In-Reach. This device utilizes satellite technology. We can check the weather, communicate via text with anyone and, of course, contact emergency personnel. Our guides are trained to handle any medical or emergency situation. Rest assured, this trip is very safe. However, due to its very remote location, we are always cautious, safe and exercise a high level of due diligence to make your trip safe, fun and enjoyable.
We will not use the above device for anything other than emergencies. If your participation in this trip hinges on you being in contact with the outside world, please consider purchasing and bringing an appropriate device such as a Garmin, satellite phone, etc.
Emergency contact information:
Before leaving home, you may want to leave the following contact numbers with your family in the event that they need to reach you in an emergency.
We will regularly have someone answering our phone – please encourage people to call us first: 406-616-2001.
Chouteau County Sheriff’s Department
Fort Benton, MT
406.622.1900
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Lewistown, MT
406.538.1900
If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to meeting you,
Upper Missouri River Canoe Guides