Upper Missouri River Guides

A Short Introduction To Our Guide Service

Montana's Upper Missouri is one of  the premier canoe trips in the United States, and the most unspoiled segment of the entire Lewis & Clark Trail. The river corridor is a 149 mile wilderness and most trips on the river involve one to several nights of camping. The Upper Missouri is blessed with outstanding scenery, spectacular geology, and abundant wildlife. A Class One river, with no rapids, it can be canoed by beginner-level  paddlers, including children. Since 1994 our family operated business has guided hundreds of clients on the Upper Missouri, including families, groups of friends, and business retreats. We have authored and published the only available guidebook for the Upper Missouri. Our all-inclusive guided trips provide you with all of the equipment and amenities to enjoy the Upper Missouri to its fullest, including:

• High-tech, top of the line Wenonah canoes of fiberglass and Kevlar construction. They are unquestionably the lightest, safest, and fastest canoes on the river, and Upper Missouri River Guides is the only outfitter offering them. Their high-tech design significantly reduce paddling effort, getting you down the river with fewer paddling strokes and less energy expended. Mass-produced aluminum and plastic canoes  simply don't compare with the performance, comfort,  and quality of these hand-built craft.  

• Carbon fiber paddles weighing 12 ounces. They virtually eliminate upper body fatigue during a day of paddling.

• Cascade Designs dry bags to protect  your personal gear such as sleeping bag, clothing, and camera.

• Complete camping setup consisting of Sierra Designs tents, Therma-Rest mattresses, dining tables, and chairs.

• Three hearty and nutritious meals prepared on the river from fresh ingredients.

• Local transportation in air-conditioned vans.

• Experienced guides to provide you with assurance of a safe, interesting, and adventurous trip that will be memorable for your group. Our owner-guides  Glenn Monahan  (click for biography) and Brett Burglund, specialize in the river's history, geology, and ecology.  Our trips include a number of hikes to spectacular and interesting off-river locations. 

We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to serve you. Thanks!

Guided Trip Planning

Please look at the following links to help you plan your trip:
  

The Upper Missouri is divided into three major segments, each possessing uniquely different scenery, and differences in the wildlife, geology, historical features, and hiking opportunities. This link provides descriptions of each river segment to help you decide what part of the river you'd like to canoe.

Our canoes are the best on the Upper Missouri; they are fast, stable, seaworthy, and spacious. Our carbon fiber paddles weigh an incredible 12 ounces. This link showcases our equipment, and provides information on preparing for an Upper Missouri canoe trip.

All of our trips include three hearty and nutritious meals per day. We use high-tech coolers to transport lots of fresh foods and delicious entrees. We will cater to requests, such as vegetarian diets. Check out our sample menu.

A listing of "things to do" in Central Montana, including Lewis and Clark sites, museums, and recreational opportunities. Also hotel and motel accommodations, some offering discounts for our clients.