The Marias River is a very secluded river that is unmapped and uncharted. It goes through some of the most magnificent scenery. This river doesn’t have designated campgrounds and gives you the true wilderness feel. It reminds us of what the Missouri River Breaks National Monument used to be like. The Marias has rich Blackfeet history and it is a culturally significant river. During this trip you will see towering white cliffs, teepee ring villages, bison jumps, lush cottonwood groves, wildlife and much more. History on the Marias includes: native stories, the Marias Massacre, Bison pits, Corps of Discovery, homesteading and much more.
The Marias River is for return customers or experienced paddlers only. We can only offer 2 Marias trips a year and return customers take precedence. Due to water levels, the Marias River is a spring trip only.
Please note that our schedule is subject to change. The river Miles and hikes are a rough schedule. We pick campsites and hikes according to weather, river traffic and group preferences.
Itinerary
Day 1:
We will start our journey at 8:30 in Fort Benton. From there we will shuttle you about an hour and half to the put-in location. While boats are getting loaded you will have a brief safety talk and paddling instructions. On your first day take your time learning how to navigate your boat and get to know fellow journeymen and journeywoman. On this day you will see Marias River White Cliffs similar to that on the Missouri, hear stories, enjoy off the beaten path hikes and camp at non-designated campsites.
Day 2:
You will spend a lot of time hiking and paddling. We will hike above the river corridor to explore an old teepee ring village. We will also look at the geological layers of the Marias River. We will camp on an undesignated camping area and there will be plenty of time to hike and explore around camp.
Day 3:
You will hear Native American history and explore a Bison pit. The bison pit is completely unaltered and is a magnificent sight to behold. Bison bones extend upward and downward into the water to depths unknown. Camping will be on non-designated campsites.
Day 4:
This will be your last day on the river. On this day you will enjoy river stories, and “flotillas”. You will be getting off the river anywhere between 12-1. Lunch will be served and waiting you. After lunch we will load the vans and start our journey back to Fort Benton (arrival 2:00-3:00)
2023 Available Dates:
June 1-4 (Limited Space)
June 6-9 (Private)
More Information
We are happy to customize trips to your schedule. For inquiry on certain dates that are not listed, please Contact us!
Want a Private or Specialty Trip for your group? Please refer to our Private and Specialty Trip page.
What is our cancellation policy? Check it out in our Policies and Procedures .
