The South Fork of the Flathead is one of the premier west slope cutthroat fisheries in the world. It also just happens to have one of the most unique and exciting Montana whitewater runs you will ever experience. Add to this 4 days of spectacular hiking through the Scapegoat and Bob Marshall Wilderness Areas and you get one of the best all around trips anywhere in the world! Since the only access is by foot or horse, this beautiful drainage has a real backcountry feel. No wonder its a guide favorite! Your 8 days on the South Fork will begin with four days of hiking to reach the river. You have the option of being a real do-it -yourselfer and backpacking, or letting the horses carry your gear so you can travel light. We will cover around 6 to 10 miles a day through some very beautiful country, with the option to summit a peak for the go-getters. We eventually arrive at the cool clean waters of the South Fork. The horses will drop off the boating gear and in the morning we will begin our float. For the first two days the river will meander lazily through a broad valley. We will have lots of time to stop and fish for the abundant cutthroat (on one trip last summer three people fishing the same hole caught 20 fish each in under an hour!). We will also take the opportunity to explore some of the beautiful Ponderosa parks that line the river. These flat benches have majestic Ponderosa Pines scattered across grassy fields that are often full of wildflowers. On the third day of the float, we enter Meadow Creek Gorge and the character of the river will change dramatically. For six miles the river crashes through a limestone gorge that creates a series of class III to V rapids that are a little different from most whitewater rafting. Its only one day of whitewater, buts its enough adrenaline for the whole trip! The gorge is so narrow that we use only paddle boats on this river. That night we will celebrate our adventures around the campfire. The next morning we will have a casual float out with some good fishing from the boats. We will take out mid-afternoon and drive back to Kalispell for a group farewell dinner.
