Gates of the Mountains

One attraction here in Helena, Montana is going on a guided boat tour of the Missouri River, specifically into the Gates of the Mountains area.  Just 9 miles north of us is where Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery 1804 to 1806 traveled along the Missouri.  As they entered the limestone canyon walls, Lewis remarked that they had finally entered the mountains.  But, after traveling the scenic river along the cliffs, they came back out onto flat plains for quite some time before coming to the area as we call today, Three Forks, where the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers come together. At that point they were near the headwaters of the Missouri.

Upper Holter Lake (Missouri River)

Two boats used - we got on this one, open air

The other tour boat - mostly enclosed

This area is still as pristine as it was back in 1804.  This is perpetual trust land that cannot be developed or sold.  The Hilger family purchased the land back in the mid 1800s and had a ranch at the end of the canyons where we boarded the boat, and since there were no children to pass the ranch down to, they family put it into trust.  Now there is a historical ranch located right at the marina's entrance.

Saw a number of eagles, mature and young

American White Pelican

Lots of fishing going on.  Small marina, a few homes farther south of the marina, and the federal forest land has small primitive campgrounds you can boat to and use.  The winters are pretty harsh here and the tour boat company shuts down by the third week of September.

Entering the canyons

We stopped at Colter campground for potty break

Mann Gulch fire area

Impressive limestone cliffs

Even had some arches

Our trip was 2 hours long, the captain was a retired animal control behaviourist (his term for junior high school teacher) and had captained the tour boats for the last 30 years.  Quite a knowledgeable man, gave insights on rock formations, fauna, birds we saw, and near where we turned around to come back - the history of the Mann Gulch fire which is the worst single incident of lost lives fighting wildfires.  Pretty sad.

The Missouri River is teaming with trout, bass, and many kinds of fish.  Very peaceful day on the river, watching the eagles fly overhead, seeing the fishing folks, stunning scenery.

We were to move Monday to St. Mary, east side of Glacier National Park, but there is a large wildfire and we have changed plans.  We will stay here until the 1st of August, then move to historic Fort Benton which is farther upstream on the Missouri River, more central Montana.