Recreation 



The Montana Rivers Study inventoried the recreational 

 attributes and values of 118 river segments in the lower Clark 

 Fork drainage--about 1,350 miles of river, or 11 percent of the 

 12,528 miles studied. Managers and recreational river users rated 

 just three percent of the drainage's river miles as Class I 

 (Outstanding), 23 percent as Class II (Substantial), 49 percent as 

 Class III (Moderate) and 23 percent as Class IV (Limited) (Table 

 30) . 



The two most frequently given reasons for proposing that a 

 river be placed in a certain value class (but each comprising only 

 seven percent of the number of responses) were good fishing on the 

 positive side, and, on the negative side, that limited 

 recreational opportunities were present. These were followed 

 closely by comments on good hunting, the small size and 

 intermittent flows of some inventory streams, and scenic quality. 

 Recreational use was heavy on just eight percent of the river 

 miles, moderate on 45 percent, and low on 26 percent, relatively 

 low levels of use compared to other western Montana drainages. 



Scenic quality was rated as Substantial to Outstanding on only 

 three percent of this region's river miles, likely a reflection of 

 conflicting resource uses. Forty-five percent of the river miles 

 were thought to have moderate or lower scenic quality. Notable 

 exceptions were rivers having views of the Mission, Bitterroot, 

 and Cabinet mountain ranges. 



About 35 percent of the region's river miles provided 

 opportunities for semi-primitive or primitive recreation 

 experiences, lower than other less-developed drainages. Nearly all 

 of these miles were semi-primitive, with only one percent of the 

 segments rated as providing primitive recreation opportunities. 

 Access was rated as abundant for 39 percent of the river miles. 

 Although the drainage contained 11 percent of the inventoried 

 river miles, it had 27 percent of the mileage having abundant 

 access . 



Picnicking, viewing scenery, tent camping, and non-motorized 

 trail use were the most popular land-based recreational 

 activities. Fishing from shore was by far the most common water- 

 based activity, taking place on 61 percent of the stream segments 

 studied and a primary activity on 42 percent. Boat fishing, 

 however, was a main activity on 17 percent of the segments. 

 Rafting, kayaking, and canoeing were each a primary activity on 13 

 percent of the segments. 



An abundant spectrum of recreational opportunities exist in 

 the lower Clark Fork, from 169 miles of flat water to 109 miles of 

 moderate rapids to 37 miles of major rapids--half of the state's 

 supply of big water. Much of this lies in the Clark Fork as it 

 crashes through Alberton Gorge between Alberton and Tarkio, a 



74 



