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Lewis and Clark Canoe Voyage
Montana
USA
Paddle the Lewis and Clark Trail National Historic Trail
Our canoeing vacations on the Upper Missouri are adventures rich in learning and discovery. For if rivers could talk, the Missouri would tell a story few other rivers could match. Upon its waters and banks was played the drama of every major theme of people’s history on the Western Plains - the Indian cultures, white man’s exploration, the fur trade, gold fever, the steamboat era, the collision of white expansion with the Indian’s last stronghold and the resultant military occupation, and ἀnally, the establishment of permanent white settlements, the range-cattle industry and farming. To help everyone learn about these themes in a fun, informative manner most departures are designated as “Journeys of Discovery” and are accompanied by talented authors and historians with specialized knowledge of the area and Lewis and Clark. This fact alone sets our Missouri River canoe trips a world apart from all others. For an astounding canoe trip grab a paddle and board one of our 34’ voyageur canoes to travel the waters that Lewis and Clark paddled some 200 years ago. We also offer smaller 17’ canoes for those preferring this option.
As you paddle, hike and explore, the adventure of the Corps of Discovery comes alive. You visit several of the camps where Lewis and Clark stayed, marvel at ancient rock art, Indian tipi rings and ramble around long- abandoned homesteads where empty corrals, tool sheds and cabins seem as if the pioneering souls left only yesterday. This trip offers an intimate visit to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, so designated to protect this spectacular ecosystem and its rich historic legacy. Our big canoes, replicating those of the early fur traders, make the perfect platform for spinning yarns as we ᴀoat downstream. From our launch at Coal Banks Landing, the river carries us from a wide, meandering valley into the famous White Cliffs area – a deep, rugged gorge where steep, eroded cliffs reach a depth of nearly a thousand feet and reveal ten million years of geologic history. Wind and water have eroded the dazzling white sandstone and created massive rock crags and magical castles that loom above the river. A storybook of geology unfolds as we continue down-stream to the Missouri River Breaks. Summer days are typically hot and dry and the cool river water welcomes swimmers. We set up our luxury camps on the river’s bank while golden eagles, hawks and falcons soar above. Cottonwood, juniper and pine grow along with sagebrush, cactus and wildflowers, providing food and shelter for beaver, prairie dogs, antelope, deer, elk and big horn sheep. The smooth and pleasant current makes this a trip anyone in reasonable physical condition can enjoy and is also a great family vacation for paddlers age ἀve and up. Our 34’ canoes each carry up to 14 paddlers and two talented guides.
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Family Vacation
Canoeing Vacation
Trip with multi activities
Meeting:
Great Falls
Airport:
Great Falls
Transfer:
Great Falls
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Rates include:
First and last night hotel accommodations, 4 nights luxury camping overnights, all meals during trip including farewell dinner on Day 6, guest historian with 10+ participants
Tax:
5
%
Transfer and Other Options:
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2013
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Transfer from Great Falls airport is included via hotel shuttle
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Rates do not include:
Meals on Day 1
For people of all ages interested in Lewis and Clark, this trip offers the ultimate experience: an excursion through the Missouri River’s Wild and Scenic White Cliffs area. It is a journey of stunning beauty that puts you in the explorers’ moccasins–but with the kinds of high-quality treatment that Lewis & Clark could only envy.”
Day 1 – Travel from your home to Great Falls, Montana. We recommend you arrive early enough in the day to allow time to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. In the evening, meet with the Team Leader at the hotel at 7:30 PM for a one-hour orientation meeting to answer any last-minute questions and give you your waterproof bags to pack. Dinner is on your own at a nearby restaurant.
Day 2 – Meet your Team Leader at 7:30 AM and board our bus for a two-hour ride to the canoeing trip launch point. Along the way we stop for a brief visit to Montana’s ἀrst town, Fort Benton, originally established as a fur-trading post. From here we continue to “Decision Point” at the conᴀuence of the Missouri and Marias rivers. A tributary to the Missouri that Lewis and Clark had heard nothing about, they spent over a week here deciding which river was in fact the Missouri. After learning about this fascinating chapter, we proceed on to Coal Banks Landing where our canoes and cargo raft are waiting. Once at the river our staff prepares you with a thorough safety orientation while your per-sonal gear is loaded onto our cargo raft. This orientation provides instruction on how to ride in a canoe, how to paddle and other tips to prepare you for the days ahead. Once this is complete, everyone chooses a canoe, and climbs aboard. The Upper Missouri River has smooth water and a current averaging about two miles an hour. After paddling a few miles, we stop for lunch. Our delicious riverside lunches are smorgasbord affairs. While some of the guides set up lunch, another will give you a “camp orientation” talk to explain how we minimize our impact on the river, where to wash up, how the toilet system works, where to brush teeth, place trash, etc. Then it’s time to make a sandwich and enjoy the open-air dining experience. Summer weather is typically hot and dry, with day-time temperatures in the 80’s and 90’s and nights in the 50’s and low 60’s. (Early and late summer is cooler.) We resume our downriver travel after lunch, stopping for a short hike to an Indian site of interest. We travel between 8 and 11 miles the first day and arrive at camp around 4:00 PM. After you carry your personal gear to the tent of your choice, enjoy free time for swimming, hiking, reading or just relaxing. Hors d’oeuvres are served around 6:00 fol-lowed by dinner around 7:30. After dinner a campἀre is lit and an evening of laughter and sharing begins.
Day 3 – We wake you around 7:00 AM with the smell of fresh-brewed coffee.Breakfast is served around 7:30 and while we clean up the kitchen you pack up your personal gear. The canoes and cargo raft are loaded and we depart from camp about 9:30 for an adventure- packed day of canoeing, great Western scenery and fun. Soon we arrive at Eagle Creek where Lewis and Clark camped on the night of May 31, 1805. We spend several hours hiking in the vicinity of Eagle Creek and Neat Coulee, viewing the alcoves, amphitheaters and sandstone cathedrals of the White Cliffs. Meriwether Lewis was much taken by this area and we read some of the quotes from his journals. Across the river is La-Barge Rock, named after one of the most famous steamboat pilots on the Mis-souri. This is the land of the Blackfeet Indi-ans and as we travel we learn about their culture and their role in the early fur trade. During the Lewis and Clark Expedition Lewis had an encounter with a Blackfeet party along the Marias River that re-sulted with the death of two Indians and Lewis riding fast to get out of their territory. After lunch we paddle downstream pass-ing Citadel Rock, a massive igneous intrusion immortalized by German Prince Maximilian’s artist Karl Bodmer in 1833. (See the book “Karl Bodmer’s America”.) The Missouri has cut a veritable storybook of geology through this ancient seabed of sedimentary rock. Later on massive quantities of magma rose great depths along faults and invaded the upper rock layers and solidified. In places the igneous rock has “capped” the softer sandstone and the subsequent erosion has created hoodoos and other fascinating for- mations. We arrive in camp by 4:00 PM with plenty of time to hike to the “Hole-in-the-Wall,” swim and relax. After dinner and the evening campἀre, watch for a glorious star-studded sky.
Day 4 – We proceed on the mighty Missouri, at times paddling and other times just drifting with the gentle current. The impressive landmarks of Steamboat Rock and Dark Butte loom on the horizon. We pass the May 30, 1805 camp of Lewis and Clark. They stopped here after a miserable, rainy day on which they only made 5.4 miles. We stop at one or two pioneer homesteads and imagine life 100 years ago. Eagles soar over-head. In the late after-noon we pass Slaughter River where Lewis and Clark camped on both their upstream and downstream journeys. It’s a satisfying day of history, paddling and nature. Tonight’s camp is within walking distance of a prairie dog town and with binoculars and a spotting scope we can observe their antics and social behavior. Enjoy another night of camarade-rie and sharing.
Day 5 - As we float today we hear the re-markable Indian legend about Arrow River as told in James Willard Shultz’s book “Floating on the Missouri” written in 1902 as a series for Field and Stream Magazine. The river canyon widens and we float through the Judith Basin, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. We learn about Fort Chardon, a trading post in the area from 1844-45, the negotiations of 1846 between Father Pierre Jean DeSmet and the Flathead-Blackfeet In-dians, the 1855 Isaac Stevens Treaty, and the ἀrst military post in Montana, Camp Cooke, which existed from 1866-1870. As we float downstream from the Judith basin we enter the Missouri River Breaks and a completely new landscape and geology. Tonight’s camp features a superb mud bath, excellent hiking opportunities and is our last night on the river.
Day 6 – You may hike downstream a mile, or float, to the Hagadone Homestead where we explore old horse-drawn farm imple-ments, the original homestead cabin built in 1917 and pioneer life. Like many of the early settlers along the river, the difficult conditions and marginal farm land eventually proved uneconomical and the BLM purchased the land to be forever preserved in the Wild and Scenic River corridor. After floating a few more miles we stop for lunch, then continue to our take-out point at the Stafford/McClel-land Ferry, arriving around 2:00 PM. We carry personal gear to the waiting bus and climb aboard for a three- hour drive back to Great Falls. Enjoy a hot shower and change of clothes and then meet your guides for a hosted dinner at a local restaurant around 7:00 PM.
Day 7 – If you drove to Great Falls your car is patiently waiting for you. If you are flying, take the hotel shuttle 10 minutes to the Great Falls airport.
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Meeting:
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Great Falls
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Airport:
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Great Falls
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Transfer:
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Great Falls
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Level:
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 Easy to Moderate
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Class I. Flat water, smooth current - 5 canoeing days
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Participants:
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Min
6
participants
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Max
28
participants
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When to go?
We offer these trips from June to September. July and August are the most popular months as the weather is generally hot and dry with ideal camping conditions. The river is busier during this time with other paddlers (expect to see three to eight other groups each day). In June the weather is less predictable, yet generally very nice. Higher water creates a swifter current, which allows for more time on shore for hiking and exploring. From mid-August on through Septem-ber it is a wonderful time to be on the water as few other people are around, trees are beginning to show their autumn colors and the air is cooler.
Canoeing: Class I. Flat water, smooth current
Wildlife: Prairie dogs, beaver, antelope, big horn sheep, deer, golden eagles, hawks, falcons and songbirds..
Cultural History: Indian rock art and tipi rings; pioneer homesteads; best-preserved section of the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Other Highlights: Trips are accompanied by guest historians (with 10+ participants); incredible hiking Explore the famous White Cliffs; Learn about the Great Plains ecosystem; classic “Big Sky”Montana scenery; warm swimming water.
Cargo boat travels ahead and sets up camp including your tent.
See the White Cliffs and the Missouri River Breaks.
Your choice of paddling in a 34’ Voyageur Canoe, or smaller 17’ canoe.
Guides: There is no question that on any trip, the guides are the most important factor in terms of your safety, enjoyment and ultimately, the success of the trip. For this reason each of our guides is an exceptional person, willing and eager to share, teach, listen, learn, laugh, play, discuss, and above all, work hard to provide you with a safe, relaxed, spontaneous adventure. With one guide per four to five guests, you’re sure to get the attention you deserve. In order to provide you with the richest experience possible, we divide ourselves into meal crews, meaning that while two guides are preparing dinner, the other two or three guides are free to spend time with you. To go hiking with you, help identify ᴀowers or trees, give you a lesson in Dutch oven cooking, or just sit and visit. They are the main reason many of our guests return to us time and time again and wouldn’t even think of traveling with another river company.
Guest Historian: We have gathered a talented cadre of noted authors and historians who accompany or trips. Please note that guest historians are guaranteed only on those trips with 10 or more paid guests. Past historians have included authors Gary Moulton, Landon Jones, Ella Mae Howard, David Peck, Verne Huser, Stuart Weir, etc.
Beyond the River: One of the reasons that the Missouri is such a fabulous trip is the incred-ible variety of things to do and see along the way. We make a point of stopping and taking advantage of as many of these things as we can. As we float we tell you about the early pioneers who lived here and we stop to hike to at least one of their old homestead cabins. We talk about the Indians and take you to at least one of their encampments. We plan our trip so that there’s plenty of time for these explorations. Not only do we show you these places, but also we help you understand them better. If you’re interested, we’ll tell you about the geology, plants and animals. We believe strongly that deepening understanding builds greater ap-preciation And we’re hoping our love of this canyon will be contagious.
Your Choice of Craft:
In addition to the “camp boat” that carries all the camping gear, we use two other kinds of river craft. We are proud to be the ἀrst outἀtter on the Missouri to have introduced voyageur canoes, which replicate the experience of the early fur-traders. These canoes are very stable and allow passengers to sit in a normal seating position, as opposed to having to kneel uncom-fortably on the ᴀoor of a small canoe. Their broad beams make them stable enough to climb in and out of while on the river, so a quick dip in the cool water is possible. We take a maximum of 14 passengers and two guides in these 34’ canoes and a maximum of two canoes (28 guests) per trip. We also offer the option of paddling a smaller 17’ Mad River canoe. If several people are interested in paddling a smaller canoe on a part-time basis, we bring one or more along to share.
Passport and Visa Requirements:
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the. more
Packing properly for a river trip is CRITICAL to your enjoyment while on the river.
July/Aug. are typically hot and sunny months with summer showers that are short in duration. Weather in June and September is less predictable, but usually warm and sunny. However, when travelling west towards the Rocky Mountains you should always come prepared for cool/wet weather even in the summer!
The following information will help you be prepared for the expected as well as the unexpected events of your trip. You may not use all of the gear listed below, but we recommend bringing it all!
GEAR & CLOTHING
*We provide one large waterproof bag per person. This contains your sleeping bag as well as your personal clothing and items. This bag is NOT accessible during the day as it goes ahead of the group with our cargo boat. We also provide a SMALL daypack for rain gear, sunscreen, cameras, etc. This is approximately 9” in diameter and 20” tall.
*QUALITY rain gear makes all the difference when it’s raining on the river. A good jacket and pant rain suit is worth the investment. These do not need to be expensive, many can be found for less than $30 at Army/Navy, Kmart or similar stores.
*Pile is a synthetic material that wicks water away from the skin and into the outer layers of the fabric creating a “warm when wet” quality much like wool, but far more comfortable. Pile comes in many forms including polypropylene, capilene or fleece. If you own any pile clothing, bring it along. If not, a suitable alternative is lycra or nylon tops (turtleneck) and bottoms (tights). We strongly recommend you bring something non-cotton just in case it turns unseasonably cold (we’ve heard rumors that there has even been an occasional July snow
flurry!) This would be worn under your rain gear to keep you dry and warm.
*Pile can be purchased in many places throughout the U.S. ROW sells handsome fleece tops and other items you can purchase when you arrive. You can also pre-purchase pile clothing online at www.CascadeOutfitters.com, where you will find useful information on what to wear on your river trip. You can also find many items at your local Army/Navy stores, REI, LL Bean, etc.
*Typically people dress in layers on the river, taking things on and off as the weather changes.
FOOTWEAR
*Since we do quite a lot of hiking we suggest you bring good, well broken in hiking shoes or boots. Good tennis shoes would work for hiking. We suggest you bring a second pair of tennis shoes or good river sandals for the canoe portion and/or swimming. Aquasocks or similar would work well, too. Remember, well fitting socks will help you avoid blisters while hiking.
CAMPING
*We provide a sleeping bag, flannel liner and sleeping pad for each person. We provide one tent for every two people (we are happy to provide tents for singles if we have them available-call our office). We now provide pillows and pillowcases for our guests.
LIQUOR
*If you bring liquor (beer and wine in moderate quantities provided for legal age guests), put it into a leak proof bottle. Plastic containers with a threaded lid or metal backpacking fuel bottles (be sure it is designed for alcohol) work well. No glass beer bottles please. Bottled wine is fine. You can buy bottled liquor in almost any bar or casino in Montana, as well as liquor stores until midnight. Beer and wine are sold in grocery stores.
CLOTHES & GEAR FOR CAMP
_____One - two T-shirts, maybe one long-sleeve T-shirt for evenings
_____One pair long pants - jeans are fine for camp or other comfortable pants like sweats or Gramicchi’s
_____One - two pair shorts - nylon quick drying always better than cotton
_____One pair tennis shoes or sandals for camp.
_____One pile shirt or sweater for cool evenings
_____Underwear and socks
CLOTHES & GEAR FOR THE RIVER
_____One - two pair quick drying nylon shorts and/or swimsuits (women usually have both on as it is more comfortable sitting in the canoe with shorts on)
_____Two-three T-shirts for hot, sunny days in July & August
_____One light long-sleeved shirt (sun protection)
____ optional sunscreen shirt
____ optional rashguard shirt
_____One pair loose-fitting, light cotton, long pants like surgical scrubs work well for sun protection. (Jeans are not a good choice as they are very uncomfortable if they are wet)
_____One pair tennis shoes or sandals and one pair of hiking boots or shoes
_____One cap, hat or visor.
_____Sunglasses with head strap (we recommend "CHUMS")
_____One QUALITY rain suit - jacket & pants - not necessarily expensive, but no cheap ponchos
_____One warm shirt or sweater or nylon windbreaker
_____Long underwear tops and bottoms. Best worn over swimsuit and under shorts
ADDITIONAL CLOTHES FOR COOL WEATHER (JUNE & SEPT TRIPS)
_____Two pair wool or polypro socks to wear on the river
_____One additional synthetic pile or wool shirt
_____Wool or poly gloves & wool or poly cap (like a skiing hat)
GENERAL GEAR
_____Flashlight or headlamp with extra bulb and batteries
_____Ditty bag - skin lotion, lip balm, waterproof sunscreen, etc.
_____Toilet kit - toothbrush and paste, soap (Ivory or other biodegradable is best, no soaps can be used in the river), towel, wash cloth, comb, handkerchief, shaving stuff, feminine sanitary supplies, etc.
_____Extra eyeglasses and/or contact lenses strongly suggested. ALL glasses need a head strap!
_____Water bottle or canteen.
_____Binoculars
_____Pocket knife
_____Plastic garbage bags (2-3 for separating dirty/wet clothes in your waterproof bag)
_____Cards, games, musical instruments, journals, etc.
_____Books you may enjoy about the area and may want to share with the group
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
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The first and last night is at a local hotel (Holiday Inn Express). The hotel offers free Wifi access. Health Club, morning paper. Rooms have bathtub shower, hair dryer, coffee and tea maker, A/C. The standard rooms have either a King Bed or 2 Queen Beds and have the
Simple Smart Bed collection with Triple Sheeting, Soft and Firm Pillows,
and a Soft Throw.
Hotel overnights include a hot breakfast bar starting at 6:30 AM. The first night dinner is not included.
LUXURY CAMPING:
In order to make your trip run as smoothly and comfortably as possible, we run a “camp boat” ahead of the group to carry the bulk of the camping gear, food, etc. This allows our voyageur canoe to be lighter and more maneuverable which makes for easier paddling. The camp boat arrives early to camp and gets the kitchen set up as well as the spacious 2-person tents that we provide. When we arrive in camp all you have to do is carry your personal gear (stored in a provided easy-to-use waterproof bag) to the tent of your choice and roll out your sleeping bag, Flannel liner and thick, self-inflating foam sleeping pad (also provided). This gives you an extra half hour of time for doing something you’d enjoy rather than setting up a tent.
(Note: In rare circum-stances we may have a trip on the Missouri with 8 or less guests. In this case, due to economic and logisti-cal reasons, we may not run our camp boat. On these smaller trips guests and gear travel together down river. Our guides are still happy to set up your tent if you like, or you may enjoy doing it yourself.)
CAMP TIME:
To give you the opportunity to explore on your own, we generally arrive in camp no later than 4:00 each day so you have time to go hiking, fishing, read a book, or what-ever you might want, before hors d’oeuvres are served, usually around 5:30.
CAMP LOCATION:
While most groups on the Missouri stay at sites which the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has developed with outhouses and metal fire rings, we prefer to take you to less-crowded, more primitive sites. Thus, more often than not, we’re camping alone as opposed to sharing a site with several other groups. At these primitive sites, we take every possible precaution to minimize our impact. Everything we carry in, we carry out. We build our fires in metal fire pans and carry out the ashes. Using portable toilets (set up inside a privacy tent) we carry out all human waste.
MEALS:
The quaity of our food reflects the quality of the wild and remote environment of the Upper Missouri. We hand-select the freshest fruits and vegetables we can find and pack them carefully in huge ice-coolers. Like-wise, these coolers carry fresh dairy products and meats. From these ingredients we prepare bountiful, healthy meals. Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice and served with broccoli with Béarnaise sauce. Baked Idaho trout, served with green beans and Idaho mashed potatoes. Juicy Montana rib-eye steak, fajitas, or made-on-the-river lasagna are a few other possible entrees. Big salads of vegetables and fruit add color and variety to every meal. Desserts are made each evening in our Dutch ovens and range from double fudge brownies to pineapple upside-down cake. We serve juice each morning and moderate amounts of bottled wine with dinner. We also provide two beers and two sodas or juices per person per day. There’s always plenty of cold water, lemonade mix, tea, coffee and cocoa. As well, you’re welcome to bring your own beverages or alcohol. We always have plenty of ice to keep your drinks cold.
THE LAST SUPPER: The adventure ends with a farewell dinner on our last evening in Great Falls with guests and guides. This dinner brings a nice “closure” to the week of adventure everyone has shared. (All inclusive except for alcoholic beverages.)
This trip includes
and can accommodate special dietary requests.
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Tack:
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Horses:
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Pace:
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Class I. Flat water, smooth current - 5 canoeing days
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Level:
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(2
to
2
out of 5) Easy to Moderate
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Age:
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Min
5
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Riders:
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Min
6
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Max
28
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When to go?
We offer these trips from June to September. July and August are the most popular months as the weather is generally hot and dry with ideal camping conditions. The river is busier during this time with other paddlers (expect to see three to eight other groups each day). In June the weather is less predictable, yet generally very nice. Higher water creates a swifter current, which allows for more time on shore for hiking and exploring. From mid-August on through Septem-ber it is a wonderful time to be on the water as few other people are around, trees are beginning to show their autumn colors and the air is cooler.
Canoeing: Class I. Flat water, smooth current
Wildlife: Prairie dogs, beaver, antelope, big horn sheep, deer, golden eagles, hawks, falcons and songbirds..
Cultural History: Indian rock art and tipi rings; pioneer homesteads; best-preserved section of the Lewis and Clark Trail.
Other Highlights: Trips are accompanied by guest historians (with 10+ participants); incredible hiking Explore the famous White Cliffs; Learn about the Great Plains ecosystem; classic “Big Sky”Montana scenery; warm swimming water.
Cargo boat travels ahead and sets up camp including your tent.
See the White Cliffs and the Missouri River Breaks.
Your choice of paddling in a 34’ Voyageur Canoe, or smaller 17’ canoe.
Guides: There is no question that on any trip, the guides are the most important factor in terms of your safety, enjoyment and ultimately, the success of the trip. For this reason each of our guides is an exceptional person, willing and eager to share, teach, listen, learn, laugh, play, discuss, and above all, work hard to provide you with a safe, relaxed, spontaneous adventure. With one guide per four to five guests, you’re sure to get the attention you deserve. In order to provide you with the richest experience possible, we divide ourselves into meal crews, meaning that while two guides are preparing dinner, the other two or three guides are free to spend time with you. To go hiking with you, help identify ᴀowers or trees, give you a lesson in Dutch oven cooking, or just sit and visit. They are the main reason many of our guests return to us time and time again and wouldn’t even think of traveling with another river company.
Guest Historian: We have gathered a talented cadre of noted authors and historians who accompany or trips. Please note that guest historians are guaranteed only on those trips with 10 or more paid guests. Past historians have included authors Gary Moulton, Landon Jones, Ella Mae Howard, David Peck, Verne Huser, Stuart Weir, etc.
Beyond the River: One of the reasons that the Missouri is such a fabulous trip is the incred-ible variety of things to do and see along the way. We make a point of stopping and taking advantage of as many of these things as we can. As we float we tell you about the early pioneers who lived here and we stop to hike to at least one of their old homestead cabins. We talk about the Indians and take you to at least one of their encampments. We plan our trip so that there’s plenty of time for these explorations. Not only do we show you these places, but also we help you understand them better. If you’re interested, we’ll tell you about the geology, plants and animals. We believe strongly that deepening understanding builds greater ap-preciation And we’re hoping our love of this canyon will be contagious.
Your Choice of Craft:
In addition to the “camp boat” that carries all the camping gear, we use two other kinds of river craft. We are proud to be the ἀrst outἀtter on the Missouri to have introduced voyageur canoes, which replicate the experience of the early fur-traders. These canoes are very stable and allow passengers to sit in a normal seating position, as opposed to having to kneel uncom-fortably on the ᴀoor of a small canoe. Their broad beams make them stable enough to climb in and out of while on the river, so a quick dip in the cool water is possible. We take a maximum of 14 passengers and two guides in these 34’ canoes and a maximum of two canoes (28 guests) per trip. We also offer the option of paddling a smaller 17’ Mad River canoe. If several people are interested in paddling a smaller canoe on a part-time basis, we bring one or more along to share.
Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).
The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.
New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.
For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).
Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
N/A |
| Other EU |
Yes |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No/2 |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
N/A |
| Other EU |
1 |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
N/A |
| Other EU |
Yes |
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Lewis and Clark Canoe Voyage
Tour Code:
ZZ-CNRW01
7 days /
6 nights
~$0.00
Dates: June to September
Level :
Difficulty Levels Explained
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1. |
Easy
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Easy pace and an average-to-sedentary level of fitness. You should be in good health and fit enough for full day of normal sightseeing and walking.
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2. |
Easy to Moderate
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An average level of fitness or some experience with the featured
activity is recommended.
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3. |
Moderate
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Requires you to have performed the featured activity regularly, with
some periods on challenging terrain. Activities are mandatory and
you may be traveling at high elevations. You need to be in good health and physical condition to enjoy these trips, with adequate muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance.
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4. |
Demanding
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You must be extremely physically fit and are expected to hike or
ride four to six hours over steep or more rugged terrain. |
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5. |
Strenuous
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Prolonged hiking/biking on moderate to difficult terrain (five to nine hours a day).
May include high altitude, rugged terrain etc.. |
Introduction
Day to Day Itinerary
Rates | Dates
Accomodation
Airport:
Great Falls
Activities:
Canoeing, wildlife, hiking, swimming, culture
Location on Google Map
Image Gallery
Image Slide Show
What To Bring
Download tour PDF 
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