Badlands 4 or 5 Day Adventures

Are you flying into Great Falls? Don’t know how to get to Fort Benton? We can help.

For our guided trip folks, we can offer shuttle service for $145 each way (for the van, not per person). Thus, if there is multiple people, you can split the cost. Sometimes, renting a car and storing it at our headquarters is less expensive. Send us an email or call if you are interested in arranging a shuttle through us.

You provide the following:

• Your personal clothes and gear (reference our comprehensive list when packing)

• Sleeping bag (you can rent a clean, lightweight bag for $30 if absolutely necessary)

• Pillow

• Sunscreen, insect repellent, etc.

• Optional snacks, beverages and alcohol

• Gratuity for the hard working guides: We recommend the following gratuity guideline: $15 - $25 per person per guide per day. But, any amount is appreciated and welcomed

Additional considerations:

• Travel Insurance - For your convenience, we work with Travelex Insurance Services to provide plans to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Inquire for information.

• Shuttle to and from the airport - flying in and don’t want to rent a car? Contact us for current pricing and scheduling information.

• Early booking discount – 5% early off when you send a deposit prior to January 31st

• Large group – enjoy a 5% discount when you party reaches 10 or more people

• Returning customer - 5% discount for returning customers 

• Kids - Children 10 or younger receive 10% off the adult trip price.

• Veteran (active and retired service members) - 5% in honor of Robert Hartung, a best friend who served his country and left us too soon

• Journalists - please contact us for details and arrangements

We require a $400 deposit per person to secure your spot. We require final payment 60 days prior to the trip departure. Reservations made within 60 days of trip departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.

Due to the seasonal nature of our business, cancellations can prove very costly to us. However, we understand that things happen outside of our control. Refunds of monies will be given at the following rates:

• Prior to 60 days before launch date, we will refund your deposit less 50%.

• 60 days or less before launch date, no refunds will be given.

• In certain circumstances, you can opt to hold credit with us for monies paid, and postpone your trip for the following summer. A $300 handling fee will be applied. The remaining funds will be applied to a trip in the future. Contact us for details.

In today’s changing travel environment, it’s important to protect your travel investment so you can relax and enjoy your trip. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer a Travelex Insurance Services protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.

For more information on the available plans click here or contact Travelex Insurance 800-228-9792 and reference location number 26-0056.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC #22276. V94

We will provide a gourmet lunch (locally sourced or food from our own garden or that we foraged, hunted or fished), snacks and beverages including, cold water, iced tea/lemonade & seltzer water. We can loan you a cooler and provide ice if you wish to bring additional beverages. Browse our sample menu page and get hungry for our amazing food.

NO WAY! We have guided folks from age 2–90 years old. There are no rapids, and this canoe trip is accessible to all ages and ability levels. Beginner paddler? No problem. We will offer expert paddling guidance on and off the water.

We primarily use double canoes and folks will be split according to their travel companions. We have 3 and 4 seater canoes for families with children. If there are is an odd number, someone will be with a guide. We take the canoe configuration seriously and factor in the composition of the group. Solo? Good for you! You will most likely be in a canoe with a guide (not a stranger).

During the day, we stop regularly to stretch our legs and offer potty breaks. The guides carry supplies and take care to make everyone comfortable. We generally camp at 1-3 sites that have normal pit toilets, depending on the itinerary. If we decide to camp at a site that does not have an established pit toilet, you will have the pleasure of enjoying a ‘toilet’ system erected by the guides. We find a private, gorgeous location away from camp, erect a privacy tent and set up a toilet (a five gallon bucket with a regular toilet seat fitted to the top) - otherwise known in river language as ‘the groover.’

We do not offer formal showers, but most folks choose to bath in the river. Biodegradable soap is recommended. Please pack all items you need on a regular basis.

Relaxing in camp is a wonderful choice also. The guides will provide a thorough overview of what to expect, duration and difficulty of each hike so you can opt in or out. On most hikes, you can simply go part of the way and turn around and head back to camp to relax.

In short, no. This canoe trip takes us deep into the remote prairie of North central Montana. Consider this a wilderness adventure. There is no place to plug in a device to charge it. The guides generally bring a small solar charger which you can utilize. We recommend you consider purchasing a small solar charger and battery bank. If you primarily use your smart phone for pictures, put your phone on airplane mode right away (you should anyway because there is no cell phone reception), and your battery should last 3-4 days or more. We recommend you embrace the lack of connection :-)

No! In the spring (May and June), we do encounter mosquitos in the early morning and evening, but the annoyance is nothing a little bit of bug spray can’t handle. Towards late July and August, we find ourselves dealing with an increased fly population, but again, they are more of an annoyance. We recommend you bring along a s

This trip takes you through the grassland prairie of north central Montana. During the main paddling season the weather is typically hot and sunny; temperatures in the 90’s are common, but fortunately humidity is very low. Evening temperatures are normally in the 40’s and 50’s.

June is a terrific month - everything is green, the flowers are blooming, the river is flowing a bit faster, and there is generally less river traffic. However, the weather can be unpredictable during Spring. Rain is likely and expect to experience the infamous and tenacious Missouri River mud.

July and August are incredibly reliable as far as weather is concerned. It is mostly hot with long days, virtually no bugs, and a bit more river traffic. The heat may be a challenge for some, but also enjoy the opportunity to swim often in the shallow and refreshing river.

September brings the nostalgia of fall colors, warm days, cool nights and generally less people, and, again, chance of intermittent inclement weather.