White Cliffs & Badlands 6 or 7 Day Adventures

Trip Snapshot:

Duration: choose from a 5 or 6 day adventure.

Difficulty level: Appropriate for all ages 4+

Departure location: Fort Benton, MT

Overview

Float the famous Upper Missouri River White Cliffs and the less-traveled and wilder Badlands.

The White Cliffs are magnificent, but we promise, it only gets better. The most popular and immersive option - enjoy the immeasurable benefits of being very far from noise, lights, technology and crowds for an extended period of time. Most river folks will claim one can’t properly immerse into the ‘flow of things’ until day 2 or 3, at which time after, the real magic begins.

You will retrace and camp in actual Expedition campsites, visit tepee rings and petroglyphs, hike to spectacular off-river locations, explore in-tact homesteads and spot wildlife, including Bighorn Sheep and abundant birdlife. This canoeing adventure is absolutely the trip of a lifetime!

The difference between our 6 and 7 day trips:

The 6 day trip is considered the minimum amount of time required to enjoy both sections, comprising 2 nights in the White Cliffs and 3 nights in the Badlands.

For our 7 day trips, we offer two separate itineraries. The first option is comprised of 2 nights in the White Cliffs and 5 nights in the Badlands (which includes a layover day in the Badlands). The second option is comprised of 3 nights in each the White Cliffs and Badlands. Although slightly different, the extra day does allow for more exploration, hiking and relaxation time as compared to the 6 day trip.

In short, whether you only have 6 days or chose to opt for 7 days, you will still be embarking on a big adventure, as far as river trip standards go. This trip is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Sample Itineraries

White Cliffs & Badlands 6 Day Adventure

6 days is the minimum amount of time needed to paddle the 107 miles and fit in a few of the most popular hikes. With a few longer days on the water, you still experience serene, peaceful paddling and time out of the canoe to take in the magnificent and varied hiking opportunities, explore, indulge in the history, spend quality time with your fellow travelers, and, of course, relax riverside.

Pricing & Availability

$1600 per adult
$1440 per child (10 and under)

Available Dates:

June 8-13
June 24-29
June 29-July 4
July 13-18

As always, if you are interested in a private trip, please contact us. We can usually accommodate any launch date request.


White Cliffs & Badlands 7 Day Adventure
3 nights in the White Cliffs & 3 nights in the Badlands

The ultimate long river trip. This itinerary presents a relaxed pace in the beginning of the trip, allowing you to settle in and get physically acclimated to river life. It offers the perfect balance between serene, peaceful paddling and having ample time out of the canoe to experience the magnificent and varied hiking opportunities, explore, indulge in the history, spend quality time with your fellow travelers, and, of course, relax riverside.

Pricing & Availability

$1795 per adult
$1615 per child (10 and under)

Available Dates:
July 2-8
July 16-22
August 6-12
August 20-26
August 29 - September 4
September 10-16

As always, if you are interested in a private trip, please contact us. We can usually accommodate any launch date request.


White Cliffs & Badlands 7 Day Adventure
2 nights in the White Cliffs & 3 nights in the Badlands

Again, the ultimate long river trip. The appeal of this itinerary (versus the one above) is the layover day, where we stay two nights at the same camp, don’t have to pack up and enjoy the opportunity for a long hike and lots of relaxation time! Feel free to contact us and we can explain the difference in more detail.

Pricing & Availability

$1795 per adult
$1615 per child (10 and under)

Available Dates:

June 8-14
June 17-23
July 13-19
July 27 - August 2

As always, if you are interested in a private trip, please contact us. We can usually accommodate any launch date request.

Reservation Information

Deposit and Cancellation Policy

We require a 25% 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. We accept check or you can conveniently and seamlessly book online.

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 50% of your deposit.

  • 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 a 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.

Discounts Available

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 R. Hartung, best friend

  • Journalists - please contact us for details and arrangements

What We Provide

Equipment supplied by Upper Missouri River Canoe Guides

  • Wenonah fiberglass and Kevlar canoes with paddles (12 oz. carbon fiber bent shaft). Read more about our high-end gear and equipment - definitely the best on the river!

  • Canoe backrests

  • Life jackets

  • Waterproof dry bags sufficient to carry all of your gear (multiple sizes, large and small)

  • Tent - varying sizes & capacities (we will coordinate sleeping arrangements)

  • Inflatable extra thick ThermaRest sleeping mattress

  • Complete camp kitchen, including chairs and tables, utensils, etc.

  • Large waterproof tent to cover dining area

  • First aid kit

  • Gear Boat (on most trips)

  • Food: 3 meals per day starting with lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, including ALL cooking and clean up. Varying snacks throughout the days. Browse our sample menu

  • A cooler of locally-crafted beer

  • Drinking water, juice, iced tea, lemonade, Gatorade, coffee, hot chocolate, tea

  • Drinking ice: multiple coolers of drinking ice for beverages and cocktails. We encourage you to bring any and all beverages you prefer.

  • We bring multiple reference books, including the only comprehensive mile-by-mile history digest authored by us. We also bring games appropriate for adults and kids!

In Addition

  • Advice and logistics assistance throughout the planning process

  • Detailed preparation and packing list

  • Consistent and reliable communication for everyone in your group

  • Pre-trip meeting then night before Launch (not mandatory). We meet at the Grand Union Hotel (or another convenient location depending on where you are staying). During this meeting, we will do introductions, give you dry bags and instruction on packing them efficiently, answer any last minute questions you might have, establish a time to meet at our headquarters the next morning and offer a brief safety talk.

Upper Missouri River Guides Montana River Trips

Logistics and Planning

We recommend you stay in Fort Benton the night before the trip. Great Falls is also an option.

Night before Launch - 5:00pm - (not mandatory) Attend our pre-trip meeting at the Grand Union Hotel. We will do introductions, give you dry bags and instruction on packing them efficiently, answer any last minute questions you might have, establish a time to meet at our headquarters the next morning and offer a brief safety talk.

Launch Day - 7:30-8:00am - We meet at our headquarters at 2210 Main St. You can park your car safely and securely outside our shop and leave any valuables or heat sensitive electronics in our locked shop as well. After we finish packing up, we hit the road. For the White Cliffs, the launch point is Coal Banks Landing (45 minute drive).

Take-out - It never fails to be a reluctant endeavor, but all good things must come to an end. We meet our shuttle vans at the take out around noon and typically arrive back at our headquarters between 3-4 o’clock. Thus, we recommend you stay in Fort Benton or Great Falls this night.
The take out location is James Kipp Recreation Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have additional questions?

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page, or contact us below.

The Upper Missouri River Guides Difference

Ready to plan your Upper Missouri River adventure?

Use the link below, email us (info@uppermissouri.com), call or text (406-616-2001)