Follow The Clark Fork River Along This Scenic Drive Through Montana

There’s nothing like a scenic drive through Montana, especially on a warm summer day. Road trip season is officially upon us, and we hope you plan to do some exploring this year. Cruising alongside the Clark Fork River is always a great place to start.

The Clark Fork is the longest river in Montana, at approximately 310 miles long. But you can see some of its best parts on a relatively short drive.

The Clark Fork River stretches from southwest Montana to the Idaho border.

Google Maps For much of the river’s journey, it borders I-90, so traveling alongside it becomes a breeze.

While you can start following the Clark Fork at any point, we highly recommend you begin your road trip in St. Regis.

Ken Gallager / Wikipedia St. Regis is an old logging and mining town with a lot of charm. There are also some great spots to get out, stretch your legs, and check out the river.

Follow the St. Regis-Paradise Scenic Byway as it winds through Lolo National Forest, taking you through some beautiful terrain.

Bitterroot / Flickr Locals know this roadway as a quiet alternative route to Glacier National Park, but most tourists don’t even know it exists.

Once you reach Paradise, continue on to MT-200 W towards Thompson Falls.

Justin G / Google While the highway itself is quite scenic (and often full of wildlife), you might be tempted to do some exploring on foot on the many scenic trails in the area.

Before you know it, you’ll start to see the dams of the Clark Fork River.

Jerry Huddleston / Flickr The river has three dams: Thompson Falls Dam, Noxon Rapids Dam, and Cabinet Gorge Dam. The largest of these, Noxon Rapids, is an earth-filled dam that forms the 28-mile-long Noxon Reservoir.

You can follow the river for as long as you’d like, but we recommend wrapping up around Thompson Falls.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr This friendly little town sits right on the river, and it’s truly an unspoiled paradise.

Do you have a favorite Montana summer road trip route?

Google Maps

For much of the river’s journey, it borders I-90, so traveling alongside it becomes a breeze.

Ken Gallager / Wikipedia

St. Regis is an old logging and mining town with a lot of charm. There are also some great spots to get out, stretch your legs, and check out the river.

Bitterroot / Flickr

Locals know this roadway as a quiet alternative route to Glacier National Park, but most tourists don’t even know it exists.

Justin G / Google

While the highway itself is quite scenic (and often full of wildlife), you might be tempted to do some exploring on foot on the many scenic trails in the area.

Jerry Huddleston / Flickr

The river has three dams: Thompson Falls Dam, Noxon Rapids Dam, and Cabinet Gorge Dam. The largest of these, Noxon Rapids, is an earth-filled dam that forms the 28-mile-long Noxon Reservoir.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr

This friendly little town sits right on the river, and it’s truly an unspoiled paradise.

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Address: Clark Fork River, Montana, USA