Clark Fork River Alberton Gorge

"The Montana's World Famous Whitewater River Rafting River"

6 Exclusive Clark Fork River Adventures

by Pangaea River Rafting

Whitewater | Wine Tasting | Easy Rafting | Bird Watching | Geocaching | Team Building

The Clark Fork River, Alberton Gorge
A river forged by history and time.

The Clark Fork River...

The Clark Fork is a museum of ancient rock and stunning scenery, tranquil currents full of beavers and otters that play and live beneath the shadows of sweet smelling ponderosas, juniper and fir trees. Moose, deer, black bear and elk forage inside the diverse ecosystems along the shores of the Clark Fork River while deep, dark currents swirl into big waves, large drops and perfect whitewater.

Close By...

Missoula, Montana, Spokane, Washington and Coeur d Alene, Idaho are easy driving distances from some of the best whitewater and scenery in Montana, the Clark Fork River's Alberton Gorge.

If You Could Only Raft One River While You're Here, This is It!

The Clark Fork River glides through downtown Missoula. Just beyond the city, the 360 mile river squeezes through the Alberton Gorge, a gorgeous gorge of stone and eagles, scenery and whitewater, beauty and solitude. With 7 class III rapids and dozens of fun class II waves, the Clark Fork River is the perfect family whitewater adventure in Montana.

The Clark Fork River History

Glacial Lake Missoula
The Flood That Shaped the Northwest

The history of the Clark Fork River is also the geologic history of Missoula. It is a history as dynamic as the river is beautiful. It all started in the icy depths of Glacial Lake Missoula. 12,000 years ago, the Clark Fork River and most of the areas mountain valleys sank beneath an ancient lake called Glacial Lake Missoula.

The primal lake was nearly 2,000 feet deep, created by an ice-dam blocking the outlet of the Clark Fork River near present day Idaho. In a cataclysmic event, triggered by the continually growing lake (the size of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined), the ice dam exploded, releasing the entire contents of Glacial Lake Missoula.

No Escape

The flood outran the land, scouring Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon all the way to the Columbia River until finally recollecting itself in the Pacific Ocean. It left behind the story of water, rock and power. Across the Inland Northwest to the shores of Oregon, Glacial Lake Missoula's signature can be found.

See It Today!

That ancient signature can not only be seen but also felt on the Clark Fork River and Spokane River with Pangaea River Rafting. The Clark Fork of the Columbia is Montana’s largest river by volume, greater than the mighty Missouri at the state border.

Starting just five miles from the Continental Divide, the Clark Fork River drains an extensive portion of the Rocky Mountains in Montana. This Rocky Mountain basin includes 1/3 of Montana’s human population, wilderness areas, national parks and forests, productive river valleys, the country’s largest superfund complex, and such fabled waters as Flathead Lake, the Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers, and Rock Creek. The Clark Fork River is approximately 360 mi (579 km) long.

The Alberton Gorge, Clark Fork River

The River Gorge

The Alberton Gorge is a dramatic river gorge on the Clark Fork River. When people talk about running the famous Clark Fork Rapids, they are talking about the Alberton Gorge. Pangaea River Rafting offers the most entertaining, informative and fun whitewater rafting trips on the Alberton Gorge.

World Famous

The famed Alberton Gorge, with its incredible scenery and recreational treasures, makes a perfect family trip on a hot summer day. Located 35 miles west of Missoula, the Gorge is a canyon section of the Clark Fork River with Class II and Class III whitewater perfect for all abilities, from the complete beginner to the seasoned expert. The Alberton Gorge is a paradise, for visitors and locals alike. This popular stretch of river, contains seven major rapids as well as several smaller ones that offer wet and wild memories forever.