Canoeing Rivers
Yellowstone River
About 17 miles of the Yellowstone River flows through North Dakota before it joins the mighty Missouri River. This stretch of river, along with its confluence with the Missouri River, remain a very historically significant river. The Lewis and Clark expedition pondered their path at the confluence area. Should they travel up the Yellowstone, which according to the native peoples, provided good passage to the Columbia River, or should they remain on the Missouri, as directed by President Thomas Jefferson? They chose the Missouri, but Captain Clark and some of the expedition followed the Yellowstone to the Missouri on their return trip in 1806. Lewis wrote of the beauty near the Yellowstone river: ". . . I had a most pleasing view of the country perticularly of the wide and fertile vallies formed by the Missouri and the Yellowstone rivers, which occasionally unmasked by the wood on their borders disclose their meanderings for many miles in their passage through these delightfull tracts of country. . ."
The confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers became an important area for fur trading and eventually white settlement. Two historic sites, the Fort Buford State Historic Site and the Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site remain as reminders of this settlement.
The Yellowstone River remains beautiful today. It is bordered at times by tall, steep bluffs that display Paleocene and Pleistocene rock outcrops, contains numerous sandbars that are home to endangered wildlife such as least terns and piping plovers, is home to the ancient paddlefish and endangered pallid sturgeon, and has a swift flow that provides fun canoeing.
Where to go for day trip
The stretch from SUNDHEIM PARK TO THE CONFLUENCE RECREATION AREA provides a beautiful, scenic day trip. Expect to canoe about 3 to 5 hours. The trip is relatively easy. The river has numerous sandbars with easy access for picnicking or just fun in the sun. Flows are good from spring to fall, but high flows can be very dangerous and should be avoided. A flow of at least 2,500 cfs at the Sidney, Montana U.S.G.S. gaging station is recommended for fair canoeing.
Access—
- Sundheim Park, just south of Hwy. 200 on the west bank of the river (good)
- Confluence area boat ramp (at confluence of Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers) (good)
Hazards—High flows, submerged trees and deadheads, sandbars. High winds out of the north can create difficult canoeing.
Flow Info—U.S.G.S. Montana home page: http://montana.usgs.gov/www/public/public_index.html. Gaging station is Yellowstone River at Sidney (06329500). A flow of at least 2,500 cubic feet per second at the Sidney gaging station is recommended for fair canoeing.
County Maps—McKenzie 2
Contacts—
- Williston Convention and Visitors Bureau, 10 Main St., Williston, ND 58801; 701-774-9041
- N.D. Game and Fish Department, Williston Office, P.O. Box 2476, Williston, ND 58802-2476; 701-774-4320
- Fort Union Trading Post NHS, Buford Rt., Williston, ND 58801; 701-572-9083
- Fort Buford Historic Site, Buford Rt., Williston, ND 58801; 701-572-9034
- N.D. Tourism - 1-800-HELLO-ND
Other things to do in the area
The area is rich in historic sites and other recreational opportunities. This area of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers provides paddlefishing in May and June. Thousands of acres of public lands border the nearby Missouri River. Camping, hiking, hunting and picnicking are favorite pastimes. The Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers provide excellent fishing. The Fort Buford State Historic Site and Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site have programs and historic tours.
