Noted for its spectacular scenery and red-ribbon trout fishery, the Smith River is unique in that it has only one public put-in and one public take-out for the entire 59-mile segment of river. Boat camps located along the remote river canyon help preserve the unique quality of this area. The Smith River between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge is the only river corridor managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks as a permitted river. Permits for private floats on the Smith River are allocated to the public via a lottery system prior to the spring season. Permit applications are typically available the first week of January each year, with an application deadline of mid-February.

Consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page to get an overview of the Smith River and check for Advisories, Restrictions, and Closures. If you don’t find all the answers you’re looking for on this Web site, you can contact the Smith River State Park office in Great Falls at (406) 454-5840.

New for 2010 Float Season

The newly updated Smith River State Park Recreation Management Plan will guide management decisions for the next 10 to 15 years. Some decisions will require changes to the Smith River Special Use Area Rule, which will be updated by the FWP Commission in 2010 through a public process.

The following changes will go into effect beginning with the 2010 float season:

• No pets will be allowed on Smith River float trips.
  
  This restriction does not apply to legitimate service dogs and hunting dogs used for lawful hunting purposes during legal hunting seasons.


• Sign-in at Camp Baker is limited to 24-hours in advance.
  
  Floaters may sign-in (check-in) at Camp Baker beginning at 7:30 AM on the day prior to their launch date, in order to secure a "place in line" for registration.


• A new boat camp named “Deep Creek” will be available for use in the late spring.
  
  No pit latrine will be provided, so floaters wishing to utilize this camp will be required to pack-out human waste using a commercially produced or other approved human waste pack-out system.

Permits

A permit is required to float the Smith River from April–October. The permit page provides detailed information about applying for a permit—including significant dates, fees, rules, and statistics.

Plan Your Float

Once you’ve obtained a permit, you can begin planning your float. The links below will assist you in that planning process.

• Permit Area Float Map —This map shows land ownership and boat camps along the Smith River from Camp Baker to Eden Bridge.
• Special Use Area Rule —Here are the official rules relating to the Smith River, as approved by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission.
• Rules and Regulations—Here are the floating and camping regulations for the Camp Baker launch site and the River Corridor.
• USGS Flow Data —Check the current streamflow for the Smith River at this USGS site
• Private Services (Shuttle, Bed & Breakfast) —For your convenience, we have provided a list of shuttle services and bed and breakfasts in the Smith River area.
• Fishing Guide —The Smith River Fishing Guide has information on species present, fishing and boating regulations, fishing pressure and more.

Ethics

The Smith River is a special place. As a visitor, you have the responsibility to care for the land and the fishery, as well as respect private property and the experiences of other floaters.

• Leave No Trace Backcountry Ethics —To protect the pristine nature of the Smith River, it is very important recreate with minimal impact. Please practice these outdoor ethics when visiting this river corridor.
• Respect Private Property —Approximately 80% of the property through the Smith River corridor is private property. The success of the Smith River program depends upon cooperation with private property owners.
• Angler & Boating Ethics —Here are some ways in which river recreationists can avoid conflicts by being considerate and mannerly to other users.

Authorized Smith River Outfitters

These outfitters are the only outfitters permitted and authorized to conduct guided float trips on the Smith River.

Management Plans & Reports

• Smith River Management Plan ( 3.0 MB)—To ensure that the resources are protected and the Smith River experience remains high, this plan directs the long range development and management of the river corridor.
• Smith River Annual Report —View this comprehensive summary of management activities, visitor use statistics, and social and resource conditions on the Smith River corridor during the past field season.
• Smith River Floater Log Comments ( 68 KB)—This is a compilation of written responses and comments received from floaters during past float seasons.