Floating Rivers Yellowstone and Boulder Rivers

A fantastic scenic tour awaits you if you just take the time to pull off the highway. You cannot see the extent of the Boulder Valley and all of its beauty from the Interstate, so pull off the interstate at either the East or West exit ramps and drive to downtown Big Timber. Take McLeod Street (U.S. Highway 289) south through historic downtown Big Timber and keep going on this road south. You will drive over the Interstate 90 over an overpass and continue on south toward McLeod. The Boulder Road (Hwy 298 toward McLeod up the Boulder Valley) is paved for 30 miles and then turns into gravel road for the next 20 miles. Below are some photos of the area you will be touring through.

The beautiful Boulder River Valley is worth the drive to just view the magnificent scenery. The Boulder River divides the Absoraka Mountain Range and the Beartooth Mountain Range and is an edge geological area, therefore giving it a unique look and feel. Three forks of the Boulder River, West Boulder River, Main Boulder, and East Boulder River all converge near McLeod and then flow 20 miles until it reaches the Yellowstone River at Big Timber. This is a look at Montana at its best with a River Running Through It! Scenes from the Robert Redford Movie "A River Running Through It" and "The Horse Whisperer" can be seen here.

One of the best known scenic attractions on the main Boulder is the Natural Bridge, a rock formation through which the river falls before emerging into a beautiful 105 foot waterfall.

Boulder River

The Boulder River originates in the Absoraka/Beartooth Wilderness Area at a elevation of 8,800 feet just south of Big Timber where it flows north in the Boulder River Valley. It flows 61.8 miles (45 air miles) north through the Boulder River Valley into the Yellowstone River at Big Timber at a elevation of 4,000 feet. The Boulder River is appropriately named, as bread loaf sized boulders can be seen lining the river bed through its crystal clear waters. The falls creates a barrier to all fish. There are no species of fish above the falls except Rainbow and trout. The fish population in the Boulder River consists mainly of Brown Rainbow, and Brook Trout, and Whitefish. You can find excellent recreation opportunities on the Boulder River including Kayaking, Floating, and Fishing. You can also combine activities by Camping, Hiking, and Hunting in the Boulder River Valley.