Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot River is a northward flowing 84-mile (135 km) river running through the Bitterroot Valley, from the confluence of its West and East forks near Conner in southern Ravalli County to its confluence with the Clark Fork River near Missoula in Missoula County, in western Montana. The Clark Fork River is a tributary to the Columbia River and ultimately, the Pacific Ocean. The Bitterroot River is a Blue Ribbon trout fishery with a healthy population of native westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. It is the third most fly fished river in Montana behind the Madison and Big Horn Rivers.

Bitterroot River
St. Mary's River
Ice fog hanging over Bitterroot River at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Native name
  • Spet-lum (Salishan languages)
  • In-shi-ttogh-tae-tkhu (Salishan languages)
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
RegionMissoula and Ravalli County, Montana
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of
  coordinates45°56′24″N 114°07′38″W
MouthConfluence with Clark Fork River
  location
Missoula, Montana
  coordinates
46°51′42″N 114°07′09″W
  elevation
3,104 ft (946 m)
Length75 mi (121 km), South-north
Basin size2,814 sq mi (7,290 km2)
Discharge 
  locationMissoula
  average2,370 cu ft/s (67 m3/s)
  minimum270 cu ft/s (7.6 m3/s)
  maximum38,300 cu ft/s (1,080 m3/s)
Basin features
River systemColumbia Basin
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