This August, we rise up! 

We invite you to take to the water with us on Saturday, August 16th at 10AM as we set off from the Sha-Ron Fishing Access site and float down to Silver Park to honor the Clark Fork River, celebrate the progress we’ve made in restoring it to health, and shine a spotlight on the urgent threats it still faces.

Rise Up for the Clark Fork is a community float down Missoula’s hometown river—a moving rally in the name of clean water, science-backed solutions for the watershed’s toughest challenges, and a future in which the Clark Fork River thrives and is fiercely safeguarded by informed, engaged communities along its more than 300-mile mile journey from Silver Bow Creek to Lake Pend Oreille. 

A major headwater of the mighty Columbia River, and Montana’s largest river by volume, the Clark Fork sustains wildlife, fish, and communities throughout the region. The Clark Fork Coalition has worked tirelessly since 1985 to heal the watershed from the deep scars left by more than a century of mining, logging, and industrial abuse and protect it from further harm. Our year-round work includes stream restoration projects, water rights acquisitions and management, community and youth education, Superfund technical advisory, community working group facilitation, policy advocacy, and, when necessary, legal intervention.  

As we make headway on old problems, our waterways continue to face assaults: delayed and slashed federal funding, rollbacks to environmental protections, rising temperatures, shrinking snowpack, and a dramatic uptick in recreation, development, and population growth and sprawl. Despite these challenges, CFC has spent the past four decades overcoming equally formidable challenges and firmly believe that when we stand together, a bright future for this hardworking and incredibly resilient river is well within reach.  

9AM and 9:30AM shuttles will be available from Silver Park to the put-in at Sha-Ron, and again at 2PM for floaters who park vehicles at Sha-Ron. We encourage floaters to park at Silver Park prior to the float and ride the morning shuttles if possible. Shuttle capacity is limited, and RSVPs are strongly encouraged. 

Gather your favorite people, grab your floating vessel of choice, and join us in fighting for the river’s future! 

Register below today!

👀Curious about the image? It’s a sneak peek of the epic event poster created by the insanely talented Courtney Blazon! Stay tuned as we get closer to the day of the float for the big reveal, info about how you can snag a print, and more!