Missouri River

A Legendary Waterway Just Down the Road

Only about 30 minutes from Sidney, the Missouri River offers a deeper dive into Montana’s historic landscape. This is where explorers, traders, and native cultures once traveled—and where today’s visitors come for wide-open water, striking bluffs, and a sense of quiet solitude.

The Missouri is a favorite for anglers targeting walleye and northern pike, especially around the bridge crossings near Culbertson or Fort Union. Birdwatchers and photographers flock to the area in spring and fall, when migratory birds fill the sky.

Things to Do

• Fish the cool, deep waters for a variety of sportfish.
• Kayak or canoe the wide, slow-moving stretches.
• Explore nearby Lewis & Clark sites and the Fort Union Trading Post.
• Pack a picnic and watch the sunset from a bluff above the river.

Seasonal Highlights

• Spring: Rising water levels, active birdlife, and great early-season fishing.
• Summer: Hot days make for perfect paddling and longer exploration.
• Fall: Crisp air, fewer crowds, and brilliant foliage along the banks.

Nearby Amenities

• Interpretive centers, museums, and historic sites around the confluence area.
• Lodging and outfitters can be found in Sidney, Culbertson, and Williston.

Local Fish Species

Species	Family	Class	Native to MT
Bigmouth Buffalo	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Black Bullhead	Catfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Black Crappie	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Blue Sucker	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Bluegill	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Brassy Minnow	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Brook Stickleback	Stickleback	Warmwater	Native
Brook Trout	Trout	Coldwater	Introduced
Brown Trout	Trout	Coldwater	Introduced
Burbot	Codfish	Coldwater	Native
Channel Catfish	Catfish	Warmwater	Native
Cisco	Trout	Warmwater	Introduced
Common Carp	Minnow	Warmwater	Introduced
Creek Chub	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Emerald Shiner	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Fathead Minnow	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Flathead Chub	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Freshwater Drum	Drum	Warmwater	Native
Golden Shiner	Minnow	Warmwater	Introduced
Goldeye	Mooneye	Warmwater	Native
Green Sunfish	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Lake Chub	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Largemouth Bass	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Longnose Dace	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Longnose Sucker	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Mottled Sculpin	Sculpin		Native
Mountain Sucker	Sucker		Native
Mountain Whitefish	Trout	Coldwater	Native
Northern Pike	Pike	Warmwater	Introduced
Northern Redbelly Dace	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Paddlefish	Paddlefish	Warmwater	Native
Pallid Sturgeon	Sturgeon	Warmwater	Native
Plains Killifish	Killifish		Introduced
Plains Minnow	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Pumpkinseed	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Rainbow Smelt	Smelt	Warmwater	Introduced
Rainbow Trout	Trout	Coldwater	Introduced
River Carpsucker	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Rock Bass	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Sailfin Molly	Livebearer	Warmwater	Introduced
Sand Shiner	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Sauger	Perch	Warmwater	Native
Shorthead Redhorse	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Shortnose Gar	Gar	Warmwater	Native
Shovelnose Sturgeon	Sturgeon	Warmwater	Native
Sicklefin Chub	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Smallmouth Bass	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Smallmouth Buffalo	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Spottail Shiner	Minnow	Warmwater	Introduced
Stonecat	Catfish		Native
Sturgeon Chub	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
Walleye	Perch	Warmwater	Introduced
Western Silvery Minnow	Minnow	Warmwater	Native
White Bass	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
White Crappie	Sunfish	Warmwater	Introduced
White Sucker	Sucker	Warmwater	Native
Yellow Bullhead	Catfish	Warmwater	Introduced
Yellow Perch	Perch	Warmwater	Introduced
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout	Trout	Coldwater	Native
Species	Family	Class	Native to MT