Fish Creek

Fish Creek is a major tributary of the Clark Fork River flowing into the Alberton Gorge about 50 miles west of Missoula, now protected as Montana's newest state park. The nine-mile main stem and its forks drain remote mountain country near the Idaho border, supporting populations of westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, and mountain whitefish. The watershed contains more bull trout spawning habitat than all other middle Clark Fork tributaries combined, along with genetically pure westslope cutthroat populations. Crystal-clear water flows through riffles, runs, and deep logjam-lined pools with colorful cobbles visible on the bottom. Most water is easy to wade but too small to float. Catch-and-release regulations apply below the South and West Fork confluence. Fish Creek State Park provides access via old logging roads and offers camping, hiking, and connections to the whitewater of the Alberton Gorge.